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Hello folks, will be spending some time on STJ this Nov. My boyfriend & I were "unofficially" engaged earlier this year. We're considering buying our wedding bands/engagement ring while on our trip....any tips or advice on buying jewelry in the islands?
If you are looking for diamonds, take a day and go to Charlotte Amalie on St Thomas (take the Charlotte Amalie ferry back to STT and you are there). There are gazillions of diamond stores.
Try to go on a day when there are only two cruise ships in so it won't be as crowded.
My family always goes to Imperial Jewelers. They are very nice and, as most places do on STT, offer you drinks while you look.
Make sure to negotiate a little on the price as most times they will come down.
I'm sure other people on this board have their favorite place to go so maybe they'll have a few other suggestions.
How much cheaper are we talking about? 10, 20, 30% off what we would pay in the US?
Just curious
Jen
Having worked in the jewelry biz here, I can say, with all honesty, that you will save anywhere from 30-50% off Stateside prices, even after haggling with your local jeweler in the States. The reason? Volume and duty/tax free. Each visiting cruise ship represents approximately $1,000,000 in jewelry sales, so the volume is huge. If we sell lots, we must buy lots, and when you buy in volume, you get better prices (look at a case of beer vs. a six pack, for example). Then when we factor in the duty-free allowance, and the fact that we have no sales tax, the total savings for buying here vs. there is quite big. My brother-in-law bought a diamond from me that retailed at $21,500, but, because of our duty-free and tax free status (and the fact that I worked there! haha!), he got it for only $5,100. No place in the States, no matter how close you may be to the owner, would probably go below $15,000 on that stone. Pretty significant savings, wouldn'tcha say?
Marty
Are you still working in the jewerly business any longer? If so where? Ty
I am looking for wedding and engagment rings. How do I know the quality of the dimond is what they say it is? I am not knowledgeable in this area.
MARTY !
glad to see your computer is working, or are you on a borrowed machine? Anyway, whenever my wife has the jewelry she buys in STT appraised at home for insurance purposes, it always appraises for double what she paid. What I don't understand is the jewelers pushing yellow diamonds on unsuspecting buyers. Aren't the blue/white stones the best and yellow stones at the bottom of the quality scale? Or am I out of touch with the current market?
For some reason yellow diamonds are the in thing but to me I like white diamonds in the higher range. But this is me.
Do all of your homework before you leave the mainland. If you are from a big city you may be able to do just as well.
