Visit to Cartiers-Las Vegas

[smitcompton]

Hi,

I spent Thanksgiving week in Las Vegas and made a trip to Cartier at the Forum Shops.This is my dream jeweler. I looked for the colored stone section which seemed non existent. They had watches upon watches throughout the store, some diamonds but no colored stones. I finally spoke to a salesperson who asked me where I was from, and we found he used to live near me. So we were instant buddies. I asked him where were the colored stones? He gave a great explanation. Cqrtier only deals in one of kind or custom jewelry. They buy special pieces, and send these around to their different stores at different intervals. So they don't carry much inventory in colored stones. Made sense to me.

He showed me one piece they had in stock, and no matter what I can't get TL's evaluation of stones out of my head. It was a green sapphire, of such awful color, but good crystal(learned term from MZ), that I really had to fake a smile. It was a brownish olive green stone either approx. 7x9 or 8x10 . It was a pendant set in a prong setting. It had a lovely chain. I could see the sparkle in it, and realized they were diamonds which did make a lovely chain to display the sapphire. This piece was priced at $49,000. That was it.
Really ugly stone, of course IMO.

Now Fred leighton had gorgeous stuff in his window. Loved the show caseing. One window was for emeralds, one for rubies and one for saphirres, all with losts of diamonds around them.. We didn't go in. I think thats the place to go, Oh gosh, I may be remembering wrong. It could be in the Belliago. Oh Well, either the Forum or the Belaggio.

I do think there is another Cartier in either the Belaggio or CAesars. I haven't scoped out the new Aria and Cosmspolitan yet,.
Thats for the next trip

Annette

 

[JewelFreak]

Surprising info from Cartier. Admit never having shopped there but I'd expect colored-stone pieces, given Cartier's past mastery of them. The ugly green sapphire is a shocker! Fred Leighton makes beautiful jewelry. Fun trip!

--- Laurie

 

[T L]

Well, unfortunately, some of the big jewelry houses are not what they once were.

 

[LD]

Great review!

It never ceases to amaze me that if you have the cash and a good eye for gems, it's fairly easy to replicate something from one of the top end stores but with a better gemstone and for a fraction of the price!

When I've glanced at the Tiffany website, their coloured stones (quality) can be shockingly bad and yet, you mention Tiffanys to anybody and they assume high quality!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I had a riot in Vegas poking around. Bulgari had some gorgeous colored stones....

Bought Kwait diamond earrings at the Wynn shop...

cheers--Sharon

 

[chrono]

Thank you for the review and at least somebody had some fun. BTW, is that green sapphire untreated or is that unknown?

 

[smitcompton]

Hi Chrono,

I didn't ask him if the stone was treated. I am not used to going in to high end stores except to browse. He was nice to show me what he had, and my mind only thought of the unattractive color of the sapphire. The chain was beautiful, so my eyes went to that as well. Sorry, next time.

Annette

Although its off topic, I have to tell you all about Christian Dior. My niece, who was with me, is a stylist. She works on TV shows and magazine covers etc. She was giving her aunt a lesson in high fashion, which I loved. So, I look in Christian Dior, whichlooks as if its merchandise has disappeared(which means they have one item per shelf) This is all new to me. I go in and there is a well dressed man in a suit at the door. I kiddingly said, with a big smile, Oh are you guarding the store? He nodded his head and said no, that gentleman 3 feet away is the guard. He too, was well dressed in a suit. I said something stupid, like You're kidding. NOPe.

They have guards at Christian Dior. They don't have much merchandise, but of course what is there is couture, but must be worth a lot of money. I didn't even ask about prices.

 

[minousbijoux]

Felt right at home, did you, Annette? I know I shouldn't, but I swear the few times I've gone into places like that Prada in SF, the tremendously well dressed guy at the door reminded me of a bouncer who at any time would spot me as the imposter...