RMS has been here for many many years...Well over 30! Ralph, the owner, is a great guy who can't do…read moreenough for you whether you're going in for something small or something a little more exotic it doesn't matter as he treats you great regardless. He specializes in bespoke jewellery and repairs but does stock a few pieces which he has made. His turn around time is very quick and his prices are very reasonable. If you're in the market for some jewellery then I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this little jewellers in bury to anyone.

tools. paint. gardening. gear. you name it jaz has it. going there now for some picture frames…read more alan.

This shop is amazing. That's solely down to Jaz and his wife who own the place and are also the…read moreonly people who you'll find working there. When I lived in Victoria Park I would always pop in and see Jaz on my way home from uni. He always recognised me and had something to chat about. He sells everything you'd expect to find in a discount store - 4 cans of pop for £1, chocolate bars, laundry baskets, clothes airers, Christmas decorations, pens, notebooks, loo roll.... I've actually bought all of the aforementioned goodies here and they are of surprisingly good quality. I bought a dirty washing basket from here for £1 in 2005 and it's still going strong! On more than one occasion Jaz has offered to pick me and my friends whatever we wanted up from the cash and carry and he's even requested our advice on pricing. Once he asked me how much I'd be willing to pay for a horrid talking Christmas tree. Not wanting to offend him, I told him I'd pay £5, which I think was a bit ambitious. Top marks to Jaz for providing an excellent level of customer service for the local students and families in the otherwise deserted Vicky Park.

This is a slightly pricier jeweller than you would find on the high street, but the selection of…read morehigh quality product is outstanding and the staff are very friendly and helpful. They stock a great selection of watches, my personal favourite make is Tissot, which are a little hard to get hold of in most places. If you are looking for a present for a special someone this is a great place to come. They sell diamonds set in gold, white gold and platinum also. I would recommend that this place is worth looking in if you are willing to spend a little more than usual.

I would just like to say in a world full of negative comments and complaints it is a real pleasure…read moreto visit a store where the customer service is superb,having visited the shop in St Annes Square several times just recently from the first visit to the last the experience has been brilliant.I would particularly like to mention Amna whose product knowledge and Customer Service skills have been second to none she has been an absolute delight to deal with nothing was too much trouble and she dealt with everything with a smile and total professionalism.

Dazzle is one event every year that I really look forward to. It's been running for almost 30 years…read morein the extraordinary setting of the gothic town hall and has clearly gone from strength to strength. A great respite from the Christmas market outside, it offers Manchester some of the best contemporary jewellery in the world (from around 50 designers) and the pieces are showcased in purpose-built lit cabinets that really highlight the detail and workmanship. There's nothing high street about the work here. There's a lot of futuristic silver pieces, acrylic, steel, and brushed gold, and some very simple designs too. You really can find some very unique gifts here for purchase immediately or you can order a bespoke order too. This year the market runs from November 23rd until 2nd January.

Aiming itself at a more youthful market than most other jewellers Azendi specialises in…read morecontemporary accessories made in both silver and gold. Descirbed by the press as "fashionable, innovative and truly faultless", Azendi has built up an enviable reputation as a retailer who understands the current market which will no doubt have more traditional stores like Goldsmiths and Ernest Jones looking over their shoulders and casting nervous glances.

How do you do it, Azendi? How do you manage to be a budget jewellery store without the same kind of…read moreunspoken tacky vibe which surrounds the likes of H Samuel and Beaverbrooks? You won't find anything costing over £450 in here, and to my own surprise, it's actually... rather nice. I'd go as far as to say I'd happily purchase something from here. Priding itself on 'contemporary luxury' and specialising in silver and white gold, this is modern, it's classy, and there isn't a chintzy piece of tack, sovereign gold ring or gargantuan hoop in sight. Chavvy this ain't. The kitschiest thing you'll find here is a name necklace, and we all know Carrie Bradshaw made them quirky cool again so we needn't worry. Azendi's all about the geometric angles, funky jewels, shiny pearls and statement rings, and James is absolutely right about it cornering the younger market. It's hard to explain - Azendi just has that intangible feeling of being more highbrow than other high street jewellers. Kudos. I wouldn't just yoink my basics from here, I'd seriously treat myself. And with my fussiness levels, that's really saying something.

This is the only shop in Chorlton that sells brand new books. Although the bars on the windows…read moredon't entice you into this bookshop, I would advice you to go in and have a browse. Although this is quite a small store they manage to pack quite a lot in, including a range of current and classic novels. These are shelved around the edge of the front room, and in the middle there is a table with many discounted books ranging from travel guides to recipe books. In the back room there are non-fiction books including foreign language books and dictionaries. The staff are really friendly, and if they don't have the book you're looking for then they can order it for you. They also have a gift wrapping service, and a great selection of arty cards including ones with Quentin Blake illustrations which I love. Let's hope that the giants of Amazon and co. do not force this lovely traditional bookshop out of business.

Toni Morrison Alice Walker…read moreJeanette Winterson Angela Carter Raymond Carter Richard Yates Cormac McCarthy Annie Proulx Carson McCullers It might be smaller than the travel section of Waterstones but Chorlton Bookshop is a lovely independent bookshop stocked with fine fiction and poetry. I've only visited half a dozen or so times but the fact I've never left empty-handed speaks volumes about the owner's selection. As well as a lots of classic British and American fiction, there's a strong, wee selection of African-American fiction, womens fiction, crime noir and books by critically acclaimed local authors. If I remember rightly, it was Chorlton Bookshop where I bought a copy of Jackie Kay's excellent debut novel Trumpet many moons ago. Since then, the Chorlton based author has produced some compelling books of poetry and short stories but I'm still holding out for her second novel. C'mon, Jackie! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiEyuJTyAlI

A beautiful jewellers, lovely staff and stunning pieces to choose from…read more We wanted a jewellers to buy an engagement ring and this came up in an Internet search. I liked the fact they are a small family jewellers with their workshop in Leeds. They also have a shop there in the Victoria Quarter and now in Trinity. The Manchester site is in Spinningfields, its a small shop but has a good range of rings and other jewellery. I had emailed the pictures of rings I liked from their website to them in advance. Louise, the assistant manager, was amazing and offered to get some brought over from the Leeds site as well for us to look at. On the day the service was exceptional. There were so many beautiful rings to choose from and we were given champagne to celebrate when we made out final choice. They offer a stunning box for the ring that fits inside a larger box to hold your certificate as well. They measured my finger and resized the ring to fit perfectly. This only took 2 days including it travelling to Leeds and back. I can't wait to go and get the wedding rings from them as well. Such a lovely experience in every way.

Gorgeous creative space with 20 plus studios bursting at the seams with unique, one off pieces…read moreranging from jewellery to artwork. I LOVE this place, they showcase a lot of local talent. There is a cute coffee shop that sells the usual tea, coffee, cake and small plates so it's perfect for a coffee and a browse. Fun Fact: Back in the day this used to be the local fish market, the original features including the tiles still remain in tact. On some days I swear you can smell residual fishiness but that could just be my mind playing tricks on me!

Angela's absolutely right, this place is so easy to miss. When I first happened upon this place by…read moreaccident, thankfully after I'd hauled Lex G all over the Northern Quarter in an attempt to locate Teacup she still had the energy to spot this gorgeous, adorable building and say, 'What's that?' Me being the investigative yelper that I am said, 'I have no idea. Let's have a look.' Thank goodness we did, because I thought places like this only existed in small towns, at Cedar Farm (a beautiful little crafts-driven farm with shops in Mawdesley that I highly recommend... ahh, my rural homeland radius) or in Brighton. Literally, I felt like I'd stepped into somewhere along the seafront in my brother's resident city, because the last time I saw open studios and handmade jewellery for sale, I was indeed in that picturesque place by the sea. From the outside the building is pretty, but when you walk in it really takes your breath away. Delightful little exhibitions, artists at work... I instantly made a mental note to bring mothers here, mine or in-law, the next time they're in Manchester as they love places like this. The centre has such a lovely quaint feel to it, and goodness me, tranquil? I couldn't have felt more tranquil had you tipped a load of Kalms tablets down my throat and given me a Slanket and a chocolate Horlicks. And whether you're naturally a chilled out person or slightly neurotic and over-organised like myself, no doubt walking in here will instil in you a sense of calm that you'll struggle to find anywhere else in Manchester. The work for sale is exceptional, and I myself was instantly attracted to the wall hangings comprising of collages of iconic Manchester photographs, such as street signs, buildings, bands, restaurants and so forth. I could have stayed in here for hours.You're bound to come home with something special and unique here gifts-wise. Cafe Aromat has its own website and looks absolutely mouthwatering, so I promise that when we pop in again I'll get some munch there and let you know how it is. I know, I suffer for my art don't I. *Winks.*