Gold has long been a global symbol of wealth and style. If you?re craving ultra-chic gold body, neck, or arm candy, we suggest you jet off to one of our favorite gold souks. Each one of these marketplaces offers a vast variety of products?when it comes to gold, there are few places in the world with such elaborate and exotic displays as the ones listed below. Although gold jewelry is sold by weight and usually at fixed prices, many of these souks follow age-old traditions that allow for haggling. Let your imagination soar as you shop for gold embellishments for your entire body?just make sure to bring bundles of the local currency.
Gold has long been a global symbol of wealth and style. If you?re craving ultra-chic gold body, neck, or arm candy, we suggest you jet off to one of our favorite gold souks. Each one of these marketplaces offers a vast variety of products?when it comes to gold, there are few places in the world with such elaborate and exotic displays as the ones listed below. Although gold jewelry is sold by weight and usually at fixed prices, many of these souks follow age-old traditions that allow for haggling. Let your imagination soar as you shop for gold embellishments for your entire body?just make sure to bring bundles of the local currency.
Gold Souk
Khalid Bin Waleed Road
Dubai, U.A.E.
Dubai?s world-renowned Gold Souk is the place to find unique treasures for your jewelry trove. This is the place for gold body jewelry, golden veils, and seraglios; just about every gold adornment you can think of to drape somewhere on your body can be commissioned and purchased in this souk. In addition to its traditional and over-the-top gold offerings, this glimmering marketplace also features gorgeous platinum, diamond, and silver pieces. Best of all - bartering is encouraged and the government tightly regulates the quality of the merchandise that passes through the souk, ensuring that all of your purchases will always be genuine.
Old Souq
Between Mubarak al-Kabir, Ahmad al-Jaber & Ali al-Salem Streets
Safat, Kuwait
Globetrotters flock to medieval Kuwait City for its souk?s unmatched selection of look-at-me gold jewelry. Kuwait?s grand souk, like many souks, is actually a collection of smaller souks that specialize in a specific product?such as fresh spices, embroidered clothing, or leather accessories. However, it?s the handcrafted gold necklaces and bracelets that are most famous?craftsmen who are specially trained as goldsmiths handle the production of all jewelry, constantly dreaming up one-of-a-kind jewel-studded and engraved pieces.
Grand Bazaar?Istanbul
Kad? Mehmet Mh.
34440 Beyo?lu
Istanbul Province, Turkey
Established in 1461, the Grand Bazaar is an integral part of Istanbul?s day-to-day culture. A covered marketplace spanning a staggering 60 blocks, the bazaar?s vast assortment of jewelry guarantees you?ll find whatever piece you?ve been lusting after, whether it?s a delicate gold anklet or eye-catching chunky statement necklace. The grand bazaar is a mecca for jewelry shopping?in addition to gold you will find vintage diamonds, rubies, faux gold, and semi-precious gemstones you?ve never heard of.
Khan Al-Khalili
Al-Azhar Street, Cairo, Egypt
The Kahn Al-Khalili souk is a historic landmark in Cairo?with roots reaching as far back as 1382, this market was once so powerful that it drove Columbus to sail to America to discover new trade routes. Its gourmet restaurants and coffeehouses lend to the souk?s allure, while providing a great place to sit and obsess about purchases. Choose from traditionally crafted gold rings, seraglios and necklaces, as well as keep an eye out for traditional Egyptian symbols such as ankhs and scarabs.