Y
Yankeefan5
Guest
hi all -
anyone have any suggestions of a good place(s) for jewelery in St. Thomas.
Thanks so much.
anyone have any suggestions of a good place(s) for jewelery in St. Thomas.
Thanks so much.
B
BP
Guest
New York city at 47th street. Be Careful in St Thomas. Understand what duty free really means. St Thomas is a high rent district.
N
nimbex
Guest
I had bought a tanzenite bracelet at diamonds international, guarenteed by the ship if you send the form back. It was very overpriced at Cozumel and took 45 minutes of haggling, walked out the store once to bring it to the $279 that I wanted to pay. Mind you, I shopped all around home comparing prices per carat weight. Because I loved the unusual setting, I found that investing the haggling time to be worth it. Bottom price at home, with an average every day setting was $399. So these bozo's had it marked upto a grand. Worst thing is I still think I could have gotten it cheaper.. the hubby drew the line on my time investment... buy now or leave it.
If you want to buy jewlery, you'll need a solid two days at home investing time and writing down carat prices with the gold weight prices, average them between 5 stores and you're ready. Now being able to diferentiate the quality, is a awhole other weekend shopping. I tend to be very cheap in price but high in quality, so I do invest a large amt. of time in research....... only to loose that dang bracelet... God knows where !!!!!
Probably with my lost 2 carat diamond tennis braclet!!! I'm just a mess somedays
If you want to buy jewlery, you'll need a solid two days at home investing time and writing down carat prices with the gold weight prices, average them between 5 stores and you're ready. Now being able to diferentiate the quality, is a awhole other weekend shopping. I tend to be very cheap in price but high in quality, so I do invest a large amt. of time in research....... only to loose that dang bracelet... God knows where !!!!!
Probably with my lost 2 carat diamond tennis braclet!!! I'm just a mess somedays
S
soon2bcruising
Guest
H. Stern is a reputable jewelry store in St. Thomas. If you want something really different try Tillet's Garden (not in downtown, you must take a taxi). There are a number of jewelers there that create one of a kind jewelry.
O
oriolesfan22
Guest
Yankeesfan - I'll put aside our personal differences (two teams with a huge rivalry!) to give advice on my favorite shopping topic - JEWELRY!!!
We're about to go on our 11th cruise and with each cruise my husband has assisted me in selecting one or two pieces of reasonably priced jewelry on each cruise. (When I say reasonably priced, I've paid between $100 and $700 for each piece.) Also, when I say "assisted" I mean that he sits in the husband's chair inside every jewelry store and accepts a complimentary beverage until I wave him over to see something that I like!
I've never been unhappy with my purchases in the Carribean. It only makes sense to check out your local prices - sometimes department stores like Macy's have great coupon sales and you can purchase pretty jewelry at home if you are patient. But, when you are on a cruise you get to see store after store of beautiful jewelry in all price ranges. What I've found is that the store specials are what I ignore (these are things like the $199 diamond tennis bracelet, reversible ring, emerald/sapphire/ruby bracelet choice for $99, etc.) because, in my opinion, these are for the people who don't buy much jewelry and are lured in by the prices. If you walk through the stores, stop and ask their best price on a piece, then say that you are not sure what you want but you'd like to shop around, they'll often say "let me see if there's something else I can do with the price." Have them write it down on their card and then move on to the next store to see what you can find. When you've checked everything out, go back to the store with the piece you liked the most and tell them that you are back, and see if they can work the price a little more. As far as stores go, I like Cardow the most for the "big name" stores, I've had a little luck at Tanzanite International, and I've liked a couple of the smaller stores across the street between the two Cardow stores, though I can't remember the names of the smaller stores. I feel like I have a better knowledge of jewelry than probably the average shopper because I've really taken an interest in it, and can identify some of the more unusual stones. But I can tell you that sometimes instinct comes into play when I shop since some stores just give me a funny vibe - you'll find some places have jewelry with tarnished bands and stones that just don't look natural. I don't know how to describe it other than to say some items just don't look right. If you have an doubt, just trust your gut. You have to accept that all sales are pretty much final unless you go through all kinds of hassles!
Happy cruising and happy shopping!
We're about to go on our 11th cruise and with each cruise my husband has assisted me in selecting one or two pieces of reasonably priced jewelry on each cruise. (When I say reasonably priced, I've paid between $100 and $700 for each piece.) Also, when I say "assisted" I mean that he sits in the husband's chair inside every jewelry store and accepts a complimentary beverage until I wave him over to see something that I like!
I've never been unhappy with my purchases in the Carribean. It only makes sense to check out your local prices - sometimes department stores like Macy's have great coupon sales and you can purchase pretty jewelry at home if you are patient. But, when you are on a cruise you get to see store after store of beautiful jewelry in all price ranges. What I've found is that the store specials are what I ignore (these are things like the $199 diamond tennis bracelet, reversible ring, emerald/sapphire/ruby bracelet choice for $99, etc.) because, in my opinion, these are for the people who don't buy much jewelry and are lured in by the prices. If you walk through the stores, stop and ask their best price on a piece, then say that you are not sure what you want but you'd like to shop around, they'll often say "let me see if there's something else I can do with the price." Have them write it down on their card and then move on to the next store to see what you can find. When you've checked everything out, go back to the store with the piece you liked the most and tell them that you are back, and see if they can work the price a little more. As far as stores go, I like Cardow the most for the "big name" stores, I've had a little luck at Tanzanite International, and I've liked a couple of the smaller stores across the street between the two Cardow stores, though I can't remember the names of the smaller stores. I feel like I have a better knowledge of jewelry than probably the average shopper because I've really taken an interest in it, and can identify some of the more unusual stones. But I can tell you that sometimes instinct comes into play when I shop since some stores just give me a funny vibe - you'll find some places have jewelry with tarnished bands and stones that just don't look natural. I don't know how to describe it other than to say some items just don't look right. If you have an doubt, just trust your gut. You have to accept that all sales are pretty much final unless you go through all kinds of hassles!
Happy cruising and happy shopping!
9
9cruisessofar
Guest
I've bought all my diamonds and other jewelery at a store called Chardot's. They have two stores. I like the one downtown the best. You can make better deals with the people who work there.
J
jas777
Guest
Does St. Maarten have better deals/prices, etc than St. Thomas, or are they pretty much the same? I thought I saw a post on another thread about St. Maarten being the better island to shop for jewelry, but I just can't remember!!! My wife wants to buy a nice diamond ring this Oct. on our cruise, and I'm just starting my research on where to go, prices to expect, etc.
Thanks!
P.S
Go Red Sox :0)
Thanks!
P.S
Go Red Sox :0)
B
Boymom
Guest
St. Maarten is much cheaper. I bought my 2 K tanzanite ring at Tanzanite International in St. Maarten
for $200 less than the SAME ring......SAME store in St. Thomas on the day before....
for $200 less than the SAME ring......SAME store in St. Thomas on the day before....
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9cruisessofar
Guest
Chardot's in the downtown area!! Also check out the flea market in the same area for good deals.
J
JeffFwa
Guest
St. Maarten is definitely cheaper for high end jewelery. We bought a watch for about $300 cheaper on St. Maarten than it would have been in St. Thomas. They seem more willing to haggle in St. Maarten as well. I've found that the prices are "as marked" on most of the merchandise in St. Thomas.
J
jas777
Guest
Thanks all!!
My wife will definitly be glad to hear of the lower prices in St Maarten!!! I may need to hide the credit cards from her
My wife will definitly be glad to hear of the lower prices in St Maarten!!! I may need to hide the credit cards from her
I
ibecruzen2
Guest
st martin. cheap. cigarettes9.50 a carton=docdance
