Competing with the best
Nassau takes on the world
Nassau’s Bay St may not look like New York’s Fifth Ave, The Champs-Élysées in Paris or Oxford St in London, but you’ll find many of the same luxury items on offer here, and likely at a much better price.
There are upscale stores up and down Bay St, and fascinating shops tucked away in narrow side streets and plazas off the main drag. The selection is incredible–from an inexpensive souvenir at the Straw Market to a luxury timepiece that will lay a considerable bruise on your wallet.
Unlike other famous shopping venues around the world, you don’t have to walk miles to find a bargain. All the big stores are clustered together within a few blocks east of the landmark British Colonial Hilton hotel, just a block south of Prince George Wharf, where the giant cruise ships are docked. It’s just a short jitney or cab ride from either the Cable Beach strip or Paradise Island.
High-end shops
An example of the quality on Bay St is Little Switzerland, a retailer of some 50 years standing.
“We have created a very recognizable brand,” says senior manager William Carey. “Customers expect not only a certain level of service, but also exceptional products, brands and good prices.”
On prices, Carey adds that his store has “probably some of the best or lowest prices for that item anywhere in the world. We have carved out a niche in the luxury industry, where we are able to secure very well-known brands.” They include watches such as Omega and Zenith and jewellery lines that include Roberto Coin, John Hardy and Lagos. As well, Little Switzerland carries its own line of jewellery, Avance.
Not to be missed
Even if you’re only window shopping, don’t miss historic John Bull, a store that started out in 1929 as a place to buy English tobacco goods.
Today, the flagship store on Bay St offers fine jewellery, leather goods, perfume, photographic equipment, cosmetics, writing instruments and much, much more. John Bull is actually a store of boutiques with offerings from many top-of-the-line designer names.
Here you’ll find the most sought-after brands in jewellery, writing instruments, cameras, watches and perfumes. At John Bull’s La Parfumerie, for example, you can sniff the latest fragrances by Chanel, Cartier, Guerlain, Yves Saint Laurent, Bvlgari, Givenchy, Lancome, Marc Jacobs, Elizabeth Arden, Sean John, Escada, Incanto, Ferragamo, Issey Miyake, Burberry and Calvin Klein–among others.
John Bull’s prices reflect the fact that the store is located in a duty-free zone. Like other top retailers, John Bull supplies buyers with an international guarantee and a list of after-sale service centers.
Another example of that is Colombian Emeralds International (CEI). This store is certainly worth stopping by if you’re looking for precious gems–diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires–and all their semi-precious cousins.
“Persons coming in from the United States or Canada, and even the European markets would realize significant savings in The Bahamas due to our duty-free pricing structure [and] no sales tax on any purchases that they make,” says Dwight Gibson, CEI’s marketing manager.
What can one say about Wayne and Sylvia Chee-A-Tow’s Carlo Milano store, where you will find an absolute blizzard of designer and luxury products. Carlo Milano has two stores (Bay St and Marina Village on Paradise Island) along with Chopard, and Versace boutiques, also on Paradise Island.
At Carlo Milano, be tempted also by the latest fashions from Nautica, Guess, Puma and Breil Milano, among others.
Here you’ll see sunglasses by Prada, Bvlgari, Dior and Ray-Ban to mention only a few; watches by Hublot, Chopard and Corum; and dozens of jewellery collections including those by True Blue, Tresor, Key to your Heart, Gypsy and Fiore Colore.
One after another
If you’re looking for something really distinctive, drop in to Coin of the Realm, located in a historic landmark on Charlotte St, just off Bay St. Here you can find Nassau’s largest collection of shipwreck coins, along with ancient Greek and Roman coins dating back to the 4th century BC. Also take a look at Coin of the Realm’s pink conch pearls, the only gem found in The Bahamas.
Quantum Duty Free on Bay St is the place to find a luxury watch, as well as a stunning collection of jewellery. Choose from a cornucopia of brand names: Baume & Mercier, Blancpain, Bedat, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget, Vacheron Constantin and U-Boat. This is also a fine store to pick up leather goods including wallets, handbags and accessories.
Fendi, the famous designer collection from Italy, is featured in a fine boutique on the corner of Bay and Charlotte Sts. Stop here for sunglasses, timepieces, handbags, leather goods and great accessories.
At Jeweler’s Warehouse on Bay near Market St, you can save up to 50 per cent off regular prices on brand-name jewellery and watches. Also featured are 14 kt gold pieces set with diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires and tanzanite.
If you’re looking for authentic island designs, head for Bahama Hand Prints near East Bay and Mackey Sts, just south of the Paradise Island exit bridge.This is a factory and store offering Bahamian designs–seashells, tropical flowers and palm fronds– printed on shirts, blouses, skirts
and accessories.
For famous Rainbow and Balissima jewellery creations, check out Effy Jewelers, which has three outlets on Bay St: in the Baker Building near Frederick St, in the International Bazaar and on Bay St near George St. You’ll find precious and semi-precious stones set in rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets.
Strolling down Bay St, you will quickly discover that Nassau’s merchants can compete with luxury retailers anywhere in the world, in terms of quality, selection, price and after-sales service.
From Amoro (the world’s most romantic jewellery) to Zenith (a stunning handcrafted collection of timepieces), The Bahamas can take on the best the world has to offer.
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Feature_Shop_WTDNJan11
Competing with the best
Nassau takes on the world
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