Planning a trip to an exciting locale like Thailand can be very enjoyable, certainly if it’s your first visit or if you are going with someone special. As the trip date gets closer, however, the doubts often start to creep in: Have you chosen the correct hotel/island/travel agent/season, etc.? Highest on the list of most women: Is it safe to wear jewelry in Thailand?
When traveling to any city in the world, it is advisable to exercise common sense and be aware of your surroundings. Is it safe to wear jewelry in Thailand? Yes. Be sensible and avoid dark streets at night and never flash your jewelry by being ostentatious, and you should be fine.
Of 38 million people visiting Thailand in the year before Covid-19, only 1046 criminal cases were reported to the police. Most of the robberies were grab & runs or pickpockets and guesthouse rooms that were ‘broken into,’ almost certainly by staff or management.
Is it Safe to Wear Gold in Thailand?
The kingdom does a brisk trade in gold, and many Thai women wear hundreds of U$D in gold jewelry on most occasions, so gold jewelry is not quite the attention grabber that you might think. It has more to do with the whole package: If you wear expensive clothing as you leave a high-end hotel and jump into a rented Porsche while bedazzled in jewelry, you are asking for trouble.
If you are wearing a gold ring or two, you might consider flipping any precious stone set into it around to the underside when in crowds so that all that is visible is a gold band.
I have several friends that insist on wearing their gold and diamond jewelry here in Thailand, and they have never had any issue whatsoever, but of course, one does need to exercise caution. Before leaving home, decide if you are sure you want to bring the temptation with you.
If the answer is yes, then go ahead – it’s probably safer here than in 80% of the bigger cities in the US, but remember to take out comprehensive insurance. Not all thefts in any country are carried out by the locals. Visitors are also known to dip their fingers into the wealth of others, so be sensible and exercise caution around others.
Before you depart your home country, it may be wise to check with customs if you should declare your jewelry on exit. I know that it’s preferable with camera equipment and computers, but the last thing you need on your return home is an argument with Customs regarding the origin of your gold and diamonds.
You will not want to pay duties on items that were already yours before you left home, and a quick word with customs will clear that up.
Safety First…Second… & Third
If you have weighed up the option of leaving your gold and jewelry at home and have declined, electing instead to bring it with you to the kingdom, you are not going to want to leave it in the hotel’s safe for safekeeping. The fact that you are wearing your prized jewelry means that most of it will be in plain sight, so how can we limit the chances of theft?
- Get it all insured before leaving home, as discussed. Many travel companies offer good deals on travel insurance.
- Avoid deserted Sois – a tiny street branching off a bigger street – by both day and night, and never accept ‘free’ lifts from complete strangers. This advice is obvious, but it is also advice ignored by many. Thailand is inherently honest, but why risk it?
- Expensive clothing along with visible jewelry is going to get you noticed, so be aware. I’m guessing that if you plan to display your bijoux in Thailand, you won’t want to dress like a pauper, but try to avoid constantly touching the various pieces, as that is a sure sign of high value.
- Finally, don’t stress too much – the locals also wear high-value items, so fine jewelry is not a novelty here, as mentioned.
Is Thailand a Good Place to Buy Jewellery?
Unless you are reasonably knowledgeable regarding precious stones like diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and jade, I would suggest that you avoid this field of shopping. If you know a little or are willing to take a chance, you will be delighted by what you read here. Conversely, if gold is your ‘thang,’ then Thailand is perfect for you.
Chinese people are synonymous with gold jewelry for some reason, and it’s no different in Bangkok, where you can head down to Bangkok’s Chinatown: Yaowarat Road in the Samphanthawong District is the main artery for gold jewelers. This area is peppered with jewelry stores, and since the shops will be packed with locals, it’s a sure sign that prices and quality are trustworthy.
Take the MRT subway to the Hua Lamphong stop. Take exit # one, and you will be close to Wat Traimit. From the Wat, it is just a few hundred meters to Yaowarat Road.
If you wish to sell some of your gold jewelry, Yaowarat is probably the best place in the kingdom to do so.
Mahboonkrong Shopping Mall (MBK to the locals) is situated close to the National Stadium sky-train station on Rama IV road. There are many gold and jewelry shops in this massive mall that boasts over 2000 shops, and it is known for its low prices and an enormous selection of items.
Does Thailand Produce Quality Jewellery or Focus on Costume?
Costume jewelry is found everywhere in Thailand, but to suggest that the kingdom sticks to simple, cheap jewelry items could not be further from reality. If you like the idea of adding some gemstones to your bijouterie collection and are willing to trust the very qualified salespeople, then you can pick up some stunning pieces in Thailand.
It is said that Thailand is the world’s most recognized manufacturing base for fine gemstones and jewelry, and that is easy to believe. Thai artisans have been praised for centuries as incredible creators of exciting and beautiful pieces.
Thailand has long been a gemstone mining country, known primarily for the blood-red rubies mined in the Chanthaburi region and, of course, the famed blue sapphires from around Kanchanaburi, just west of the capital. These deposits are close to depletion now, but Thailand imports uncut stones from deposits worldwide for its creations.
As Somchai Phornchindarak, President of the Gems, Jewelry and Precious Metal Confederation of Thailand (GJPCT), states, “Thailand is among the top ten exporters of gems and jewelry products in the world.”
Fine jewelry creation in Thailand relies on skilled craftsmanship, original, eye-catching designs, and modern technology to produce jewelry that is competitive in the international market. Several international brands are based in and around Bangkok but export to their stores worldwide.
If you prefer to do your shopping via recognized brand shops in a shopping mall, Bangkok has scores you can enjoy. Most of the premier store names you know from malls at home are represented in-depth, and the malls themselves are world-class.
Much of this is to target the wealthy Thai classes, but with 40 million visitors to Thailand expected this year, these malls have prime customers delivered to them hourly.
Some Malls to Try for Gold and Jewellery Shopping in Bangkok
- Siam Paragon – Considered by many residents to be the center of Bangkok, Siam Paragon offers prime quality and is located prominently in front of the Siam BTS Skytrain station. It is easily accessible from anywhere in the capital.
Piaget, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Pandora are three stand-out jewelry stores at the Siam Paragon, but there are many more.
Location: 991 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok
- CentralwOrld – Fairly close to Siam Paragon and a five-minute walk from the Erawan Shrine, CentralwOrld is an enormous mall of over 500 shops, in a price range that would suit the more cautious shopper. Some beautiful items at lower prices.
Location: 999/9 Rama I Rd, Pathumwan, Bangkok
- Icon Siam Mall – the “Mother of All Malls,” as it is often called by residents and visitors alike, Icon Siam offers high-end brands and an indoor floating market. It occupies a beautiful riverside location with splendid views of downtown Bangkok.
Located on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River, you can reach Icon Siam by taking the BTS to Saphan Taksin Station and heading to the pier, where you can hop on a free river shuttle.
Location: 299 Charoen Nakhon Rd, Khlong Ton Sai, Khlong San, Bangkok
Conclusion
If you are ambivalent, don’t take gold and jewelry to Thailand or any other foreign destination. If you’re adamant that you want your jewelry with you, be sensible and stay alert as you would back home when visiting a part of the city you didn’t know.
