Buying Wedding Rings. Singapore or Malaysia

[HIDDEN]

Can you please recommend the best place to buy wedding rings. We are visiting Singapore this week, and wonder if it is cheaper there.

If in Malaysia, any suggestions to buy in Penang?

Many Thanks.

Ken

[HIDDEN]

Hi Ken,

There are several big, well known jewellery shops in Queensbay Mall, and a couple in Gurney Plaza (including OE Design - very expensive but well designed jewellery with a factory based in Penang for over 20 years!). Or, try Campbell Street with several Chinese jewellery shops.

Cheers and good luck!

[HIDDEN]

hi,

IME, the price differences between Singapore and Malaysia are a bit difficult to predict. Sometimes cheaper, sometimes not. But Singapore has such a wider range of most things than I've ever seen in Penang or KL or anywhere else in the Peninsula. I think it's a greater range of choice in Singapore.

I also think that with the price of gold being international it's current demand and workmanship that affects the retail price, and competition between sellers. I'd try the Peoples Park complex in Singapore's Chinatown area. Quite a few jewellery shops and you can bargain. Gold is usually 24 rather than 18 carat.

[HIDDEN]

I've never bought any serious jewellery in Singapore but I wonder if Lucky Plaza along Orchard Road might be worth a try.  When we were buying other stuff (electrical items) we seemed to get better prices in Lucky Plaza rather than Peoples Park - the haggle factor was better at Lucky Plaza it seemed to us.  If you walked away, the price generally went down quite rapidly and you could have hours of fun there.  Quite a few jewellery shops in there I think.  http://www.luckyplaza.com.sg/index.php

Just wondering about Little India too - maybe Mustafa Centre?  They seem to sell everything. http://www.mustafa.com.sg/index.asp#

[HIDDEN]

Some really great information and help here. Many Thanks to all.

Not great at haggling myself, but I think the "other half" may give it a go.

Certainly worth a try on our trip anyway. Planned to go to Lucky and Mustapha, but have never been to Peoples Park before.

Will report any success.......or otherwise.

Thanks again.

Regards

Ken

[HIDDEN]

Yeh give Peoples Park a go too.  Scott may be more up-to-speed than me, as I haven't been down to Singapore for over a year - and things change there so rapidly.

[HIDDEN]

Thank you again.

Forgot to ask if the reclaimable GST in Singapore would make a difference to the comparison between Malaysia and Singapore, if anyone knows about that.

Regards

Ken

[HIDDEN]

hi,

You can only claim a refund of Singapore's GST  if you're flying out of Changi. So it depends on how you're leaving.

I've bought quite a bit of stuff in Singapore over the years and have always forgone the GST reclaim as I'm usually by coach via the Causeway.

http://www.customs.gov.sg/leftNav/trav/Tourist+Refund+Scheme.htm

[HIDDEN]

Thanks Scott. Yes we are flying, so it might make a bit of difference.

Regards

Ken

[HIDDEN]

Gold jewellery in Singapore is sold priced on the commodity price of gold on the day per gram weight. The price of gold on the day is displayed on the shop so you should know the price you are paying on the day. 916 gold jewellery is 22 carat gold. You can also buy jewellery in 24 carat gold but the jewellery will be softer and scratch easily. You pay labour charges on top of the price of weight for the rings you are purchasing and a simple design commands lower price. You can haggle on the labour charges but not on the price of gold. I would recomend Poh Heng Jewellery Shop in People's Park just behind the bus stop as it is a very old established Jewellery Retail Shop. You should always aim to pay slightly less than the asking price.

All the best

Bernard

[HIDDEN]

Hi

this might not help but I think around the region, the best place for design and price is Bangkok. If you do need some suggestions there, let me know. I know a brilliant diamond jewellery shop.