I think I was only allowed into McNeillys because I was wearing a suit and looked completely non…read morethreatening. It is not that this shop is prejudice it is just that the jewellery in McNeillys is so expensive. This is a traditional Jewellers in every sense of the word, the door has a buzzer and you can do most of your browsing from the street. I would estimate that they have sold thousands of engagement rings over the years. This is the type of shop that an old romantic would go to get his nearest an engagement ring. I am purely basing this on how traditional the shop is, as I suppose it would have a little bit more meaning than getting a ring from a high street jeweller. McNeillys is all in all an excellent jewellers with friendly staff, I would say that the deal in big mainly deal in the big one off purchases but I as yet, fingers crossed one day, have not purchased from McNeillys.

Always makes me a bit nervous when I have to be 'buzzed' into a shop though when I spotted some of…read morethe price tags in here I could see why they were so security conscious. Being in full on 'browsing' mode the very pleasant assistant left us to it and indicted she'd be on hand if we wanted to see anything up close (ie. unlock the huge display cabinets). The shop was well set up, well light and all the jewellery looked pretty impressive in here. The only downside was that some of the prices were obscured so I was never really sure if I was looking at some mere trinket or the crown jewels. I suppose that's my ignorance in the jewellery field coming into play. For anyone serious about top end jewellery I would definitely recommend this shop with its classy stock and approach. They also do valuations and repairs so do consider it especially if you have a broken heirloom languishing in a drawer. Pros: Top quality jewellery. Cons: Definitely at the pricey end of the market.

I called in here last year with my watch. I'd received it as a gift however it was far too big for…read moreme and I needed to take it somewhere reputable to have some links removed. Watchmaker was recommended to me. I left my watch in and took my ticket. I had the watch repaired whilst I went off for lunch (around an hour) - When I went back it was ready to collect, and only cost £9 - speedy service from this little independent business, and well recommended. They also replace batteries, do engraving, and repair jewellery.

Ah Cash Converters, my old faithful. Although I have never actually done the good deal and swapped…read moremy valuables for a wad of cash I've certainly been in for a good nosy on many occasions. I like this one as it is big and imposing and bang in the middle of town. The jewelry that gets pawned isn't the greatest but they do have a nice selection of big tv's that people have needed to trade in for cold hard cash. Upstairs is also home to an awesome collection of acoustic and electric guitars. Lining the walls you can pay anything from £60 to £300 for a decent looking axe. They also have games, computers, exercise bikes and drum kits! A good place to pick up an unwanted gift or to shed one at that matter! I like to browse in here but I have never purchased, maybe if my guitar skills improve I could pick up a little beginners model in here.

No thanks. This is a…read moreplace where you bring your junk, you sell your junk and then other people come in and buy your junk. It's like Dickinson's Real Deal but instead of bringing in Chess sets worth hundreds of pounds, you are bringing in the old Fifa X box game and hoping for a fiver. It's handy money for tat you don't really need or want anymore, but it seems a bit like a Charity shop that keeps the money for themselves. Most of the stuff in here you probably won't ever buy, just like a Charity shop. But the only difference is that if you need any persuasion in a charity shop, your money is going to help prevent breast cancer or go to starving children. Here, it goes to people that live a few doors away from you. And they have a big television. I think the idea of a shop like this is good, especially during a recession where everyone needs a bit of extra cash. But the shop itself looks poor and could do with a bit of a refit to make it more modern and more appealing. I know people that come here and sell as much as they can, and then come out with some book someone once wrote for half the price. That is marginally pointless because you are replacing junk with more junk. Yes the shop is a good idea, but if you are desperate to make £2 for selling a box of old cds, why not give it to a charity shop where the money will go to something good? It seems a bit too much of a black market thing to me and I'm not particularly comfortable in it.

Jewellery wholesalers - I got my engagement ring for a very competitive price and was served by a…read morelovely lady called Ethna who helped me and really personalised the service - she knew I was bewildered by lots of different styles at the one time and so she only presented a few for me to look at. Previous places we had looked had been pushy and totally over whelmed me with loads of different rings. Ethna was very kind, informative and understanding. Recently we went back to pick a wedding ring and there was a very funny moment when I was down on my hands and knees looking at the bottom shelf. The owner walked past the counter and started apologising. We later found out that he thought from my poise that I was proposing! I got my wedding ring here as well and it was at least £300 pounds cheaper than elsewhere! Highly, highly, highly recommend Ellison Brothers.

A fine selection of diamond jewellery, engagement rings etc all displayed in a very elegant and…read morewell presented showroom. With my better halfs birthday coming up I was shopping for some jewellery, wasn't quite sure exactly what I was after but the staff were very helpful, genuine and not too pushy. Got a great price on a beautiful necklace and have to say after looking at similar in some of the other local jewellers, Ellisons were the most keenly priced. Highly recommended.

Really as typical as a high street jewellers as it is possible to get. You can pretty much pick up…read moreeverything and anything in here from high cost to low. You can get pick up watches, braclets, necklaces, rings and all the other stuff I don't know the name of in here with the minimum of fuss and bother. When you call in they won't try and force stuff on you, nor will they be weird if you just want to have a look at something. The shop is well enough lit and the staff have always been friendly any time I have went in. There is no real reason you wouldn't go in here.

This is one of the many H Samuel branches around…read more The store is well laid out and staff seem to know what they're talking about. You can pick up any type of jewelry here, from fancy watches, rings, necklaces, earrings etc. One of the best things about the shop is the way everything is laid out in a glass counter, making it really easy for the customers to get a look at the jewelry.

They have two shops in the city centre. There's one in Ann Street and one in Castle Lane. I've…read morealways used the Castle Lane shop. The great thing about places like this is that they're a local, independent jewellers, which means they're much more realistic about prices and get a lot of trade from word-of-mouth and repeat customers. And because it's a long established family jewellers they very much built a reputation entrenched in older values and ideals - their attitude when they started off (at a time when Belfast was a more cash-strapped place) was obviously that if they provided a personal customer service, gave a good price and a decent discount for, say, wedding rings, then your friends and family would come to see them when they were looking for similar items. It worked, too. There are people who won't go to any other jewellers, at least until they've checked out Joseph Rea first. They have a wide selection of all kinds of jewellery, carry out repairs on watches and jewellery, and also buy scrap gold that's no good to you anymore.

There's just something exquisite that draws you to Joseph Rea's shop window even if you have no…read moreintention of buying anything. Maybe the fact that it's a family run store that has been around Belfast for years, or the 'Established since 18--' sign, but it just exudes quality in a way that chain stores such as Lunn's and H.Samuel's could never emulate. If I'm ever deliberately out looking for an expensive piece of jewellery (rarely, I tell you) then Joseph Rea's is my first stop. You just can't go anywhere else; they're unbeatable.

This simply named, simply set-up shop is little more than a 'hole in the wall' down in Smithfield…read moremarket, North Belfast. In fact it's almost more of a 'walk-in cupboard in the wall' but we're not talking masses of stock, what we're dealing in is watch repairs! I went in on the off chance they could change the battery in an old watch of mine and I was in and out of there in less than 5 mins at a mere cost of £3, battery included. No idea what the standard of their watch repairs are up to or if you'd be wise entrusting an antique or more collectable watch with them but they certainly seem to know their watches. Pros: Cheap Cons: Out of the way.

Brilliant wee shop. Had a watch I bought in Turkey (FAKE). The metal clasp had broken so I just…read morestuck it in a drawer. Seen this shop bbrought the watch down & fixed for £2.

I am the kind of person who doesn't get the whole allure of the beautiful nature of jewellery, and…read moreprefer to stick to the functionality of jewellery such as a watch to tell the time or a wedding ring to ruin the rest of your life. Goldsmiths definitely prefer to deal on the more expensive end of the spectrum, dealing in high quality watches, rings, bracelets, brooches and ear-rings. My mum got me a watch out of here on my 21st birthday and I am sure glad that she bought it rather than me!(Fortunately it was in their budget section as I learned when I took it back to get the links removed!) I am not a big fan of the store however. The staff give you the impression that unless you are old and look like you are positively seeping cash, they aren't interested in you. Whilst this may be prudent for their sales it doesn't make you feel appreciated, as it took over 5 minutes of standing at the counter when I saw two spare attendants doing nothing to get my watch repair sorted. The shop is also poorly lit, which I assume is to give a classy vibe, but it actually means you cannot see your prospective purchase correctly! My advice is come back here when you have either won the lottery or won a large claim after a sexual harassment case, il leave you to decide which would be a more entertaining proposition!

Big capital cities need to have big capital shopping and Queen's Arcade is the spot for the…read moreaffluent shopper. High end watches and high end writing tools and fancy handbags and top notch shoes. None of those things were purchased by me today but there's no harm in looking! This isn't a shopping mall. It's a shopping experience. Don't miss looking down at the mosaic and tiled floors as you're here. [Review 1892 of 2024 - 870 in United Kingdom - 22914 overall]

Before Victoria Square Queens Arcade was home to Belfast's most opulent shops. Although this isn't…read moreto say that t doesn't retain some of its glamour. I am a fan of Queens Arcade. It provides a scenic shortcut from Royal Avenue to Fountain Street. The Arcade is home to Lunns Jewelers, Queens Bar as well as McKay's Old School sweet shop. If I were showing Belfast off to a visitor I would take them through Queens Arcade. It's elegant and charming all at the same time. I've heard people say that the only time they use Queens Arcade is when it's raining but I would encourage you to take a few moments out of your day and slowly amble through the Arcade, if only to look up and admire the architecture.

My son is a serious devotee of menswear. While on holiday in Northern Ireland, he ran out of clean…read moreshirts, and we went to several places that didn't have his size (14 inch neck) or an XS slim. I confess that my feet gave out, so I went back to our hotel. 40 minutes later, my husband sent an SOS--"we might be in trouble-- please come here." Dutifully, I put on my shoes, trotted to North and saw the trouble was potential bankruptcy. Because everything in the store is top notch and well worth its asking price. My purpose there was to rein in purchases. Instead I saw a gorgeous claret colored tweed overcoat, pulled it out, and wouldn't you know it fit my son in the shoulders perfectly. The fellow in the shop when we were there -- Turbo --was amazing. Honestly--just keep prodding him to learn more about how the store is stocked and the garments are made. He and his partner buy lovely hats, belts, luggage, and they design gorgeous shirts, waistcoats, jackets, suits, and overcoats. He even showed us a photo of the master weaver who creates their tweed. Now you are thinking that you can't possibly afford anything here. In fact, we found the prices remarkably fair. I have paid more money for lesser quality garments. My only regret is that we didn't have more time in Belfast -- and of course that I didn't think until they were closed to ask about how to purchase and tailor a coat to fit me. Needless to say, we will be watching their website, and next time we are in Belfast, this remarkable shop will be our first stop.