To buy or not to buy on the Ponte Vecchio
 

I know the Ponte Vecchio is loaded with jewelery and leather shops.....what are your recommendations about buying goods there? Is it better to venture away from there to get a better deal?

As always, your help is appreciated!

Good question - as I would like to buy a nice piece of gold jewelry in Italy (Florence??) and am wondering if the PV is worthy of my splurge.

Thoughts?

I bought a beautiful and unusual gold (18 karat) ring in Florence at a great price at a wholesale jeweler called C.O.I. They are located at Via Por Santa Maria 8, 2nd Floor (near the Ponte Vecchio). Their website is http://www.coi-firenze.it/coi_uk/menu.html. I looked at the Ponte Vecchio stores and didn't see anything I liked as much or that was as good a price as the ring I bought.

My guess -- operative word: guess -- is that on the Ponte Vecchio you are paying in part for the location.

I was not looking for gold but for semi-precious stones. In the Oltrarno, I found unstrung amethysts of good quality for less than half the price of much shorter strung amethysts of mediocre quality at the San Lorenzo market (which is not the Ponte Vecchio by any means). The further you get from the highly touristed areas, the better the prices are likely to be.

One store for gold jewelry in classic styles (not "creative" designs) that is recommended in a guidebook that I trust is Ugo Piccini on Via Por S. Maria (which, as it happens, is in a pretty highly touristed area).

I found jewerly (rings) at a beautiful jewerly store away from the historical center of Florence and the Ponte Vecchio that was less expensive then the prices on the Ponte Vecchio. It was a jewerly store that the residents of Florence use. I am sorry I don't remember the name of it. If you have time to wander around, or perhaps ask your hotel for recommendations you may do better price wise. But of course it depends on how much time you have in Florence also.

Are you based in the USA?
If so, do some browsing around jewelry shops at home, especially at discounters, so you can get an idea of prices. With the dollar to euro ratio not being in our favor, bargains on any items in Europe are few and far between.
Wanting a special souvenir is one thing, finding a bargain is another.
Good luck

The first time I went to Florence, I wanted a ring as a special memento of my visit. I wanted unique. I looked a several stores on and off the Ponte Vecchio. I found a wonderful amythyst ring at S. Viaggi on Ponte Vecchio. It seemed like a good value and I loved it so I bought it. I took it to a jewelry store at home to get an idea of the price here, and I probably spent 1/3 less than I would here. I've been back to Florence two other times and bought rings (a garnet and one of those rings that are made of 3 gold rings that are connected - yellow, pink and white gold) at S. Viaggi. I don't recall the price for the garnet but I'm sure it was under $150 and the gold ring was $110. I'm sure you can find quality and good prices at other places so look around and you'll find something you'll treasure. Oh, keep in mind that the gold is 18kt not 14kt, so that makes the price slightly higher. Have a fun time! I love wearing my rings and remembering where I bought them.

I have understood for many years to stay away from the Ponte Vecchio for buying jewelry. Some may be honest but some are not. We go to COI or way out of the historic district. COI is regulated by the government but the shops on the Ponte Vecchio aren't. You may be lucky or you may not. I have heard that people have bought jewelry that looks like 18k gold but is actually polished brass. They look a lot alike. It was even stamped 18k. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

cls2paris' experience is not unique.

<i>&quot;The further you get from the highly touristed areas, the better the prices are likely to be.&quot;</i>

I respectfully disagree. Many quality shops purposely locate themselves in &quot;high tourist&quot; areas specifically to achieve &quot;volume&quot; sales. A retailer that sells &quot;volume&quot; is better capable of offering better prices to customer's looking for a deal. They're also in a better position to negotiate.

The Ponte Vecchio offers some veteran retailers who have excellent reputations. A little more research will lead the way.

Haggling is definitely not my thing because my eye prefers one-of-a-kind pieces and, if I love a certain piece, I don't hesitate to pay what the retailer is asking unless I plan to purchase volume or the seller offers a discount to &quot;seal the deal.&quot;

I'm not interested in wearing mass-market items or stuff that you will see at three other stores. Who wants to see someone else wearing the item you bought and then discussing who got what cheaper where?

Buying a lovely, unique jewelry piece is not like buying a laser printer. If you know what quality looks like, you should be able to determine its worth and proceed accordingly. Furthermore, who can place a dollar value on the memories of shopping on the Ponte Vecchio?

I've bought quite a number of beautiful pieces of jewelry on the Ponte Vecchio and all have been unique and a great value. Ann1, I've never heard anything about disreputable vendors on the PV. Do you actually know someone who was ripped off or just heard that someone has been? I'm going back in November and am looking forward to shopping there again.

Yup, I know of a couple of people that found their 18k was brass on their return home. It's also a well know problem with the locals. BUT as I mentioned, not all shops do that. Some people I know have purchased nice things there. I prefer to go out of the way and not shop in touristy areas. That goes for everything and everywhere.

I recommend this shop on the PV:http://www.vaggi.it/eng/main.html

They are professional and the gold surely is genuine, they have a reputation and an international market.

The most bargaining I do in a shop is ask, what is the best price you can give me? It usually comes down a bit. I was interested in a certain pendant and the saleswoman was very helpful in helping me choose the one I really wanted (which wasn't the most expensive either). She was patient and had a sense of humor to boot.

But I think you should decide where to buy after checking out the PV and other shops around town, no use deciding now. Shop around, that is is half the fun.

Hi shoppers for gold- I have shopped the PV for over 30 years. my last purchses were in an antique store on the bridge at the end on the left just before the bridge ends (headed toward Pitti Palace). My gold necklace was appraised at Sothesby's for more that 8 times what I paid there. My earings were 4 times what I paid. They were estate pieces and both were 18+.

This time we are headed to Arezzo. Has anyone had experience shopping for gold there? I understand it is the goldsmith's town,

What car rental company for Italy is best?

Best travels to you all,

Dede

Dedegil: Search Fodors postings and you will see that most frequent travelers...myself included...prefer AutoEurope. It's an American company and will match any price if it is honestly cheaper than they quote. For Italy they cover all insurances completely...CDW (mandatory), fire, theft, etc. If you go to most other car sites they don't cover all that AutoEurope does. They use Avis, Hertz and Eruope Car cars. They have an agreement with them to give their customers low mileage cars. We have always been very happy with them. When we had a mid-sized car once we had an Alfa. Great car. Since the company is in the US, if you have a problem, you can deal with them here.

It may be touristy but that doesn't mean there aren't good values. On the other hand, although I love good jewelry I don't think I would spend a trememdous amount of money (everyone gets their own definition of &quot;trememdous&quot;) in a place I was not that familar with since although I may like it I certainly don't consider myself an evlauation expert.

Having said that, several years ago my husband bought me an antique coral ring at a Boston jeweler. It had a beautiful and unusual setting. When we went to Florence a little later he asked if I would like coral earrings (silly man knew the answer!) We shopped aorund and bought a beautiful pair of earrings similar in setting to my ring at Fantoni on the PV. Probably cost about $200-300. And everytime I wear them they make me smile at the great memories. Enjoy whatever you may buy!

In my two trips to Florence I have purchased items on the PV both times that I was not able to find elsewhere. The prices were fair in comparison but both were pieces with lapis that I did not see anywhere else.

SeaUrchin - that is the same place I bought my rings! I guess I have been pronouncing it incorrectly for years! Thanks for giving the URL, it was fun to look. And, I'm happy to know that I've been making a good choice. Thanks!

You're welcome! I see we have good taste!

Gold settles at 17 year high, per Yahoo:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050916/...cious_comex_dc

Don;t forget the museum shops. I bought a beautiful replica of an Etrusacn ring - modeled from one in the museum - very unusual - not like the basic stuff you see in every shop. They even washed it in 24 carat gold to make it look the same as the original had (although it was only 18 underneath)