This is a tough one, but knowing the people here, maybe not. My sister-in-law just returned from Paris. She saw a charm of the Eiffel Tower in one of the little arcaded shops on the Rue de Rivoli next to the Louvre. It was either 10 or 14k gold, I think and cost just under 300 francs. She wishes she had bought it and now wants me to help her find it or one like it so she can order. I have done a little searching so far and actually found some charms that are gold plated for about 60 francs. Does anyone have any idea what store this could have been or where on the Internet I can find something like this? Merci beaucoup

Dan, if it was anybody but you, I would think they were nuts. As it is, I think the challenge is exceptional. Given the contributors to this forum, you just might find someone whose first cousin is the owner. <BR> <BR>BUT, no joke, there is a place on the web that might help you: <BR>http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/wjpm_pages...E_TYPE=anglais <BR> <BR>I read it over before I went and knew where stores were along rue de Rennes. <BR>(Banks, post office, McDonalds etc.) <BR> <BR>It gives a list of thousands of shops on the streets of France. There is a gift shop in the Carrousel du Louvre that I saw listed. Also, there is a jewelry shop called Historie d'Or at #86. <BR> <BR>If this approach fails, try Nicole Valier, she is a clarvoyant listed along there some place. Come to think of it there are two of them. <BR> <BR>Good luck. I hope the French yellow pages can help you out. Be interesting to hear how this turns out. At least it is something to help snap me out of my post Paris depression. I don't think I can face another Athens restaurant again -- but then, I had trouble with that before I visited Paris and stuffed myself on pastries, bread, pastries, chocolate, more deserts, pastries, ..... You get the idea.

Try Galeries Lafayette - they have a website, they ship, and they have Paris souvenirs. I bet they have those nifty Eiffel Tower charms! And, you'll give the personal shopper staff something to discuss over croissants and cafe au lait... <BR>Try: http://www.pageszoom.com/wrmm_rue_marchande.cgi <BR>fill in the street, a number, and it give you the businesses on both sides of the street (like a bird's eye view of the street). <BR>You are now bound by honor to report the result of this Quest... <BR>

Sorry. Still jet lagged. The #86 referenced above is on Rue de Rivoli. <BR>The pages I cited seem to do the same thing as the ones Elvira cited. I wonder if it is actually the same website. At any rate, you plug in Paris and the name of the street and the site lists all of the shops along both sides of the street. It is amazing how much that helps so that you know the area around your hotel and where to go. <BR> <BR>Right now I am torn between going back to London and going back to Paris. But first, I have to go back to work!! <BR>I retired but don't have enough sense to stay that way!!

Hi Dan: <BR> <BR>I totally understand what your sister-in-law is going through. I had my souveniers along with my camera stolen. One idea is to get a nice Fodorite to pick one up for her when they go to Paris. I am considering another European trip in March. If I go, I will definitely bring one back from her. I will let you know if it works out. Or maybe some other generous person out there will help out. A wonderful person from this web site replaced my eiffel tower and shot glass that was stolen. I sent money ahead of time (along with a little extra for trouble). Just an idea. Go Badgers!

Hey Dan. I asked my wife if she remembered any shops selling jewelry items near the Lourve. She does because she bought a set of earrings at a shop called Agatha. We have the wrapping paper and the credit slip, but no address. But the only place she stopped to make that type of purchase was in that shopping area close to the inverted glass pyramid that you walk through when exiting out onto Rue de Rivoli from the Louvre. There are several Agatha shops listed in the Paris Yellow Pages and all sell costume jewelry. If this was not the place perhaps one of the Agatha shops would have the item in question. <BR>They seemed to have a goodly supply of pins, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and the like. I hope this helps you track the store down, or at least a shop that sells that type of merchandise.

I really appreciate all the help on this, and I am sure my sister-in-law will too. I have been looking at the site that Bob and Elvira mentioned, and it is pretty interesting. Teri, I really appreciate the offer, and I will let you know. I think it particularly means a lot to her because they had never been overseas before and may not be able to go again for a long time. Are you from Wisconsin or an alumnus?

I cannot resist a flippant comment. <BR>Perhaps Elvira could dispatch one of her geese to get the item desired. <BR>Seriously though, Dan, with all of the Agatha shops in Paris, could you not call one of them and see if the item you want is in stock?? And would they not send it against credit card payment? <BR>I remember seeing lots of Eiffel Towers, but some of them were the size of a bell worn by a champion Swiss cow. Not exactly charming dimensions. <BR>

But they make dandy lamps...

Elvira is correct - Galeries Lafayette sell 18k charms of the Eiffel Tower. On the ground floor in the jewellery section.

You might check the several shopping guides to Paris at the bookstore, such as "Born to Shop - Paris". This is by no means an admonishment, but when you're far from home and see something that makes your heart leap, BUY IT. You'll never regret it and you'll forget what you paid for it.

I had a feeling that Galeries Lafayette would be a good bet for higher quality charms after Elvira mentioned it. I looked through the web site, but it doesn't appear that these items are included in the on-line shopping section. Does anyone know whether Galeries Lafayette ships? If not, I will just have to call and ask them, I suppose. Will also check on Agatha. I sent an e-mail to my sister-in-law last night telling her all the great information you have provided here. You are right, Donna. I think most of us have learned that lesson the hard way, but it was their first trip like this. Next time, I think she will just buy what she sees. <BR> <BR>Big Eiffel Towers make good picture frames too. I might have to remember the lamp idea for next time... <BR>

Egads but it is incredible the type of information you can get on this forum, at least on the European side of the fence. I don't find the others to be as productive. <BR> <BR>Perhaps we could start a contest to see who can come up with the most innovative use for Eiffel Tower replicas. <BR>We have lamps and picture frames so far. <BR>I could add paper weights and spear tips, but those seem prosaic. I am sure that at least one of the clever minds out there will come up with a real winner. (I guess you could thread one and use it as a garden hose nozzle, or a shower head.) <BR> <BR>

My teenager, who is an Agatha shopper whenever we visit Paris, has told me that there is a branch in NYC. Before you make an overseas call, I would check the NYC yellow pages. Good luck!

I did a quick search on eiffel+tower+charms and came up with www.shop4charms.com They had several eiffel towers to choose from available in ss/10k/14k/....Also in retail jeweler shop have catalogs that they can order charms from. We own a small retail jewelry store and I do it for our customers all the time. I saw a charm in Germany at Neuschwanstein I wanted, didn't get it and ended up ordering one from a catalog when we returned. Hope this helps. <BR>Lori

Galleries Lafayette used to have a branch in Trump Tower & the staff was super about helping mke make a selection over the phone & ship to my mom,etc.,for her BDay.Perhaps contacting via phone or letter could net you the charm. Galleries Lafayette would wrap and send out on Credit Card....perhaps you could send check in advance.

Uses for Eiffel Tower - light bulb goes off - how about as a tacky landmark reproduction for a new Las Vegas hotel!!!!! Yeah, that's the ticket...

Only on Fodors!!!! What a great, helpful, knowledgeable bunch....! Hope the search is successful. <BR> <BR>Uses for ET: ...a backscratcher??? a Francophile "take" on the dashboard ornament? a nifty bagel stacking/server?? the weapon that provides the "twist of the week" for "Law & Order"????

I in fact bought a little Eiffel Tower charm at Agatha's when I lived there in the Spring of 1997. If I remember right it cost about 300 ff.