There's something I really like about an independent jewellers such as Innes. I guess when you…read morespend a decent amount of money on a piece of jewellery, or you're buying someone a gift, it's nice to think that there are not 10,000 replicas of your special piece. Especially for something like an engagement ring! Innes has a beautiful and unique selection of jewellery and watches. The watches in particular are feely individual and some are made there on site. There is also gorgeous antique jewellery at Innes which I absolutely love. The stock changes quite regularly so I end up popping in (probably more than I should) just to be nosy and take a squizz

John has fixed my jewellery for many years. He's honest and reliable and always does a fantastic…read morejob.

I am not often in need of expensive jewellery (ok, never) but this time I'm willing to spend a…read morelittle bit more than I would usually (still not a fortune though) as hopefully I will only ever wear one wedding ring in my life-time! After having dragged my husband-to-be to around 5 jewellery stores in the Albany Mall trying to source the best deal and getting increasingly annoyed with all those oh-so-friendly and could-they-possibly-be-even-pushier sales people I thought I should give the Takapuna Michael Hill branch one last go (by myself) as it is after all just one block from the beach where me and my daughter run around daily. It's a small, narrow store that doesn't look particularly inviting but I have to say that my shopping experience was definitely and by far the best out of them all. Maybe the fact that this is the only store where I was consulted by someone male helped (namely by a middle-aged and genuinely helpful chap called Peter) or the fact that my screaming and running-around toddler was taken care of by the other friendly shop assistants (even behind the other side of the counter). In any case, I felt very comfortable here and was impressed with their service and knowledge on diamonds etc. Price-wise this store worked out a bit better for us than the competitors even though GST can only be exempted if you spend at least $2000 (it's $500 with Walker&Hall). Tip: It's probably safe to assume that you will always be given a discount (at any time of the year) on any higher priced items.

My father in law has a jewellery business and he says a lot of the jewellery at Michael Hill is of…read morepoor quality. I am no expert but I have browsed in their shops and it looks fairly decent to me. I bought a nice silver heart necklace as gift three years ago and it has lasted well. On that occasion the staff were friendly and put it in a nice gift box. I went back there recently and it was a different story - a rather pushy woman was trying to sell me a bracelet even though I just told her I was just browsing. She started talking about the good credit terms she could give me and in the end I just left. I guess it's good they offer credit if you don't have much money to spend but I found it all rather pushy and I ended up buying my gift somewhere else.

I'm not sure if i'm just getting old or my style has just changed but I used to walk into Superette…read moreand want to buy everything, these days i'm lucky if I see only a couple of items to add to the wish list (I say wish list bc as a new homeowner, clothes have gone waaaaaaay down the priority list). By no means has the quality decreased, it's still a beautifully curated collection of both international and local designers, I think it's just no longer my style. That being said Superette gets four stars because their store is always immaculate, the staff re friendly and they're a great one stop shop for jeans with a tonne of brands to choose from. I also have bought a couple of great gifts from their selection of homewares and one thing I have most definitely added to the wish list is their linen sheets (waaaaay higher up the priority list these days). It seems to be a bit of a trend at the moment for popular AK City businesses to open up shop on the Shore and being a proud North Shorian myself, let's hope it continues!

Let's be honest, Karen Walker is pretty expensive. It's definitely not a label that I can afford to…read morebuy on the reg (in fact, I shouldn't really buy it all) but for special occasion pieces or a good quality staples, you'll be hard pressed to find better. I bought a coat from here at least 7 years ago which got an absolute thrashing during Uni but still to this day, I wear it every Winter. Of all the KW stores, The Department Store is definitely my favourite. I have no time for clothing store snobbery but the girls in here are lovely. They make great suggestions on what to wear with each piece and give their honest opinion on what looks best. Of course, there is also the added bonus that's it's inside a "department store" so if you don't find what you are after at Karen Walker, there are plenty of other options!

When I was but a wee young man growing up in deepest darkest Africa, you would get watch batteries…read moreand parts at the local pharmacy; they would sell anything and everything. Times have changed, and all you get at a pharmacy now is funny looks and empty stares; especially if you're asking for parts for an antique watch. What do you mean you don't sell the little thingy that goes into the watchamacallit? Trying to find my unique parts did not come easily, but I was helped when a friend informed me of a small shop in Milford that might help. And help they did, very quickly restoring my father's old wrist watch to its former glory. That's the nice thing about old time pieces, they last forever. Unfortunately the people supplying the parts don't.

Look no further - this is the BEST place in town for your watch/clock needs! I brought in 3…read moreMichael Kors watches for battery replacement today, and they were all ready in 45 minutes. The guy working there was super friendly and helpful with any questions I had about the maintenance of my watches. He had clearly worked in the business for many years, but wasn't stuffy or snobby with his knowledge, as some can be in a high-end watch shop. I trusted them 100% with my watches, and have no doubt that the batteries will last longer than most. Customer service is very important to me, and they were fantastic; I felt welcome from the moment I walked in. Thank you Milford Watch & Clock - you've earned yourself a regular customer!