We were in Sydney for a few days on holiday. I brought with me from home an opal pendant that had…read morebeen gifted to me decades earlier. I wanted to buy matching stones to make matching earrings for the pendant. During our stay, we visited several jewelry stores in the Rocks and CBD areas of Sydney. None of the jewelry stores we visited compared with Giulians. Giulians is a family-owned, jeweler-operated jewelry store located on the third floor of the Four Seasons Hotel. Their jewelry is unique and beautifully crafted. The owner and his son are very talented jewelers with a passion for gemstones and jewelry. Although located in a four-star hotel (which initially caused me to think their prices would be higher than jewelry stores located on the streets), their prices were reasonable and the quality of their gemstones and jewelry was exemplary. I purchased a beautiful pair of exquisite opal stones that matched my pendant perfectly.

Great place to get the best jewelry David Cofee is a genius when it comes to jewelry. Satisfied…read morecustomers Jim And Rae Wohlford

I wanted to get my grandmother's jewellery valued for her, and I came across Diamonds by Design's…read morewebsite. I must say the amount of information given is amazing, it was great to find it all in the one place. The staff are friendly, and very knowledgable, and looked after me from start to finish. Their jewellery designs are also quite incredible. Highly recommended.

I should probably avoid The Family Jewels…read more No, not just because the name makes me giggle (I know), but because I want to buy up the entire store! (In)conveniently located next door to Ariel Bookstore and across the road from Palace Verona, this dangerously well-stocked shop is filled to the brim with gorgeous gems and "must-have" accessories (the inverted commas represent the process of justification that I go through every time I visit) that make for great gifts...and even better treats for yourself! So far I've been able to limit myself to the odd pair of earrings - and I've even managed to actually gift the presents I've bought (sometimes that's easier said than done). Suffice it to say, The Family Jewels is well worth a visit - but you've been warned!

If you're looking for a special piece of jewellery, whether it be a gift for your mum, your…read moregirlfriend or yourself, The Family Jewels is well worth a search. You can find this treasure chest down the Victoria Road end of Oxford Street - keep an eye out for the turquoise and black shopfront and a display window full of gorgeous pieces. They've got an excellent range of silver, such as pendants, earrings and rings, as well as semi-precious stones, birthstones and pearls. They also do jewellery repairs including ring resizing and necklace restringing. (Perfect for neglectful goofballs like me who break necklaces constantly.) They stock their collections with pieces from all over the world - they recently added the Zuni range to the shelves, which features jet, turquoise, silver, coral and mother of pearl from New Mexico.

I can't speak highly enough of Anania. Daniel's expertise is amazing and I'm delighted with my new…read morering. I'll also be taking my Baume & Mercier watch back for servicing.

If you are in the market for diamonds or some decent jewellery think outside the ring box and…read moreinstead of being lured into a retail jewellery store it almost always pays to get quotes from a manufacturing jeweller. The advantages of going to a manufacturing jeweller are numerous: you can get something designed and therefore unique; it's hand-crafted; the quality of the metals, stones and craftsmanship is superior; you don't pay mark-ups and you can build a life-time relationship with the jeweller (rather than a store assistant that may not be there when you need something next time). And these jewellers can remodel old jewellery as well. Some people shy away from manufacturing jewellers because they believe they can be too expensive. In the world of jewellery you don't always get what you pay for so why not spend an extra couple of $100s to get the better stone, setting and metal than paying for a cheap mass produced piece? Believe me - she will know the difference! But that's not saying that if you are on a budget the jeweller will refuse to work with you - they will. Another advantage is that you will almost always get internationally recognised certificates for any precious stones (for insurance or re-sell purposes) from a manufacturing jeweller. Ken Anania of Anania is a reputable manufacturer and design jeweller and acknowledged as one of Sydney's best. He ticks all of the above boxes and the business has been going since 1965 when his father started it when he specialised in opal. Guys like Ken are in business for a long time because of reputation (and he has been in the business since he joined his father in 1978), because they have a clientele that not only go back but refer others to him. Engagement ring - no worries - select the stone and the style and if you can't pay upfront just give him a deposit and the ring will be kept in his safe until the big proposal. New jewellery doesn't also need to be an option. Ken can remodel jewellery by using the stones and metals in the old to handcraft something new. Stuck for inspiration? Ken also has jewellery already made and for sale in his showroom and it is beautiful (it sometimes features in Vogue magazine). You don't need an appointment but of course if you need Ken's opinion and need to work on a design with him then setting a time after the first consult is of course advisable. I can't recommend Ken more highly for handcrafted jewellery and expertise.

As part of the lovely Lotus Pod group of clothing shops (check out Glebe, Balmain, Darlinghurst,…read moreKirribilli and Woollahra if you haven't already), Eden on Crown doesn't disappoint. Sitting in a light and breezy spot on Crown Street, you'll find an awesome range of clothes, undies, bags, scarves and jewellery. One of the main reasons I miss living in Surry Hills is this store. It's one of those old faithfuls that you can pop in to on Saturday afternoon and know it'll have exactly what you were after to wear that night. It stocks a really great collection of accessories, which I've used as gifts for friends many, many times. The jewellery range is lovely; there are plenty of long silver necklaces and cool cuffs to choose from. Also check out the cute purses and great bags. When the Darlinghurst store first opened, the owners sourced local fashion labels to fill the racks, but soon after they decided to start their own line, Alice Underground. The designers have a very good sense for what their customers want - the clothes are well-fitting and flattering, at reasonable prices. Definitely worth a browse!

I love this shop. It's cheap done right. I've popped in on several occasions when looking for that…read morelittle something to spice up an outfit. The shop itself is pretty small so there aren't heaps of choices at once, but there seems to always be something I just gotta have. I love the jewelry collection in Eden. Their rings and necklaces are chunky and tend to air on the side of costume jewelry, but taking after some of the best designers such as Betsy Johnson, haven't we learned lately that when it comes to accessories more is more? If it's a frock or jacket you're after, the styles in here are constantly rotating. They definitely mimic the Australian trends in higher-end department stores, but charge a fraction of the price. I recommend if you're a shopper on a budget, swing on in to Eden and see if you can't have a "forbidden fruit" experience.

In Australia, the only place to find the perfect engagement ring, or any kind of jewellery for that…read morematter, is at Percy Marks. Quality, service, and honesty are the hallmarks of this premier fine jeweller. They have a wide selection of outstanding, classic jewellery and top quality gems such as Argyle pink diamonds and black opals. Aside from jewellery designs, Percy Marks also offers services like remodelling, repair, and valuation. Their staff (sales, valuers, and jewellers) are all excellent and experts in their fields. They are extremely helpful. If you're looking for a top quality jewellery store with the finest products available, this is the store to visit. This business was established in 1899 - the only way a jeweller can survive for that long is by offering top quality products with excellent service. Highly recommended!

Perfect for Newtown, Tree of Life is stocked with hippy dippy fashion, homeware and accessories -…read morein a good way! I LOVE that stuff! Everything in the store is colourful, sequiny or bright; the clothes are similar to what you'd find at a market, but are of a good quality and a reasonable price. If you're looking for a summer dress with a difference, a pretty pillow for a housewarming gift or a heap of incense, this is your best bet. However, this is no flea market legitimised through incorporation - the stock is clearly carefully selected, and very rarely ventures into kitsch and tacky territory. It's boho chic, not hobo chic! It's also suitably westernised for our fashion tastes - although India and Asia are clearly the inspiration for the range, it's not so overwhelming that it can only be worn in Newtown.

Tree of life is more a shop for women, selling women's clothing and Jewellery, however they do also…read moresell home wares. But if you are not a woman but are looking to buy a present for a woman then Tree of Life is a worthwhile venture. They have a wide range of jewellery and the pricing is reasonable considering the quality. The products on sale many are Indian style jewellery and are generally quite exotic, yet tasteful and the great thing is the business employs fair trade practices in the acquirement of their stock, so it's nice to know there are some ethics behind the purchase you are making. So anyway I found a great gift of a woven beaded necklace & I grabbed myself some woven wristbands at the counter.

I didn't realize this the first three times I've been to this store but now that I know I'm even…read moremore of a fan - Wild Lotus is a non-profit store where profits made go to both local and international communities in need. In particular they support children living in poverty in India, free food distribution to the needy, sponsoring free community based cultural events and promoting a holistic lifestyle of balance and wellbeing through educational programs. Wow. I loved it before because it has some very pretty stuff - gorgeous and original floaty silk dresses and long beads and silver earings that I haven't seen before. It's only a small shop but what they do sell is all quality stuff and now, I find out, sold in aid of socially conscious cause. What a delight.

Wild Lotus is part of the group of Lotus Pod stores dotted around the city (in Balmain,…read moreDarlinghurst, Surry Hills, Glebe and Woollahra) and while it's the smallest of them all, it adheres to the store's ethical concept that all profits made from sales are distributed towards communities in need. The store sells their own label, Alice Underground, which focuses on simple, feminine pieces like smock dresses, flowy printed skirts and oversized t-shirts - accordingly, a lot of the designs are one-size-fits-all so you can easily change how you wear them with belts or by using them with extra pieces of clothing. I used to come into this store a lot when I lived in the area, and pretty much always found something I liked - generally, this fell into the summery, beach cover-up category at a reasonable price. Last time I went the selection of stock was a bit random, but most likely they were just in between seasons.