I know Chinatown is the place. But I was wondering if someone knew of a specific dealer?

Thanks,

Scott B.

Are they certified by a reputable lab?

I may want to sell the diamond, not certified between 1-2 carets.

Its in a 70 year old ring.

Are they certified by a reputable lab?

Can that be done in BKK?

Are they certified by a reputable lab?

Can that be done in BKK?

Believe it can be done, there is an institution in Thailand that does this, but at the moment the name escapes...

I Googled and found the place.

My concern is having someone removed the diamond from the ring and getting back the same diamond.

The two main gem labs in Bangkok would have to be AIGS (Asian Institution of Gemological Studies) and GIA (Gemological Institute of America). There are many other labs in Bangkok that are cheaper and provide more basic services, but if you have a real diamond 1 - 2 carats it may be worth between 30,000 USD and 1,000 USD per carat, so it is best to get a reputable evaluation.

These are large reputable companies so unlikely you will be cheated, but to be sure weigh your diamond before hand, and maybe take some photos.

Some tests can be performed on the mounted stone but best talk to a diamond expert to see if it is worth unmounting.

If you want to discuss with diamond specialists best to go to the Jewellery Trade Centre (Silom Galleria) Silom Road next to Holiday Inn. I personally cannot recommend any shop/dealer in particular but ask around. Most businesses here are honest and not in the business of ripping off tourists. You will be able to find a jewellery smith who can unmount your stone in front of you. Ask the jeweller (or somebody else ) to do you a favour and weigh the stone.

Once you have had your appraisal it will be relatively easy (for a diamond dealer) to establish the trade price using the Rapaport Report Diamond Report. Then you just have to find somebody to buy it at a discount to the trade price. Note NO sales tax, vat, import, export duties etc to pay.

Last year certain size, colour, diamonds were selling for more in Hong Kong than Bangkok, so best to ask some friendly diamond dealer the best place to sell,

Good luck.

There is a reason why diamonds are forever!

Most businesses here are honest and not in the business of ripping off tourists.

just ask any tuk-tuk, he'll tell you the best place to buy sapphires.

Edited August 23, 201312 yr by qween

Thanks rak,

Very helpful.

What's your thoughts on engagement ring- better to sell ring or sell the diamonds as a set? and/or individually, In other words, what's the smallest size diamond someone would get certified?

knowledge is power

Thanks

Edited August 23, 201312 yr by bangkokchris0967

Thanks rak,

Very helpful.

What's your thoughts on engagement ring- better to sell ring or sell the diamonds as a set? and/or individually, In other words, what's the smallest size diamond someone would get certified?

knowledge is power

Thanks

The GIA grade diamonds from 0.15 carats up. The cost starts at 1695 baht and increases with size.

A top grade 0.15, carat color D, IF Flawless, diamond has a trade price of about 230 USD

If it is of very low quality the price could be as low as 25 USD

Therefore paying 55 USD for a full report may not make sense.

However you should be able to find somebody to easily test the stone to see if it is diamond, but this will test not differentiate natural diamond from synthetic diamond. You would need to go to a lab to do this. (but bear in mind that synthetic diamonds still have value, as opposed to cubic zirconia (CZ) fake diamonds which are dirt cheap and easily spotted)

First step is to test your stone to see if it is real diamond (natural or synthetic). This is easily done by a hand-held diamond test meter. Many diamond shops will have this. No need to unmount the stone to do this. Cost? maybe free or next to nothing.

I had a Lazaar (sp) diamond i bought from KL, not very big but decent quality, had all the paperwork and a serial no in the diamond itself for ID, paid about $1400USD, tried a few places in Thailand, eventually sold it for 3000 THB!!!

I had a diamond that I sold two years ago. I had the original receipt plus the via cert verifiable online ad well. Went downtown (China town). Walked into a shop and showed them the ring. They pointed me to another shop, who pointed me to another shop who asked what I was looking for. Showed them the paperwork, pulled out my laptop tethered to my phone showed them the website to verify as well and sold it. Had 4800 dollars in less than a few minutes. I think it helped that I had original paperwork and didn't look desperate.

Many shops will buy, you just have to find one that wants your specific diamond. I also showed them my Thai DL and passport to prove who I was.

My advice is, don`t even think about trying to sell this diamond ring in Thailand.

In the West it is possible to take the ring into a reputable jewellery shop and for a small fee, have it valued by a professional qualified gold and diamond valuer. This ring may also have antique value. Over here in Thailand, as far as I know, there are no such places, only some amateurs who will give a rough estimate and try to rip you off. Don`t trust anyone over here, Thai or farang with your prized procession.

If you have trusted family members or close friends back in your homeland, send it to them and ask them to have it valued for you and if you still wish to sell the ring, sell it over there.

Now, would I lie to you?

There is a reason why diamonds are forever!

if they are not exposed to fire.

thanks for all the advice !

Most businesses here are honest and not in the business of ripping off tourists.

just ask any tuk-tuk, he'll tell you the best place to buy sapphires.

If a tourist or anyone else is so daft as to buy expensive gemstones in a foreign country on the advise of a local cab driver, then maybe he is asking to be scammed?

There is a reason why diamonds are forever!

if they are not exposed to fire.

Some quotes from the net:

"Diamonds have very high melting points because of the strong carbon covalent bonds which must be broken down before melting takes place."

"A diamond has the highest melting point of any substance at 3820 degrees Kelvin. That equals 6416.6 degrees F."

"Average fire will burn somewhere between 700 and 900 Deg. C."

"Due to important structural weaknesses, diamond's toughness is only fair to good."

So although diamond is the hardest naturally occuring substance (i.e. most difficult to scratch), it is not very tough. So if you hit a diamond hard with a sledge hammer it would shatter.. But if exposing it to a house fire it will survive.