I am taking my wife on a suprise trip for our 10th anniversary. I would like to stop at several places but wish to let her shop for either a fur or diamond jewelry along the way.
Best place to buy either of these items in the world?? (be as specific as possible, please)
Thanks

Um ... let's see ...

Were do you live? Where do you like to go? Where have you been? What's your budget for time? For money?

(be as specific as possible, please)

We live in Austin. We will travel in December most likely and budget is not really an issueand we can be gone about 3 weeks or so. We enjoy historical places especially cathedrals and castles.
Thank you.

[This message has been edited by DSK (edited 10-22-2003).]

I think there was a long OMNI thread about buying diamonds from a few months back. Perhaps do a search on "diamond district" or Antwerp. The gist of the discussion was that the diamond districts in Antwerp and evne some big US cities like Chicago or NYC can be good places to buy a stone, but an amatuer won't have the same access to the brokers that a professional jeweler would. Again, that thread had a lot of info...

The best place in the world to buy a fur is...no where. Stick with the diamond idea.

You might consider Quebec City for fur. Also, not too far from the city center (about 30-45 drive) is the St. Anne de Beaupre cathedral which is magnificent. Although it doesn't qualify as a castle, you might enjoy a stay at the Chateau Frontenac, a 5 star hotel that certainly looks and feels like a castle. Quebec is a very romantic city and has many charming shops and exquisite dining.

New York City has 2 jewelry districts, and 1 fur district.

Searching I found many fur houses in both Montreal and Quebec City...Thanks!!!
Any recommendations on which one give best service/deals??

Unfortunately I have no idea which shops have the best deals on fur in Quebec city. I haven't shopped for any fur before; rather when I was there, I just happened to notice many shops that sold fur, and overheard many people comment on what a bargain it was. Perhaps there are others here at FT that have more insight. Have a great trip, and happy anniversary.

[This message has been edited by hhonorman (edited 10-23-2003).]

I would really encourage you to go to Quebec City. It's a beautiful place with a great deal of heritage to enjoy. I would strongly discourage you from buying your wife a fur though. Animals raised on fur farms (the standard origin of fur coats) suffer horribly. Their cages are too small, resulting in stereotypic behavior like pacing, chewing off limbs, and cannibalizing their own young. They are deprived of natural stimulation (like exercise and interaction with other animals in the wild) by virtue of being in captivity. And their deaths are horrific, the favored method being genital electrocution. Animals trapped in the wild also suffer. They are often left in the trap for days before being retrieved (up to a week is legal in some provinces), suffering severe pain in the trapped limb (even when the trap used is the more "modern" one with useless cushions around the blades). Animals frequently knaw off the trapped limb in an effort to escape, only to die soon thereafter due to blood loss or by being vulnerable to attack from other animals.

It takes the suffering and death of dozens of animals to make a single fur coat. I'm sure your wife would therefore be much happier with a great big diamond on her finger. And if the origin of the diamond concerns you, Canada has a ready-supply of "conflict-free" diamonds that are certified not to come from countries where humans are put in harms way in the diamond trade. A web search on Polar Bear Diamond will get you started ...

I agree 100% with this post. Well said.

Thanks hhonorman!
Quebec seems like a great place
I just hope someone may have the specific info I'm looking for.

And don't forget....she can wear the diamond 365 days a year

Besides, I agree with the above posting about the animals suffering and being sacrificed.

Quebec City has flagship Canadian jeweler Birks (the Canadian equivalent of Tiffany & Co.). There is also a Holt Renfrew which has a high end jewelery section. The old town of Quebec City has many small, independent jewelers with lots of dazzling diamond jewelery. All the same can be said about Montreal.

Should you choose to stay in Quebec City, the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac is a luxurious choice. We were lucky to get a suite with it's own castle turret: http://canuckflyer.itgo.com/chateaufrontenac.html
It truly added to the romantic experience!

Enjoy your trip, wherever you go.

Thanks CanuckFlyer for the info on diamonds and hotel.
Anyone else with info on my posting?

On one stay at the Chateau Frontenac, I had the room in the top of the turret that's just to the right of the turret Canuckflyer stayed in. If you have an opportunity to stay at this hotel, it is truly amazing. If you can get a turret room, it'll be even more magical. The Chateau is a Fairmont Hotel. I am not sure if they are still doing it (I suspect so, but don't know for sure) but when I signed up for Fairmont's frequent guest program (for free), the welcoming package that arrived a few weeks after signing up contained a certificate for a free upgrade. Might be worth considering if you choose this hotel.

If Quebec is your decided destination, give these threads a quick look-see before you go, they contain some good dining suggestions.

http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdi...ML/000012.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/000057.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdi...ML/000006.html

Some sights worth seeing include walking around the old walled part of the city, including the especially quaint lower area by the river (you can walk down the staircase next to the Chateau Frontenac on the Dufferin Terrace and pass many interesting shops on the way down) and you can avoid the steps on the way up by taking the funicular.

If you go during the winter months, the toboggan run on Dufferin Terrace will likely be open. It is approximately a quarter mile long and the track is iced over somewhat like a luge track. You sit in the toboggan and can have an exhilerating ride down the track. There is a little cafe near the end of the track where you can get a coffee or hot chocolate to warm up.

If you have a car, the ride north to Beaupre is nice. The Sainte Anne de Beaupre cathedral is well worth a stop. Along the way you can stop and see the Morency Falls. I've only been in the summer, but have seen postcards scenes from the winter and it looks quite interesting.

Have a great trip.