Friday Shiny
February 15th, 2008 @ 3:34 pm by Mrs. Caterpillar
Living in NYC you see a lot of shiny things — the Empire State Building at night, the subway trains, the man in Times Square who paints himself silver and pretends to be a robot. And within two subway stops of my office, I have Tiffany & Co, De Beers, Harry Winston, Cartier, Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels and Graff. It’s kind of like living in the Pirates of the Carribean ride at Disneyland. Sometimes you’re almost blinded by all the shiny. But, you want to know something funny? For all the shiny NYC has, I swear New Orleans has about 100 times more! See, e.g. the selection of rings at M.S. Rau Antiques on Royal Street.
M.S. Rau is just one of several absolutely perfect antiques stores in New Orleans. Rothschild Antiques — home of some stunning tiaras, including the one that prompted the tiara story — is just down the street. Graff and Winston might have jewels that are as impressive, but just try to get someone there to crack a smile.
The last time we were in New Orleans we wandered into M.S. Rau, and I tried on just about everything in the front case. The charming woman who helped me actually encouraged me to walk around the store while wearing the alexandrite three-stone ring so I could watch it change color as I walked through different types of light. No security guard escort summoned. It was just me and alexandrites walking through the store.
The next time you’re in New Orleans, stop by, we can try on alexandrites together!
Rothschild Antiques
321 Royal St.
New Orleans, LA
(504)523-5816
M.S. Rau Antiques
630 Royal St.
New Orleans, LA
(504) 523-5660
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10 Responses to “Friday Shiny”
How I adore all of those places. Whenever we are “home”, my friends and I all get up early on sundays for beignet’s, browsing and brunch!
I’m so glad you did a post on new orleans antiques. NOLA really does have some of the best antique shopping out there. Let us know the next time you are going to new orleans!
Meghan- Beignets and brunch at Brennan’s would hit the spot. Or Camilla Grill. It’s worth the weight gain! I’m all nostalgic now:)
yeh! definitely let me know when you go back! i can meet you there for lots of alexandrite and tiara fun 
New Orleans is like my second home (I have lots of extended family there) and I LOVE the shops on Royal Street…. last time I was there for JazzFest in May, I remember drooling over some jewelry stores, but wouldn’t let myself go in for fear of what I’d want to walk out of there with!
Woohoo, we’re going to JazzFest for our honeymoon, haven’t been to New Orleans in 5ish years and can’t wait to go back!
man i wish i could go back there. maybe my birthday trip should be to New Orleans this year. that would be so fun and so different from other years.
I tried on all the rings there as well last year during Mardi Gras and was VERY close to getting a ring but I wandered into Mignon Faget instead. Oops!
I didn’t even know they sold diamond rings for $600,000. If you spend that much on a ring, what is your budget for the rest of the wedding?
yay, NOLA! we are having our wedding there and I am so thrilled. the antique and jewelry shops on Royal are to die for. Have you seen the amazing millinery they have on Royal, Fleur de Paris?
Mrs. Caterpillar, New York/CA
Age and Occupation in 06: 28, Corporate Attorney to be
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Musician
Engagement Date: March 9, 2006
Wedding Date: September, 2006
Venue: Rooster Point
About Me: I don't like Jeff Koons, mushy corn, or the unnecessary diacritical marks the New Yorker adds to words like cooperative. Also, I'm an obsessive compulsive when it comes to crafts. And not just the ordinary kind of obsessive compulsive who needs to have everything even and aligned. No. I've gilded the heads of pins to make sure they looked properly antique. Gilded them. Then coated them in german glass glitter. I am that crazy.
oooh… I love the yellow one.