Things I have learned about 

gold buying in Thailand

while living here for the 

past several years.

(Also see the table at the bottom of this page.)

Is it really "24K" ??

When considering the purchase of high karat gold from Asia consider the fact that up until only a year ago many gold bracelets and chains in the shops were stamped with "24k" or "100%" as a hallmark even though the actual gold content was below this purity. For years the Thai people thought they were buying pure gold but were duped by the manufacturers. So someone marketing 24k gold in the States can with good conscious think they are selling pure gold from Asia or specifically Thailand but they are not. They could be selling just about any purity without a  proper assay to determine gold content. And besides once you purchase an item that is of an accurate purity of 22k, 23k and 24k, you will realize there is a substantial difference in density and malleability between each as well as appearance.

"HANDMADE"

The term "Handmade" is used so loosely on jewelry sites and auctions when referring to how Thai gold jewelry is made. Few gold items are hand made in modern times. On some styles of bracelets and chains components are made in wax molds and assembled by hand. There are some exceptions. Sometimes a gold item will go through different phases of fabrication such as the addition of etching or embossing and diamond cutting. These processes are performed by hand on a lathe. In the case of the "Sukhothai" style jewelry the enamel paint is painted by hand on each tiny component. So the degree of making by hand varies greatly and the price will reflect the higher labor cost. But this should not take away from the reputation of the craftsmanship that goes into the making of Thai jewelry. From the original design element which can date back hundreds of years to  the skill in which the molds are meticulously made and all of the steps involved in creating the finished product.

Consider these fact when buying gold jewelry