Ruby Review

I'm all about accessories lately for myself and those who I am supposed to be a personal shopper for.  Spending other people's money?  I'm doing my part to help the economy.  I don't even care that I don't end up with anything in the end. 

So, I came in to this store and immediately saw earrings, bracelets and necklaces I thought could work.  Unfortunately, I was jewelry-blocked because the one salesperson was helping someone else.  

Any other time, I might have been able to wait around but it was about 80 degrees in the store and I had to  be somewhere.  Also, I could tell from the conversation that the other customer was in no hurry to make a selection and get moving. 

Even though they prevented me from spending money, I give them 4 stars because the selection looked good and there was a cool pug that needed my affection.  I'll try again sometime.


3602 20th St

(at Valencia St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission

(415) 550-8052

Mixcoatl Arts and Crafts Review

Hand-beaded wonderful things in bright desert colors. Six foot iguanas, for instance. This is not an el-cheapo craft mart. This place is the real deal for amazing hand-crafted art and very nice silver jewelry. AND they sell Mexican wrestling masks, as well as a year-round selection of Day of the Dead/funeral fetishes for loved ones who have passed on.

The folks who work here are very patient with browsers. I looked at stuff in here for a couple years before I could bring myself to buy something -- resisting the impulse to buy the smallest, cheapest thing I could afford just to own something from a beautiful store. 

I finally got my folks a really stellar six-inch-high reindeer in oranges and blues and blacks, and I paid $65, and although that almost priced me out of buying any other Christmas gifts, it was worth it. They love it.

I believe "Mixcoatl" is the original Aztec word for Mexico.

3201 24th St
(between Van Ness Ave & Cypress St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission

(415) 341-4191

Multikulti Review

This is a cool little spot, chock full of items, to browse if you're looking for great deals on sunglasses, costume jewelery, dance attire, belly dancing attire/zils, scarves, handbags, henna tattoos, greeting cards....oy....the list goes on! Very reasonably priced...many is the time you don't NEED any of this stuff...but you WANT it and you recognize it immediately! Reda, the charming owner by way of Alexandria, Egypt, has a way with the ladies and an eye for knowing what they want! = ) He has been there for 10 years, and generally knows everyone by name even if it's only their 2nd or 3rd visit! He makes time to chit chat while he's ringing each person up and everyone leaves there smiling, with a shopping back full of cool stuff! (Actually, now that I think of it, this store is a microcosm of the old Headlines chain...remember those cool shops on Market and in the Castro?) 

On my most recent visit, I picked up some Jackie O sunglasses, a Cleopatra headdress (yes, I will FIND a reason to incorporate it into some future ensemble) some new zils for belly dancing, a pink ostrich feather and panne velvet mask (shades of Eyes Wide Shut...process THAT visual for a moment =) and life changing blue Swavorski crystal chandelier earrings! 

The ONLY drawback is parking on this street AND with 1 hour meters! (And the construction going on right now has alot of spaces blocked off) Take public transit or park a couple blocks down on a side street and hoof it over there! 

They are open 6 days a week, closed Mondays, from 12 to 8pm

Shoukran Reda-habibi, for this little mecca of sparkly goods and sunshine you have created for your clientele! You keep us coming back for more!!!

539 Valencia St
(between 16th St & 17th St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission

(415) 437-1718

Watson & Son Review

My fiancée and I needed an appraisal for our ring.

We searched different places downtown and ended up going to Watson and Son.
We picked Watson and Son over the other appraisers since it is run by the owner and he does the appraisal while you wait. Mark gave us individualized service unlike the other places we went to.
On the day of our scheduled appointment, Mark made a mistake, and triple booked the same time frame for three different customers. 
Hi colleague called us and asked if we could arrive one hour later. Initially we were a little surprised, but managed to get there one hour later.
The appraisal that was supposed to cost $200, ended up being FREE because of the one hour delay.

I appreciated Mark's service and the way he treats customers.
We'll definitely buy our wedding rings and other jewelry from him.
He also had our ring re-sized. We are very happy with the results and the price. 

I highly recommend Watson and Son.

210 Post St
Ste 502
(between Grant Ave & Stockton St)
San Francisco, CA 94108
Neighborhood: Union Square

(415) 986-3303

Edmund R. Weber Jewelers Review

Edmund R. Weber Jewelers is a class act, and true experts at what they do. My husband and I recently purchased a gorgeous antique (Art Deco) platinum and diamond ring, and we needed it sized in a hurry. We decided on Edmund Weber based on the glowing reviews here. I'm so glad we went!  

Edmund Weber Jewelers is a charming father and son team, with many decades of experience between them. They were able to size the ring down two sizes within a few hours, and even despite a near-catastrophe: No one could have possibly known that the shank of this 80-year-old ring had been soldered with white gold (as opposed to welded with platinum, which is far stronger), which resulted in the shank breaking during the sizing process. They called immediately to inform me about what happened, and they told me that they would fix it by welding it with platinum, however this simple sizing job had turned into something a lot more complicated.  Despite the extra effort it took, they did not charge me more than what they had initially quoted me. Truly very classy! 

They also fabricate their own jewelry, and while I was waiting, they showed off a few pieces to me. The craftsmanship was clearly superb. I asked if they could work off sketches and do custom work, and they said that was one of their specialties. I tucked that away into my mental bank. 

Sure, you could go somewhere else and be charged a few dollars less, but these guys are at the top of their field, they take great pride and care in their work, and you *will* get what you pay for! :-)

210 Post St
Ste 308
(between Grant Ave & Stockton St)
San Francisco, CA 94108
Neighborhood: Union Square

(415) 781-0218