When Fikret asked me to marry him and Id agreed I was very very lucky enough to be bought a fantastic solitaire diamond ring, nicer than the picture and to me THE nicest ring in the world.Living in the Uk for the few months I have Id forgotten however how much fun it can be to buy gold and jewellery here so today it was nice to be reminded. However most if the jewellery shop keepers in the centre of Alanya now have headaches as my Mum and I decended on them. Mum to purchase a new watch for 'special ocassions' and me to purchase 'hopefully' another diamond or three to add to my engagement ring!
Now as I always tell tourısts or people who ask me about shopping in Turkey it is best to go somewhere you are known or by recommendation from friend, but I have been out of Alanya for several months and I was shocked by the number f shops which had changed ownership or closed completely. Anyway not to be put off we decided to be tourists and go for a wander around the bazaar in Alanya. Also armed with some old gold that we had both decided to trade in, we were confident that we would find what we both wanted! I always explained to my customers when I was a rep for an English holiday compnay that gold here can be bought and sold with no worries or stigma and most women have broken bits and pieces of jewellery in there possession. Its surprising how much its worth here in Turkey when youre part exchanging it for something new.
Anyways Mum and I hit the town centre where most of the gold shops are located. Id already tried a shop where I bought a nice ring when I was in Alanya late last year but the price between my gold and the price of the ring Id selected was a little more than I wanted to pay so decided before I made my decision to have a look and compare. Then when I explained to Mum she said she wanted a new watch so we would go together and help get each other a better deal!
The first shop we went into was the shop my engagement ring was from, the guy in there was patient and gave us a good deal according to Fikret but unfortantely he wasnt there and there was very little in the shop, it looked like they were just getting ready to restock and open up so we moved on. For anyone whose been to Alanya or Turkey in general for that matter youll know we didnt have to move far, only a few feet before we were inside the next shop and the next and the next.... we looked in many. Some had rings but no watches and viseversa some Mum and I just didnt like the guy in the shop! A couple showed us everything above the budgets we had and they knew they were doing this so how they expected a sale is beyond me. Maybe Mum looks rich lol I know for sure I dont .
We eventually returned to a shop where the two guys had been patient, Mum had seen a very nice watch in there and we had just seen the same watch offered much more expensive so we knew the first price was good. In the same shop he had the ring I liked but it needed a little work to make it exactly what I wanted so we went to talk.
First thing was the price of the gold we had to trade in. I was happy with my price, Mum was a bit disappointed but it still covered the price of her watch so said ok. I told him how I wanted the ring. It is a three stone ring and the middle stone stuck up slightly and I didnt want that, I wanted them all the same height. Ok they said can do. we negotiated with the cost of the two items saying that we did plan to purchase both and we would recommend people if our price was right and they brought the prices down a little more... So we shook on the deal.
Mum took her watch away with her, and its a very nice watch indeed, we went back a couple of days later to collect my altered ring and Im very very happy with the end result. Whilst we were in the shop they offered to clean our exisiting jewellery for us and my engagement ring is now as shiny and sparkly as the day it was placed on my finger.
Im not telling the price I paid for my ring but it was a very very good price and with the trade in of my gold I had a relatively small amount of cach to pay.. So small in fact that I doubt that Fikret will believe how little!!
So ladies if youre planning a visit to Turkey and like jewellery, rake through your old gold first, we all have broken chains, odd earring or things we just dont wear anymore and it will go along way to get you something new and shiny!! Most Turkish gold is 14ct or 18ct where English is normally 9ct but it can still add up to more than you think..
If anyone wants the name of the jeweller I visited in Alanya I would be more than pleased to recommend him so mail me or add a comment on here and Ill get back to you.
Happy shopping
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