Every quarter has its own rules. Each guide answers the same seven questions — so you always know what to ask, what to verify, and what to refuse.
Consistent, comparable, and written to protect the visitor as much as promote the district.
When to go, which streets, and how to arrive safely.
What the district genuinely makes, cuts or trades.
Whether to negotiate — and exactly how far.
Telling natural from treated, lab-grown or glass.
Reading and verifying the local purity marks.
The switches, scams and pressure tactics to refuse.
Cash, theft and personal-safety basics on the ground.
Lab-grown sold as natural — demand the independent grading report.
Lab-grown sold as natural — demand the independent grading report.
Inflated 'trade price' claims — compare two or three quotes.
Inflated 'trade price' claims — compare two or three quotes.
Imported pieces with no UK hallmark — look for the Anchor.
Imported pieces with no UK hallmark — look for the Anchor.
Dyed or imitation pearls passed off as cultured.
Dyed or imitation pearls passed off as cultured.
The 'gold switch' and under-karat gold at speed.
The 'gold switch' and under-karat gold at speed.
Under-karat gold sold without the BIS hallmark.
Under-karat gold sold without the BIS hallmark.
Glass-filled rubies and dyed or treated stones.
Glass-filled rubies and dyed or treated stones.
Switched stones — verify every spec against the cert.
Switched stones — verify every spec against the cert.
'Wholesale' pricing that quietly isn't wholesale.
'Wholesale' pricing that quietly isn't wholesale.
Solder-weighted gold — confirm against the day's spot price.
Solder-weighted gold — confirm against the day's spot price.
Dyed or resin-filled B/C-grade jade sold as 'A-grade'.
Dyed or resin-filled B/C-grade jade sold as 'A-grade'.
Heated or glass-filled stones; the tuk-tuk gem 'deal'.
Heated or glass-filled stones; the tuk-tuk gem 'deal'.
Tourist-grade gold — look for the Italian punzone stamp.
Tourist-grade gold — look for the Italian punzone stamp.
Hollow chains sold as solid by weight.
Hollow chains sold as solid by weight.
Synthetic or treated stones sold without disclosure.
Synthetic or treated stones sold without disclosure.
Grey-market watches with no papers or warranty.
Grey-market watches with no papers or warranty.
Making charges that erase the by-weight saving.
Making charges that erase the by-weight saving.
Trade-only access — insist on full certification.
Trade-only access — insist on full certification.
Treated stones; mind personal safety around Sé.
Treated stones; mind personal safety around Sé.
19 guides · haggling stance and cautions are general orientation — each full guide carries the sourced detail.