mrwindt Posted May 4, 2004 #1 Share Posted May 4, 2004 Any hints on shopping for gold jewelry in Florence? How do the prices compare to US? How about compared to St. Thomas? Any wonderful finds? Thanks for your help and suggestions. Mary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cberge Posted May 4, 2004 #2 Share Posted May 4, 2004 <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mrwindt: Any hints on shopping for gold jewelry in Florence? How do the prices compare to US? How about compared to St. Thomas? Any wonderful finds? Thanks for your help and suggestions. Mary<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> There are jewelry stores all over Florence,but the Pont Vecchio is one shop after the other!!!! I can't compare to what you will find there to St.Thomas,but like I have always said..know your prices in the US before you shop anyhwere,and make the comaprison then. I have found jewelry in Florence that I had not seen here and if I really liked it I bought it,have enjoyed it and didn't shop with a fixed price in mind for something like that.Also, while you are there do look at the leather good as there are some really good bargains,again if you know your prices.You will not have any trouble finding a shop!! Enjoy. Karen Ü Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jody Posted May 6, 2004 #3 Share Posted May 6, 2004 A private land tour guide I had in 1998 recommended the Gold Shop/Store right across the square from the Sante Croce church. She purchased several items there herself. When I returned last summer, I went back and bought some small blue 'globe' charms that look good as a necklace or dangles for hoop earrings. With the poor exchange rate, I'm not sure if gold is a good buy in Italy now, but my charms were an inexpensive buy that remind me of my 'worldly' travels. NEXT UP: Tahitian Princess October 2004 (Tahiti) Golden Princess May 2003 (Mediterranean) Golden Princess January 2002 (Eastern Caribbean) Sea Princess March 2001 (Western Caribbean) Carnival Inspiration March 1997 (Southern Caribbean) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacqueline Posted May 9, 2004 #4 Share Posted May 9, 2004 With the weak dollar I dont know about finding great buys. But there certainly are unique designs that you wont find at home. THere is a lot of very nice gold in Athens that is higher carat. Jacqueline Constellation 3/20/04 HAL Westerdam 7/30/04 Tahitian Princess August 2003 Grand Princess Western Caribbean 2003 Brilliance of the Seas Baltic 2002 Ocean Princess- Alaska 2001 Celebrity Zenith- Bermuda 2001 Grand Princess Med 2000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted May 9, 2004 #5 Share Posted May 9, 2004 My wife would agree with Jacqueline. She has never been real impressed with the jewelery in Italy unless looking at the very high priced Tiffany quality stuff. Turkey probably has the cheapest gold jewelery, but the quality is nothing great. However, in Greece the quality and designs are superb. We have had our best luck in Athens and Mykonos. Just window shopping at the Greek jewelers can be a real treat to the eyes. Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tania Posted May 13, 2004 #6 Share Posted May 13, 2004 Hank, Can you recommend specific stores in Athens? Thanks Diamond Princess 03/04 Sun Princess 12/03 Grand Princess 12/02 Royal Princess 08/02 Ocean Princess 08/01 Pacific Princess 12/00 Carla C. 03/83 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted May 13, 2004 #7 Share Posted May 13, 2004 In a word. no! My wife does not remember the stores she liked, and I do my best to ignore anything that has the word (Jewelery) in its name! Those places normally make me cry! However, when you walk around the downtown shopping area outside the Plaka, you will see many fine jewelers. You will know the good stores when you see them, and the designs of their product is quite impressive. We are talking designs that would look good in Tiffany's window. As to prices, I have to believe they are not a bargain since the dollar has declined over 30% to the Euro in the past few years. Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hornblower Posted May 14, 2004 #8 Share Posted May 14, 2004 You'll find that prices in Italy and Greece can be similar. What I suggest is to haggle a bit. In some places it will work while in others it won't. I had bought wedding rings in Italy, OK not the stuff you probably are looking for, however when I was in Santorini we spoke to a local jeweller about the price. He said it was an excellent price for 18 carat and I could see he was a little disappointed not making a sale. So, what I say is bargain with these people, they all want to make sales to tourists, it doesn't matter if in Italy, Greece or Turkey. One word though, in Greece the gold can go as high as 21 carat, nice but can be fragile if you intend to wear it in places (fingers and wrists) it comes into contact with things. As for leather goods the same goes, Italy, Greece and above all Turkey. Make sure you check to see if it is real leather. Some stalls in Florence will give you good bargains if you haggle. Not all of them are run by Italians, some by Brazilians and they are really good sorts. Good luck. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tania Posted May 21, 2004 #9 Share Posted May 21, 2004 Thanks Hank. Our dollar has gone up so some things still may be a buy. I can't wait to wait out...most of the fun is in the search...LOL... * Star Princess 07/04 * Diamond Princess 03/04 Sun Princess 12/03 Grand Princess 12/02 Royal Princess 08/02 Ocean Princess 08/01 Pacific Princess 12/00 Carla C. 03/83 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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