buying blue diamonds (loose)

[bender031177]

We are going on an Eastern cruise next week and I will be looking for blue diamonds to replace the sapphires in my engagement ring...any tips on the best place to buy or what to look for? I'll probably bring the loose stones home for a jewellery designer here to work with.

 

Our stops are Grand Turk, St. Martin, St. Kitts, and San Juan. Do they sell loose stones on the ship?

 

Thanks!

[evandbob]

You can certainly find jewelry shops in Phillipsburg St Maarten, try to google them 1st and email your requests & specs to gauge their info. Hopefully you know how to determine quality of a diamond and can bring your own loupe to examine any stone.

 

We were in St Thomas a few weeks ago and were amazed at how high jewelry prices had risen since the hurricanes. Since St Maarten was also badly damaged by the storms, they might be doing the same.

 

One needs to know what they want, what prices are for that item back home, and be able to determine quality to have a chance at getting a good sale in the Caribbean or on the ship. It was different 15 or 20 years ago when prices for jewelry were much lower than they are today.

 

BTW, Effy is now the jewelry store found on Carnival shiips.