Shopping for the "perfect piece" in Nassau, Bahamas.
WHAT-TO-DO - NASSAU, CABLE BEACH & PARADISE ISLAND - JAN 2003 EDITION
It doesn't happen often, but every once in awhile you'll spot the item - a perfume, a ring, a cigar, a purse, a straw hat - and it's perfect.
It could be a T-shirt going for next to nothing or a luxury watch that will lay a big bruise on your pocketbook. The point is, it's exactly right, a gift for your one-and-only, a wacky souvenir for a friend back home, or something so special it seems to have your name on it.
These are not items you can actually shop for. They swim into your ken almost by accident. Because Nassau has such a large number of quality shops, concentrated in but not limited to the downtown Bay St area, this town is one of the best places in the world to track down a "perfect buy." And even if you don't find one, it's still fun to look. In fact, visiting Nassau and not shopping is like ordering a Bahama Mama without the rum.
Many luxury items are duty free and because there is no sales tax, you can find what you are not looking for at a significant savings over US and European prices.
Of course, What-to-do can't tell you what your great find will be. But we can suggest places to look; places where thousands of visitors have found perfect buys over the years.
Fine jewellery is one of the best buys you can make in The Bahamas because precious and semi-precious gemstones are sold duty free. In some cases, you can save up to 30 per cent on world prices.
Don't be surprised if an emerald turns out to be the single best find of your vacation. There's a huge selection to choose from, ranging in price from the affordable (about $135) to the fabulous ($40,000 and more).
"You'll see stones in all imaginable shades of green," says Rupa Sharma, promotions manager at Colombian Emeralds International (CEI), the world's premier emerald jeweller. The deeper the colour, the greater the value, Sharma explains.
CEI has more than 30 stores worldwide and four in New Providence, two on Bay St and two at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island. Buy an emerald here and you also get "certified appraisals, international guarantees of authenticity, a free 90-day insurance policy against damage, loss or theft, and a US service centre," says Sharma.
Another place to find a superb emerald is The Colombian, with two stores on Bay St. The Colombian is also home to stunning jewellery and timepieces from Charriol, Baume & Mercier and Chopard - quality timepieces that make strong fashion statements. For something really unusual, check out the distinctive Corum line of limited edition Swiss movement watches at The Colombian, also available at the Chopard boutique in the Royal Towers at Atlantis.
Thinking of diamonds?
If you prefer diamonds, which are equally good buys, you should be thinking of Crown Jewellers, says Georgia Russell.
"We're the diamond store," says Russell, manager at the main store on Bay St. "Whether it's rings, bracelets, earrings, pendants, we're the people to see." Crown Jewellers has three shops on Bay St (one called Valentine's) and one at the Mall at Marathon.
All of Crown's and Valentine's stones - ranging in weight from less than one ct to a rare seven ct - are mined in South Africa, cut and polished in Belgium and fashioned into jewellery by Italian craftsmen.
There are many shops that sell less expensive, but still beautifully worked pieces. Foremost among these is Andeana Designs in the Radisson Shopping Mall on Cable Beach. This shop features beautiful pearl and conch shell jewellery strung by handicapped artisans. Pieces include lariats with glass hearts, black freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystal. Owner Betty-Jane Dean reports that coral and turquoise jewellery is selling particularly well, as are many non-jewellery items from the hands of well known Bahamian artists.
Exclusive at Solomon's
Back on Bay St, you won't be able to ignore Solomon's Mines, exclusive retailer of many of the world's top design houses. Solomon's has three stores on Bay St and two more on Paradise Island: one at Atlantis, the other at Hurricane Hole.
There's a good chance you'll find that elusive item you are not looking for amid Solomon's displays of Breitling aviator watches, Lalique and Baccarat crystal, Wedgwood china or luxurious silk scarves by Herm?s. Or you may find just the thing at the jewellery counter, among Aaron Basha's fabulous line of plain or jewel-encrusted baby shoes. This is the designer's signature line, exclusively at Solomon's. Aaron Basha has designed more than 200 baby shoes and they have attracted a high-profile following, including celebrity moms Demi Moore, Celine Dion and Madonna.
Great buys in leather
Still looking? Perhaps you'll choose your perfect buy from among the elegant handbags at Fendi on Bay St, where new versions of the Ostrik bag are making waves, according to Diane McCartney, buyer. The Ostrik, in three sizes, is "flat like an oyster but subtle in its volume" with a short strap that allows it to rest comfortably under the arm, close to the body.
Another possibility is the Kenzia handbag collection at the Brass & Leather Shop just around the corner on Charlotte St, or at a second shop at the Mall at Marathon. Kenzia, an Italian design, includes key chains and daily planners to go with the bag. Take a look also at the Kenzia backpack, a great gift for moms who need to keep their hands free.
Bags and purses in many shapes and sizes in signature prints are a speciality at Gucci, on the corner of Bay St and Bank Ln, with a second store at Atlantis. You can accessorize with sunglasses, shoes, belts and fine Gucci watches, which come with leather straps or stainless steel or gold finished bracelets.
Nearby is Leather Masters on Parliament St, just off Bay. Store manager Barbara Morley suggests you look at "our winter lines of Ted Lapidus and Lancel luggage, all at a savings of 15 to 20 per cent over US prices." Also popular are the Colibri range of gift items for men, especially the ties, cuff links and pens.
Linen and amber
There are several places to shop for fine linen in Nassau, but don't buy until you've seen the selection at Far East Traders, a bright, airy shop tucked away in Prince George Plaza. The manager here is Jeanne Kemp and she knows her linen. "All of our products have a high thread-count: the higher the thread-count, the higher the quality and longevity of the linen," Kemp says.
You might suddenly see "just the thing" among Far East Traders' new table and bed linens, place mats, napkins and doilies. Check the 325 thread-count Tara Walker items, specially treated to shed stains, and a colourful new line of polyester-cotton applique items.
While in Prince George Plaza, walk south to Woodes Rogers Walk and stop at Jantar, which carries the finest selection of handmade Baltic amber in The Bahamas. You might find that a butterscotch coloured amber necklace, or a mandarin-coloured piece of amber set attractively in silver, is exactly the right gift for you or someone back home.
John Bull means quality
Back on Bay St you'll find John Bull, one of the most complete stores for quality items in the Caribbean. You can stalk your perfect buy to music from a grand piano on the upper level. This is a great place to shop for luxury items, including cameras, watches, jewellery, leather, luggage, perfumes, cosmetics and writing instruments.
One of John Bull's exclusive lines is the AT Cross pen. Take a look at the Cross Ion, or the Matrix, which writes five ways: it's a stylus for your PDA (personal digital assistant) and also has red and blue ballpoints, and rolling ball or a fountain pen attachment.
According to Rick Hazlewood, manager of the watches counter, "women are now demanding larger watches with interchangeable and colourful bands and watches with diamond bezels." For watches that display one or more of these trends look at Techno Marine, Michele, Movado and Tag Heuer.
At the jewellery counter, the big news this year is a new line of baby gifts and jewellery for children by David Yurman, called Cable Kids. Jewellery for pre-teens includes bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings and pendants, accented with 18kt gold. For babies, there are rattles, teething rings, spoons, cups and hair comb and brush sets, all with Yurman's famous cable motif. Prices range between $125 and $750.
Attached to John Bull is the Cartier boutique with a complete collection of jewellery, watches and leather products from the famous name.
Manager Rudi Steinlechner suggests that you take a look at Cartier's distinctive Roadster and Divan unisex watches this year, both examples of the famous Cartier attention to detail. Cartier is also located in the Crystal Court at Atlantis on Paradise Island.
Souvenirs, cigars, rum
For unusual, inexpensive gifts, go no further than Pyfrom's Gifts and Souvenirs, right next door. You can pick up great bargains here on T-shirts, souvenir steel drums and prints by famous Bahamian artists. Pyfrom's also sells Bahamian food items that you can take home as gifts.
Is there a cigar smoker on your list? A perfect gift for him (or her) might be a box of Crystals from the Graycliff Cigar Company, on West St, opposite Government House. Crystal is the latest cigar from the talented hands of torcedor Avelino Lara, creator of the famous Cohiba once favoured by Fidel Castro.
According to the prestigious Robb Report, (October 2002) the Crystal is "a rich deep chocolaty blend of sun-grown Ecuadorian wrapper aged since 1995, and a filler of Nicaraguan, Honduran, and Brazilian tobaccos..." The new cigar, which went on sale in November, 2002, sells for $19.
For the rum-lover, consider a selection of Don Lorenzo flavoured rums from Todhunter-Mitchell of Freeport, Grand Bahama. Don Lorenzo offers banana, pineapple, mango and coconut-flavoured rums, as well as light, gold, and dark coloured rums, plus one rated at 151-proof.
We don't know which one of the thousands of items for sale here will be your personal great find. But we do know it's there, waiting to be discovered. It's just a matter of finding it.
Disclaimer: The information in this article/release was accurate at
press time; however, we suggest you confirm all details and prices
directly with vendors.
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