Caribbean Bargains - Buying Jewelry Doesn\'t Have to be a Gamble

Last week a husband and wife came into our store with a ring that was purchased on their cruise vacation in the Caribbean. The ring needed to be sized smaller. In addition, the couple was curious whether they had made a wise purchase. They were told the ring was a ruby. They had heard that there were jewelry bargains to be had in the land where warm breezes blow, the rum flows freely, and your visa card parties just as much as you do.

I examined the ring under our Gemvision 60 power zoom camera and prepared to take pictures for the couple’s records (as we always do whenever any gemstone is left for repair work). The stone was more purplish than red; certainly not the ideal color of a ruby. There were two chips on the edge of the stone and a fracture line across the center. With just a visual examination of the stone, there was no way that I could determine that the stone was even a ruby. No self respecting gemologist would make that call. There are many stones of that color.

Assuming that it was a ruby, was it man made, natural, heat treated, diffused with an artificial coloring agent or enhanced in some other way? Without further testing, I couldn’t tell. I wonder how anyone could expect to tell while peering through a showcase. The prongs were thin, bent, and not even resting on the stone. The shank of the ring was thinner than many rings I see after 30 years of wear. The mounting was made to last just long enough to get them back on the ship. We could not even size the ring without serious risk.

My advice to the couple was to replace the mounting and replace the stone. Neither was durable enough to wear. Then they asked me, "But, did I get a good deal?" I guess denial isn’t just a river in Egypt. My advice to you is to skip the trip to the jewelry store on vacation. Go snorkeling instead. These people will never see you again. They know it. Even with the assurances and guarantees of the cruise ship, few people actually go though the hassle of a long distance return. That’s what they count on. Don’t think you’ll be the lucky one that can spot great deal. (unless you bring your spectroscope, polariscope, dicrosope, refractrometer, microscope, and know how to recognize a properly cut seat in a prong) There’s usually a reason for a lower price. Poor workmanship, low quality stones, artificially enhanced stones, and outright deception are the most common ones.

According to a current article in The Centurion Jewelry Show newsletter : "Board a cruise ship to the Caribbean and it won't be long until you're seduced by your tour director and on-ship publications into believing that your next port's attractions would include a cornucopia of deeply discounted fine jewelry items, from famous name-brand watches to designer jewelry. Once unleashed into the duty-free shopping districts of the islands, such as Jamaica or St. Maarten, thousands of vacationers have about six hours to scour hundreds of stores and locate the best buys. Because many ports in the Caribbean are not subject to import tariffs, local taxes and offer their products duty free, vacationers often assume they are getting an unbelievable deal.

We've learned, however, that the old adage still stands: "You get what you pay for." According to prestige jewelers in the Caribbean, they really do not have a great competitive advantage. They admit that their strongest advantage is that their customers are on vacation, having a great time, and in the mood to buy. From the business side, Caribbean retailers are often paying just as much for the product as American retailers, sometimes more. Some islands are subject to an import tax, others have to pay sales tax (which they absorb and keep hidden from the customer to keep up the perception of being tax free). What's more, an $800 duty-free exemption is not that attractive when a customer purchases a $5,000 item. She'll still end up paying a 10% surcharge on the $4,200 difference - if she declares it when going through Customs."

If you are looking for a symbol of love that is designed to last for generations, trust the store that has been serving generations of Western New Yorkers for 80 years. We’re here for you for more than just a six hour layover. Our reputation goes inside every blue velvet box with our name on it. Check out some samples on our jewelry shopping pages and in person at Mills Jewelers, 51 Main St, Lockport, NY.

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