I would like to say that the Grand Cayman has excellent food!!!! But hands down the best experience I had while there was Shopping for new wedding rings. My husband was so happy that we both recieved new jewelry . I cant wait to step foot back on the Island so we can do the whole thing over again.

Were the rings expensive? My husband and I was talking about getting new ones also.  What is a good amount to plan on if we do that from what you saw? Thanks for the info.

Where did you shop? Was it a shop that Carnival recommends? I heard Grand Caymam was more expensive than our Islands. I love to hear about good deals on jewelry. I'm getting a really warm feeling about shopping in Grand Cayman. I sooooooo happy for you. We'll be in Grand Cayman on our 33rd annniversary sooooo he'll have to buy me something very nice. Sharon

In general Cayman will have better selection on black coral [they grow it there] and Ammolite.

Cozumel will have better selection on most semi-precious stones [opals, topazes, amethysts, peridots, sapphires].

It's six-one, half dozen-other on diamonds, emeralds, alexandrites and tanzanites.

If you need a custom-made anything while in port on a Western cruise, go to Cozumel: Rachat y Romero.  One of the cruise "recommendeds".

If you're Eastern Caribbean and you need a custom-made while in port, the only place that can do it is Gem Casa in the Royal Dane Mall on St Tom.  Not one of the cruise "recommendeds", but all the "recommendeds" know them and recommend them.

rwilymz, Thanks for the information it is very helpful. We are going to Cozumel then Grand Cayman and last Ocho Rios. Nobody can give me a good answer on two carat diamonds. Such as where would be the best place to shop and purchase one. DH doesn't know yet but he's buying me one for our anniversary. We'll have custom designed once we get home. We'll buy a loose diamond.  I will be checking out Rachat y Romero when we get to Cozumel. Thanks Sharon

PreKteacher:

Nobody can give me a good answer on two carat diamonds. Such as where would be the best place to shop and purchase one. DH doesn't know yet but he's buying me one for our anniversary. We'll have custom designed once we get home.

So you're getting a 2carat loose Diamond from someone who doesn't know he's getting it for you ...

btdt...

DI.

There's yer answer: DI.

Here's the speech you'll get from the "super shopper" on board:

If you're looking for diamonds, check out Diamonds International.  [blah blah standard hooey].  And if you buy a diamond from DI in Cayman [i.e., your first port], and you see one you like better in Cozumel [i.e., your second port] simply take your receipt and your diamond, and exchange it.  They will give you the same value as you paid for it.  This is a lifetime thing as well.  My mother has been on several cruises with me [they all have the same mother, apparently] and she bought a 1carat tennis bracelet.  A few cruises later, she traded it in for a 1.5carat tennis bracelet and only paid the difference.  This cruise she told me, "You know, my Super Shopper Child, I think it's time to trade it in on a 2carat tennis bracelet..."

rwilymz,

Thats right I'll pick it out and tell him I want it. He'll pay for it. You see if I'm not happy he will not be happy. Besides our son bought his soon to be bride a 1.5 carat diamond engagement ring. Son let dad know that mom needed an upgrade very soon. So kind of knows what's going to happen and just pay. Sharon

My husband and I are celebrating our wedding anniversary on that day the ship docks in Grand Cayman. I asked my husband to wait to buy my gift, because I wanted to pick it out in Grand Cayman. At what store did you purchase your jewelry?

When will you be in Grand Cayman? We will be there July 3. It will be our 33rd anniversary that day. sharon

It is our 1st wedding anniversary. We have some work to do to catch up to you. Our cruise sails on August  2.

Dreamgirl, Your still in the Honeymoon stage which is great. I can say we have had our ups and downs in our 33 years, we've also had good and bad as well as smooth and rough times. I can say I love him more everyday. I hope your first anniversary is great. Please enjoy your time together and I hope you have many many many years together.

 How cheap can shopping be? I think that it will be expensive than other island since $1.00 US is .80 CI, that means that our dollar has less value than CI.

 I've recently head that it's illegal for Grand Cayman to harvest it's own coral.  So they bring it in from Belize and Honduras, and then process it into jewelry on GC.  I'm going for the first time in Jan/Feb and am excited about finding some jewelry for my daughter, mom, etc.

What's a typical pair of earrings cost?

jfhelwig:

What's a typical pair of earrings cost?

"Typical" can mean several things.

As you may know, Cayman is noted for black coral jewelry.  You can find black coral studs for $10 at the rummage sale tents way around to the right, past the Harley place and the little dinky church.  Or you can go to Passman's and pay a couple hundred dollars.  American, not even the two-for-one Cayman Dollars.

A few years ago I got my daughter some of the $10 ones for xmas.  She doesn't know the difference, and she's likely to lose one or both anyway.

I don't recall seeing red coral jewelry there, though they probably have it.  I got my wife some red coral danglers and a pendant in Cozumel, in silver, for under a hundred.