Good advice in this article, whether buying loose gemstones at sea or on
land:

http://tinyurl.com/brkd7

"It is a well known fact in the jewelry industry that most of the loose
gemstones found in cruise ship boutiques and on late night TV are the
dumping grounds for our 'undesirables.'"

Article ends with a fun quote:

"I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage.
They've experienced pain and bought jewelry." (Rita Rudner)

How B