Family businesses warm me to the cockles, especially when it's so obvious that the whole family…read moreloves their business and loves what they do. Volker and Marianne Sprinkmeier have run their shop for 35 years, and both their daughters have inherited the love of crafting gold and silver. When you go into the shop, you see them working on strange machines at the back of the shop, from where they greet you with smiles. Every piece in the shop is unique - nothing is mass produced or reproduced. They make many pieces by customer request, and are happy to use your own designs or work with you to make a design that best suits you. This would be a beautiful way to have your wedding rings made, or a piece for a special occasion. They also do remodellings, and can make pieces from your own gold, so if you have a special piece that you want to turn into something else, you can keep the original material. Daughters Katrin and Michaela both design and make their own jewelry, which is quite different in style from each other's work as well as from their parents. There is so much to look at in this shop. Because of how it is made, most of the pieces have an almost medieval feel, which is so unique and interesting. They use a wide range of different stone and gems in their base materials, and it seems they could make anything you or they can conceive of.

When I first passed The Goldsmithery I took it just for a jewellery shop. Always on the prowl for…read morenice and cheap jewellery stores (should I ever them in the future) I stopped inside. It took me a few minutes of browsing and a short reflection on the store's title to realise how much more than a jewellery shop this place was. The stock ranges from unique to bizarre. It's refreshing and great to know that every piece belongs to itself. There aren't really any copies here, and certainly no mass-productions. I feel I should mention that just because the products aren't static, doesn't mean they're all strange and unusual. This is still stuff you'd want to wear or own. This isn't some sort of strange Gothic store or anything (though there are SOME goods that might make you think that). All told, this is a great shop and one I can guarantee I'll be returning to when I'm in need of a good birthday/anniversary present.

I love independents jewellers for their manufacturing. But my dealings with Wishart take a…read moredifferent turn. My necklace (or gold chain) I used to wear around a lot broke a few months ago. The hook broke and I couldn't wear it anymore. My girlfriend at the time wasn't too upset. She thought the chain made me look like a wog. (And, to her credit, it kind of did.) But it was a gift from my godfather for my baptism, and I've always liked it. So, after splitting with that girl, I thought it was as good a time as any to get my old gold chain fixed. I'd mainly been putting it off for expense. I didn't think it would cost TOO much, but I couldn't be sure. Finally, biting the figurative bullet, I went for it. It turns out, it wasn't even really broken. Something had just come a little loose, and I'd wedged it the wrong way. I still don't really understand the particulars of the situation. All I know is the brilliant staff at Wishart gave it one look, gave it a few prods, returned it to me on the spot, and charged nothing. I will be returning.

Wishart Jewellers have been based at Glenelg since 1953 and are now operating as a second and third…read moregeneration family business. Owned and operated by Grant Wishart this Glenelg icon is THE place to go if you're looking for someone to design and make that special piece of jewellery. Specialising in the design and manufacture of engagment rings, wedding rings, earrings and pendants, they also carry a wide range of well known brands. If you're looking for anything from the Pandora range, a Skagen watch, an Ikecho strand of pearls or some pieces from the Georgini range, call in and see them. Because Wishart Jewellers are a manufacturing jeweller they have trained craftsmen on site and they make your items on the premises. They will also take care of sizing your rings and can repair your damaged or broken items. If you're in the market for that new special piece, call in or give them a buzz on the phone to make an appointment. Trust me, these guys know their business.

The best jeweller around Adelaide. I have been dealing with John M Roberts for 40 years and have…read morealways been happy with the quality and service given.

From the owner: Manufacturing engagement, eternity, and wedding rings. Sapphire and ruby rings. Pendants.read more

I generally STRUGGLE with freaky deaky stores that sell new age smellotherapy, magic crystals and…read moreother random hogwashery....but Sense Appeal hit a chord with me. No, I am not a convert, I just like cool looking stuff and this place is jam packed to the brim with more funky gear than you could poke any number of sticks at! Perfect for finding a gift, you will be sure to pick up something for your Mum, Sisters, in laws and even the odd extraverted Uncle. As usual I was drawn toward the Oriental options and spied a couple of silk dressing gowns (sexy!). It goes to show that occasionally being dragged into a store by your girlfriend is a good thing.....never a shoe, dress or handbag store though....NEVER!

Sense Appeal is a gorgeous little shop crammed full with trinkets, gifts and jewelry. Since most…read moreitems are in glass cabinets, it's a browse only store, and given the signs about camera surveillance, it seems they've had too much stolen before to give easy access to products. That's okay, I probably should have grown out of touching everything I see a few years ago. This is a great gift shop (if buying presents for women) because it has so many pretty, decorative things. I love the range of china pots with bold patterns and designs, as well as their range of cloth covered and embroidered notepads. My favourite cabinet holds the Bad Taste Bears, a range of little bear figurines doing all kinds of amusingly rude things, while still being very cute. Prepare for penis humour. They are one of the few things I'd buy for guys in this shop. The owner is very friendly, and lovely to have a chat with. All in all, this shop is a great experience.

All I can say is WOW!…read more Master craftspeople are few and far between in our lives these days - in the old days people used to pay money to get a good pair of shoes made, and they would keep them for many many years, getting them repaired when needed. I have trouble finding shoes that fit my feet properly, so thought I'd investigate getting some handmade. I contacted Eugenia about coming in for a chat - she asked me to collate some images/ideas of what I'm looking for in a shoe and bring them along. Together we designed an awesome pair of shoes (see my photos attached!), and I couldn't be happier with the result! Apart from looking amazing, they are super-comfortable. I'm hoping to have these for many many years, long after cheaper shoes have given up the ghost ;) I highly recommend supporting local craftspeople like Eugenia - she is amazing and highly talented! I'm already plotting my next pair of shoes ...

From the owner: Since 1987 have been making interesting, exciting, and exclusive designs for boots and shoes.read more

For those of you who don't speak French, or can't work it out anyway, the name of the shop means "A…read moretouch of Paris" It is certainly ornatedly decked out with a "French flair", chandeliers and glitz. This unique accessory store opened up in Glenelg this year. The owner is beautifully dressed and gracious in her approach and certainly passionate about her stock. On visiting the store recently , she spent a lot of time and patience showing me her diverse selection of watches. It is good to find a shop that offers something different in an era of mass produced products. So, if you are looking for something different for yourself or a gift and have quite a few dollars to spend this could be for you.

Mum and I were down Jetty Road a few weeks ago. Mum was in desperate need of a new bag, so…read morenaturally we headed into this beautiful bag store. It was full of all sorts of bags and all different colours. The shop assistant was extremely helpful. Mum described what kind of bag she would like and the type she didn't want. The lady showed mum several options and was patient with mum's indecisiveness. Touche de Paris also sells other accessories such as jewellery, watches, wallets and sunglasses. I'm not sure if I'd recommend this store to my friends (because it seems a bit mature for our age group), but I would recommend it to anyone with a taste for Paris, luxury and a big budget!