The district’s annual sales run close to $3.5 billion, and the St. Vincent Center alone holds about 1,100 jewelers. Peklar Pilavjian, Public Relations Manager, states that this twelve-block area “is the least expensive place to purchase jewelry in the United States; less than New York, Chicago or Detroit.” He continues, “You’ll save 70% off department store prices and 80-90% off high-end jewelers such as Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and Van Cleef & Arpels—for the same quality.”
But how do you know you're buying quality?
Says Pilavjian, “Most of the vendors have been at St. Vincent’s for over ten years. They are not transient and are all licensed by the City of Los Angeles. But all levels of quality are sold here. If in doubt, especially for a diamond in excess of $5,000, hire an outside appraiser from the center. Make sure the appraiser is certified by the Gemological Society of America or the European Gemological Laboratories. The $100-125 fee is a small price to pay for insurance.” Pilavjian is one of several such appraisers in the center.
HIGHLIGHTS
St. Vincent Center
MAP IT!
Best Jewelry Company
640 S. Hill Street, #E-26--F-26
213-622-2837
Pearls, gemstones
Pierre's Watch Co.
640 S. Hill St., #K-22
213-623-5342
Pens, Watches, Clocks
Aurora Silver Jewelry
650 S. Hill St., #D-18
213-627-7244
Sterling silver, semi-precious stones, costume
Silver Center
640 S. Hill St., #H-23
213-362-6956
Sterling silver, costume
Crystalmania L.A.
640 S. Hill St., #553
213-627-2299
Semi-precious stones, costume
A FEW TIPS
Buyer Beware: All sales are final.
Safety: You’ll find purple uniformed cyclists equipped with radios patrolling the area, which is very well maintained.
Restaurants and Restrooms: Public, clean restrooms can be found in the Biltmore Hotel across from Pershing Square on the first floor, next to the Rendezvous Court. (The Biltmore is located about two blocks from the Jewelry District at 506 S. Grand Avenue but enter from Olive St.) You can also ask for a key from one of the vendors for the third floor restroom in the St. Vincent’s Center, which would be cleaner than the public restrooms on the second floor.
Restaurants dot the area, but check out the European styled alley behind St. Vincent’s for Mediterranean-style food. For a dining adventure, head over to Grand Central Market at 3rd & Hill Sts. It’s a produce market where you’ll find prepared food such as tacos and roast chicken in a fun atmosphere, complete with sawdust on the floor. For something distinctively more civilized, enjoy a sit down lunch or Afternoon Tea at the Biltmore.
Detailed information can be found by visiting the district’s website at
http://lajd.net
or
http://www.downtownla.com
GETTING THERE
By Auto
Take Hwy 5 South to the 170 South, which becomes the 101 South. Take the 110 South to the Sixth Street off ramp. Follow Sixth Street for six blocks to Hill Street. Parking ranges in cost from $3 to $22 per day. You can park in Pershing Square all day on Saturday for $6.00 or park between 7th & 8th Streets on Hill for $7.00 all day weekdays.
By Metro
If you don’t wish to fight the traffic, take the metro link. Start at one of the Santa Clarita stations, on Soledad Canyon or Newhall, for a 50-minute ride to Union Station. From Union Station, take the red line to the second stop at Pershing Square, which is a five-minute ride. Walk south a block and a half to St. Vincent Jewelry Center at 640 S. Hill St. to begin your shopping.
Or, continue on the subway from Union Station to the Financial District Metro Station at 7th & Figueroa. Then catch the Dash bus, Line E, which will take you to the Jewelry District. You can get back on the bus to continue shopping in the Fashion District.
