The strip of 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues is known as the
Diamond District
. Crammed into this one block are more than 100 shops: combined they sell more jewelry than any other block in the world. The industry has traditionally been run by Hassidic Jews, and you'll run into plenty of black-garbed men with
payess
(sidelocks) here.
Some good starting points are Andrew Cohen, Inc (579 5th Ave, 15th floor), for diamonds; Myron Toback (25 W 47th St), a trusted dealer of silver findings; and Bracie Company Inc (608 5th Ave, suite 806), a friendly business specializing in antique and estate jewelry. Once you buy, there's AA Pearls & Gems (10 W 47th St), the industry's choice for pearl and gem stringing; and, if you want to get your gems graded, the Gemological Institute of America (580 5th Ave, 2nd floor)
