Shoes!?! ... and other accessories

[Flying mermaid]

I think the ring is ok. Looks and feels quite nice. The ring is on sale in their current catalogue. Michael Hill Roselands says no further discount and cannot resize up from current size N to wife's size O. Michael Hill Indooroopilly gave us a further discount off sale price equivalent to lifetime care plan but we only added on 3 year care plan and said the ring can be resized 2 sizes up to P.

There's a bit of inconsistency there. And then to find out we paid a premium for a hollow necklace makes it worse.

Jewellery is quite difficult - for a start it is a bit like a new car - as soon as you take it out the showroom you lose a massive amount of its value. I tend to buy most of my jewellery overseas - partly because you see more interesting pieces and sometimes because it is heaps better value. (The only exception was my pink diamond ring - too many of the pink stones overseas are heat treated, so I went with certified stones from Linneys).

No one likes feeling ripped off, but the most important thing is that you gave your wife a ring with love and she thought it was beautiful. If she is happy with the ring and you enjoy seeing her happy isn't that the most important thing?

I love my jewellery and I hope my girls will love wearing it too, but I don't view it as having any monetary value.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Jewellery is quite difficult - for a start it is a bit like a new car - as soon as you take it out the showroom you lose a massive amount of its value. I tend to buy most of my jewellery overseas - partly because you see more interesting pieces and sometimes because it is heaps better value........................
.

I agree, I buy most of my jewellery overseas. In the early days it was Hong Kong and Singapore. Gold bracelets or necklaces were bought on the weight of the item. When our son was living in NYC I bought a couple of things from jewellers there. My retirement diamond earrings came from New York. My tanzanite ring was bought at Browns the jewellers in South Africa. My good pearls come from Linneys in Broome. I have been going to my jeweller in Bangkok for 25 years - she knows what I like, and everything I have made there turns out better than I have hoped. My 6 year old granddaughter has already taken a liking to my earring collection

 

[JohnK]

John just as with flying when you buy jewellery research is important.This is something mrsdrron is good at and led us to finding her jeweller in Bangkok.She is definitely not the cheapest in Bangkok but must be close to the best value.
With gold Asia is by far the best value.You might not get Italian gold but their knockoffs are difficult to tell apart.But you are paying the current gold price plus a fee for manufacture which they will tell you up front.And without asking they usually weigh it before you ask.

Agreed.

Research in jewellery very important. I dropped the ball here. Did the research on the ring but then purchased the necklace on the word of the salesperson.

My wife prefers the jewellery here to that in Thailand. Also in Thailand you need to be careful of the scams and the knockoffs. If you want someone good and trustworthy then you pay a litte more but I guess that is worth it if you purchase jewellery regularly.

We used to buy jewellery in Greece in the 90's and that is quality 14 carat jewellery. Would be interesting to see the prices now.

 

[love_the_life]

I have very little jewellery. I have fat fingers so rings look dumb though I do have a few pairs of 'good' earrings. I had a spate of losing single earrings at one stage which was a pain. My eternity ring is waiting to have a diamond replaced as I lost one out of the setting but it's been a year or so and I'm a bit lazy. I would much rather spent the money on a hotel or nice meal

 

[JohnK]

I would much rather spent the money on a hotel or nice meal

Sounds very logical to me.

 

[Bindibuys]

Going to go opposite to LTL, I love jewellery, and have way too much. (must have started with that first full time job at Angus & Coote back in the 70's - I only like the good stuff.)
Here is my "Bertie Beatle" hubby hates the name, but it goes with my initials BB.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I agree, I buy most of my jewellery overseas. In the early days it was Hong Kong and Singapore. Gold bracelets or necklaces were bought on the weight of the item. When our son was living in NYC I bought a couple of things from jewellers there. My retirement diamond earrings came from New York. My tanzanite ring was bought at Browns the jewellers in South Africa. My good pearls come from Linneys in Broome. I have been going to my jeweller in Bangkok for 25 years - she knows what I like, and everything I have made there turns out better than I have hoped. My 6 year old granddaughter has already taken a liking to my earring collection

had a quick think and I have bought pieces from South Africa, Tanzania (Tanzanite of course ), Tahiti, Fiji, Singapore (had a Chinese friend who bargained for me), Hong Kong, Athens and Istanbul, but these are my favourites from Maui of all places

 

[Pushka]

I'm more like love_the_life. Just wedder and engagement on left and great grandmother's heirloom ring (husband was a jeweller) and Ceylon sapphire ring on right. Fancy medic alert bracelet on right wrist and watch on the other. Gold chain around neck and sometimes earrings. Have some nice ones and brooches also. Would love a sapphire tennis bracelet. Maybe Dubai in April. I have the Dirhams ready.

 

[Milboo]

In Dubai we went to Malabar Gold on the recommendation of a local and an expat local.

Interestingly, the expat local deliberately sought out a Filipino sales assistant as she is also Filipino and experience was that it would get a better deal.

 

[Pushka]

In Dubai we went to Malabar Gold on the recommendation of a local and an expat local.

Interestingly, the expat local deliberately sought out a Filipino sales assistant as she is also Filipino and experience was that it would get a better deal.

Many Aussie assistants in Dubai souks?

 

[Milboo]

Sadly no!

We were in the main MG store in Bur Dubai (there is a smaller one nearby too) and it was 9pm and it was super busy - and not western tourists either. A lot of Indian customers.

Local recommended not visiting the Gold and Diamond Park (as did an Uber driver) noting prices tend to be higher to cover the higher rents etc

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I just want to add we went shopping in Chiang Mai today ( it was raining) We went to the large 6 story Central Mall....... I spent 12 baht ....... and dr.ron spent 1200 baht !!!

So he could not say I always spend ALL the money in the family

 

[Denali]

Someone mentioned Rosenberg Shoes in Melb for my big feet.

As Im being forced to go to Tassie via Melb so hubby can attend the Guitar Show in August, Im going to drop him off and go to Rosenberg Shoes, which is nearby

 

[Flying mermaid]

In Brisbane for a few days and decided to seek out the Peter Sheppard shop. Really liked the shoes. Bought two pairs of sandals and there were two more I liked that they didn't have in my size but Sydney did. Will be in Sydney in two weeks, so I guess another visit then. I might get my shoe collection into double figures at this rate.....

Will post a photo when I get home and can resize my photo - seems to be too big to load....

 

[love_the_life]

In Brisbane for a few days and decided to seek out the Peter Sheppard shop. Really liked the shoes. Bought two pairs of sandals and there were two more I liked that they didn't have in my size but Sydney did. Will be in Sydney in two weeks, so I guess another visit then. I might get my shoe collection into double figures at this rate.....

Will post a photo when I get home and can resize my photo - seems to be too big to load....

Peter Sheppard has some gorgeous shoes though not always in my small size. (Perhaps that is a good thing).

 

[Flying mermaid]

Peter Sheppard has some gorgeous shoes though not always in my small size. (Perhaps that is a good thing).

i was having the opposite problem - they had run out of the larger sizes. Someone must be just right. . I am pinning my hopes on Sydney as there were two others I really liked. I am going to go shopping with Ms FM and Dr FM in Sydney, so there might be a lot of shoe buying

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

I like PS shoes, I am either 39, 40, or 41 depending on the brand ! But then again some of the german brands I am a 5 or a 6 G or H !!! Means you cant really order on line !

 

[love_the_life]

I like PS shoes, I am either 39, 40, or 41 depending on the brand ! But then again some of the german brands I am a 5 or a 6 G or H !!! Means you cant really order on line !

I'm anything between a 35 - 36 depending on style. A 36 with no strap or lacing is too big. In the old size it's 5 or 5.5C. I have small square feet

 

[Flying mermaid]

I like PS shoes, I am either 39, 40, or 41 depending on the brand ! But then again some of the german brands I am a 5 or a 6 G or H !!! Means you cant really order on line !

yes I don't think I would be game to order online - I was 41 with one pair I bought and 42 with another.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I'm anything between a 35 - 36 depending on style. A 36 with no strap or lacing is too big. In the old size it's 5 or 5.5C. I have small square feet

thats tiny - mine would look ridiculous next to yours - very long and narrow