How do you deflect any questions about why you went to Bangkok? Just bring Mama some jewelry back and you are scot-free! Forget about those mall stores, THE place for a farang to get quality jewelry is Venus, on Wireless Rd, near the US Embassy, 02-253-9559 Goto: www.venus-thailand.com, to see selections of their work.
They cater specifically to US diplomats and military. As an added bonus, you call them up and they will send a van with a driver and a pretty girl to your hotel to bring you to the shop. And after you are finished, the driver will take you anywhere in Bangkok you want to go, not just back to your hotel.
They all speak great English, will even FEDEX free of charge your items back to the states. Extremely reputable, they take cash, credit and checks.
I've dropped several grand on Mama there, and now she EXPECTS me to go to BKK at least once a year to bring her back jewelry she can't get in the States.

I just returned from BKK in November and had another great experience there. I dropped off a sterling silver bracelet that I purchased at Tiffany & Co, and aske dthem to recreate it it in 18k gold. A week later it was done...UTTERLY BEAUTIFUL!
The wife is placated for another few months!

If the Pretty Girl does not blow you while you are shopping there -- it's not worth it !!
Some of us are not married and do not have to waste out hard earned baht on jewelry !!

I would have thought my son would have learned from my mistakes !!

Be careful --- Mama may want to go shopping with you next time . Believe me it's friggin torture to have a wife attached to you while you're in Thailand-- and my wife was Thai !!