Previous
Shopping for him/her
WHAT-TO-DO - NASSAU, CABLE BEACH & PARADISE ISLAND - JAN 2005
Shopping for him/her
Gift buying in The Bahamas
There are at least three reasons why The Bahamas is one of the best places in the world to buy a present for your significant other.
First of all there is an absolute avalanche of quality goods at unbeatable prices here. They include china, crystal, fine wines and liquors, fashion clothing and accessories, collectibles, linens, luxury leather, perfumes and fragrances, fine art, crafts, expert straw work, wall hangings, watches and much more. And it doesn?t hurt that there is no sales tax in The Bahamas ? the price on the tag is the price you pay.
Secondly, Nassau, Paradise Island and Cable Beach have an impressive lineup of superb stores with attentive, knowledgeable staff to serve you. Many stores offer strong after-sales service.
Thirdly, there?s ease of shopping. Even though everything you buy is probably duty free and 20 to 35 per cent lower than stateside prices, there are no forms to fill out and no waiting to receive your purchases. You can take them with you right away. Many stores will deliver them to your hotel room or, indeed, to your door back home.
All of this makes Nassau, Paradise Island and Cable Beach among the best places in the world to track down duty-free gifts, whether you want to spend a few dollars or a fortune.
Lots for $100 or less
It?s not difficult to find a gift for that special man or woman for under $100. Almost every store will have lots of quality items in that range. Consider a distinctively Bahamian gift such as a tropical hat from Nassau?s famous straw market (there are also markets at Cable Beach and on Paradise Island). For something different, look over the colourful Bahamian art prints at any one of dozens of little shops in the side streets, plazas and courtyards off Bay Street.
If he or she is a rock and roll fan, stop in at the Hard Rock Cafe on Charlotte Street, just off Bay. Have a light lunch, see the memorabilia in the mini-museum and pick up one of the cafe?s famous pins, commemorating his or her favourite rock band.
If he?s a cigar smoker, he?ll be thrilled to receive a gift of his favourite brand, or a $100 selection of cigars from several Caribbean countries. You?ll find them at Havana Humidor, just to the left of the entrance to John Bull on Bay Street. Or you can stroll the long block up Cumberland Street from the British Colonial and find the upscale Graycliff hotel, which also includes a busy little factory that produces award-winning cigars right here in Nassau.
Scents? Clothing?
For her? There?s really no end to the number of gifts under $100. Perfume is a great choice if you know your lady?s taste. A brand new scent or an old favourite will always please, and the duty-free prices make your purchase even sweeter. For example, you can pick up a 100ml bottle of the famous Chanel No 5 eau de toilette spray (one of the most expensive fragrances you can buy in Nassau) for about $64, compared to $80 in New York, not including sales tax. See outstanding bargains on big name brands on pg 86.
You?ll find the newest scents and all the old favourites at Solomon?s Mines, John Bull, Cartier, Chopard, The Colombian, Fendi, Gucci, Pipe of Peace and Royal Palm Trading Company, all on Bay Street.
Another distinctive Bahamian gift for her would be a straw beach bag from the market or a sexy swimsuit from Mucka-Mucks in the K S Moses Building on Bay Street, located right beside the Diamonds Forever jewellery shop, another spot to hunt down bargains under $100.
Many Bahamian women have at least one item of clothing from Bahama Hand Prints, a local firm that produces a distinctive line of fabrics and island designs that really are hand printed. Colourful patterns are made from drawings of shells, hibiscus, sea grape leaves, pineapples and palm fronds. See the new designs for 2005, printed on cotton, linen and raw silk, and almost everything is under $100.
A classy writing instrument always makes a handsome gift ? a constant reminder of your thoughtfulness and generosity. You can?t go wrong with a Cross pen, and they?re affordable, ranging from $20 up to $155 for the attractive Verve model at John Bull.
Moving up
Spending $500 or more brings a different cornucopia of gifts into play.
For example there are hundreds of jewellery items ? earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pendants and rings for her or him ? at Colombian Emeralds International. As an example, she might be thrilled with a ruby and diamond heart-shaped pendant, set in a 14k white gold setting, that goes for a duty-free price of less than $300.
For him, there?s a radiant cut emerald stud of about 0.37 carats in 18k yellow gold with a prong setting at a duty-free price of about $225 ? of course, he may need more than one!
You?re sure to find a classy pair of sunglasses for her at the Fendi Boutique at Bay and Charlotte streets, priced between $175 and $295, or a superb leather wallet for him at Gucci, ranging from $155 to $200.
If she likes dressing up on the funky side, you?ll really surprise her with a gift certificate from XOXO stores in Nassau. Let her go crazy choosing from this store?s lineup of unusual tops, jeans, pants, skirts and shorts, dresses and jumpsuits, accessories, swimwear and shoes. XOXO clothing is available at the boutique at the Mall at Marathon and at Scorpio?s Boutique on Mackey Street. (See Shopping section, pg 43.)
Sure to please her would be one of the smart new Furla handbags, which range from $185 to $399, a savings of about 20 to 25 per cent on stateside prices (and that?s not including the US sales tax markup). See the Furla selection at either of Brass and Leather?s two locations in Nassau. You?ll find many gift items for men and women, including shoes, belts, scarves, small leather goods and accessories by Kipling and Tumi, as well as Furla and other lines.
Price no object?
A really good watch is a perfect gift. The Colombian, with two stores on Bay Street, carries Corum watches, priced between $1,795 and $12,000. Two of the most popular are the Bubble Dive Bomber, Special Edition, and the Original Bubble Timepiece.
The Colombian also features watches from Chopard (which has a separate boutique in the Royal Towers at Atlantis) Charriol and TechnoMarine, along with top-of-the-line jewellery featuring high quality Colombian emeralds, tanzanite, rubies, diamonds sapphires and pearls.
John Bull is one of Nassau?s premier shops, offering scores of the world?s most prestigious brands, featuring watches, fine jewellery, leather goods, perfumes, cosmetics, photographic equipment, writing instruments and cigars. Designer brands sold here include Baume & Mercier, Breitling, Citizen, David Yurman, Ebel, Gucci, Guess, Hublot, Movado, Raymond Weil, Seiko, Tag Heuer, TechnoMarine, Bulgari, Cartier, Fope, Marquesa, Scott Kay, Stefan Blake, Tiffany & Co, Soho and Recarlo.
John Bull began as a modest English tobacco house 76 years ago, but is now the perfect place to hunt down a present for him or her in any price range. There are four stores in Nassau, including the main location on Bay Street and another at Crystal Court at Atlantis.
A gentleman?s diamond signet ring is one of those gifts that just cannot go wrong. Get one at Crown Jewellers, with a guaranteed stone of about 0.75 carats, for less than $2,000, on up to more than $5,000 for a yellow diamond of nearly a full carat. All diamonds at Crown Jewellers are certified and appraised by Gemological Institute of America-trained staff at three locations on Bay Street.
Solomon?s Mines is a duty-free shopper?s mecca, a beautiful store that recently underwent a $3-million refurbishment. Solomon?s offers crystal, jewellery, watches, gifts and china, accessories, skincare products and perfume. You can find items here in all price ranges, and whatever gift you buy will be treasured.
If you are thinking of presenting him with a lifetime gift, consider the colourful Jacob & Co watches for men, starting at $6,600 for the JC1, sporting a silver dial and coloured sub dials. These famous watches are priced up to $118,000. Solomon?s also carries timepieces by Omega, Tag Heuer, Patek Philippe, Longines, Rado, Swiss Army, Gucci, Breitling and Raymond Weil.
For her, Solomon?s carries top-of-the-line jewellery by Carrera y Carrera, Di Modolo, John Atencio, Kabana, Lagos and Roberto Coin. Very popular are Aaron Basha?s baby shoes keepsakes ? tiny bejewelled 18k gold baby shoes, ranging in price from $990 for an enamelled shoe, all the way up to to $4,000 each for baby shoes encrusted with precious gems. This is a gift that you can add to over the years to celebrate anniversaries and celebrations.
And if money is really no object, consider a limited edition Master Grande Memovox watch by Jaeger-LeCoultre at Colombian Emeralds International. There are only six of these watches in the world and you can have one of them for a mere $125,000 ? duty free!
(For store locations and phone numbers, see the shopping section, pg 43. Prices, current at press time, may vary from those mentioned in this article.)
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-Mail: Click here
Internet: https://
Disclaimer:
Information in editorial and listings is subject to change at any time.