Brief introduction and Goldsmithing questions

Slagbjorn

Hi all!

I thought it would be time to stop lurking around and finally register here at IM. I have been reading in the forums all summer, but sadly it did not at all prepare me for India as she was when I arrived in July this year.
I managed to fall madly in love with this strange country, and I also managed to trust the wrong people and lose some money I could have kept on to. (Tourists always pays too much, na?)

It is, however for more selfish reasons I turn to this forum. I have been looking and lurking for an answer, but so far I have found none.
I have heard that it is illegal to export jewellery from India, yet there are wholesalers doing it. As I am in the business myself, India is an interesting country with skilled craftsmen and low prices, compared to here in Europe.

My question is simply this: How do I get silver and gold jewellery of *my own design* exported to Europe? I am not interested in the bulk loads that is already exported, I want to order my own design on pieces. Is there such a service already, or will I have to start an entirely new business? If so, then how do I do this?

And yes, this is, of course also a love story, as all stories are. It contains a girl, a boy, a dream and a distance that is far too long between them.

Edit: I found some valuable information on this thread:
Importing & exporting
But since my English is what it is, my head started spinning after a while, and after several attempts to understand, I have to admit that I cannot understand what one is supposed to do.

mridula

Slagbjorn welcome to Indiamike.

I too tried reading that thread and looks like a lot of paper work!

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Mridula

Travel Tales from India

Slagbjorn

Thank you!

I understood the part about paper work as well, but not what should be done. Or, for that matter if I, as an European could do it. OR if I have to be in India to do it?

Haylo

To me it looks as simple as getting an export license would be anywhere else, but that is because English is my first language and I am used to reading legal documents.

Are you planning to visit India again soon?

Because if someone can recommend a good solicitor there who has experience of this, they could explain it to you very easily I think.

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The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

Slagbjorn

Do you mean that I could get the license from anywhere, or that it should be as easy as anywhere else? Please excuse my language difficulties!

I am planning to visit India in June or July again.
Maybe December if *ahem* a certain girl is out of boarding school by then and not overwhelmed with homework.

Is a good solicitor not terribly expensive?

camelgirl

I don't know how you do it but I do know what you want to do can definitely be done.

A couple of years ago we stayed in Jaipur and at the same hotel was an English couple who designed silver jewelry and had it made for them in Jaipur to bring back to England. They come every year and spent a couple of months in Jaipur doing this.

They had an Indian agent who they worked with as the person who worked with the craftsmen who made the jewelry. That is all I know. Keep looking around and you will find out how you can do this.

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Slagbjorn

Thanks a lot!
The only concern now is where to look.