In Reply to: Ms Pak posted by megzygirl on Tuesday, 3. August 2010 at 05:07 Bali Time:
About 12 months ago I used Burhan @ Permata Dewata in Denpasar to make me some replica Pandora beads, and also a ring similar to one featured in a Perth jewellery brochure - these were all made from some old gold of mine.
I was very happy with the ring, but only 1 of the 3 charms was acceptable, mainly due to the hole size being too small and the beads too chunky and not well defined.
My friend also declined to tke 3 of the 4 silver replica Pandora beads she had ordered from him - for the same reasons as above.
On my next trip, I decided to visit Ms Pak, and asked her to remake the gold Pandora flower bead( her result was okay but still not exact), replace the stone which fell out of the handbag charm which Burhan had made, plus remake the bag handle to a smaller size. I also had 2 more gold Pandora charms made from some other old gold I had. She returned my left over gold & some small stones to me, as had Burhan on the earlier occasion.
I was very pleased with the finished results from Ms Pak, which were much more precise replicas than the first lot I had done by Burhan, and I would definitely use her services in preference again.
However, having said that, I have to say that I was impressed by Burhan's honesty, business manner and attitude, and he actually refunded me for one of the charms, after I had initially accepted and paid for it.
It was not until after the delivery to my hotel, that I found that I could not get one of the charms back off my bracelet, and it was stuck fast on the raised stopper section. He sent his agent back to the hotel (9pm at night), who managed to prise it off after about 10 minutes of trying. I had visions of my bracelet breaking, such was the force required, and almost wept with relief after the charm was safely removed.
I was able to negotiate what I considered very good prices with both of them, and the delivery times were as advised to me, so no problems in that respect.
I would happily use Burhan again for making an item such as a ring, but for the Pandora charms, Ms Pak was definitely the better jeweller to use. So that was my experience, however, others my differ in their opinions.
I have also previously used Audrey Veronica at Kuta Paradiso, and was very happy with the results from her for the 2 rings and a pendant I had made in 2007. But there has also been a variance of opinion by other forumites as regards her shop as well.