I would like to buy myself a 50th birthday present to me while in Florence - I am thinking a chunky gold bracelet. Do you have any advice and recommendations on specific shops? Thank you.

Hi - I have bought jewelry at this 3 store on three trips. I found their prices and quality to be very good. I have other people rave about this store here on Fodors. It is on the Ponte Vechio and they have 2 stores on the bridge.

http://www.vaggi.it/eng/main.html

Oh, this store sells 18k gold as far as I know. That is typical for Florence from what I have been able to tell.

There is a large jewelry store on Piazza Santa Croce which seems to have better prices than the touristy shops on Vechhio. Santa Croce is a few blocks east of the Ufizzi, and a very nice, less crowded area of the downtown.

Thank you, and for not laughing at me too.

When my husband was in Italy in 1988 (before we were married) he bought a gold pinky ring on the Ponte Vechio. I admit that I laugh at him when he tries to pull that out!

good for you!
but when we were in Florence 2 years ago we did not see much of a difference in prices compared to North America

I knew my boyfriend 3 weeks when he asked me to go on this trip to celebrate my 50th birthday. I have a cross from Bethlahem Israel, a piece of antique jewelry from a flea market in Paris etc I am not a touristy shopper but enjoy memories. I often receive gifts that aren't quite my taste so for my 40th and 45th I started my own tradition...

The pinky ring sounds just "darling".

Oh - it has been almost a year now...

I think you'll get a ton of ideas for a birthday gift if you just take a little time to walk across the Ponte Vechio. I have never seen so much jewelry in my life. You'll have trouble picking just one thing!

There are many other stores in town to compare prices with so look around.

I loved the whole experience of ringing the buzzer to get let in and then be locked in there and able to try on anything I wanted. Do a little research on prices of gold bracelets before so you know what things cost here. Keep in mind that 18k gold is more expensive than 14k gold. I have bought 3 rings and each would have cost at least a third more than if I had bought it in the US.

For example, last year I bought one of those rings with 3 connected circles - one was yellow gold, one white gold and one pink gold. I paid $120 for it. It was a good deal considering all the gold.

Have fun! I'm going to Italy for my 50th birthday also!

I have bought jewelry several times from this store in Florence. They're very nice to deal with and have been in business for years.

As other posters have said, most of the jewelry in Florence is 18k.

Enjoy your 50th birthday.

http://tinyurl.com/yoq9e6

I have spent so much time researching and planning and have enjoyed every minute. I usually travel with my daughter. She laughs at me but loves the things I plan. I very much appreciate the input.

cls2paris - Enjoy your 50th too!