Best Jewelry '98

Best Jewelry

Marshall's Jewelers
7041 N. Oracle Road
4755 E. Grant Road

READERS' PICK: Guess all those friendly radio commercials have paid off--Marshall's is the name our readers think of first for fine jewelry, with diamonds being their specialty. In a retail world where all that glitters certainly isn't gold, Marshall's gives its customers the comfort of knowing that any item purchased comes with a quality and customer satisfaction guarantee.

READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: Jewelry is fun to wear, to receive as a gift and to purchase for someone special--even if that someone special is yourself. The folks down at Piney Hollow, 427 N. Fourth Ave., help make buying jewelry a no-holds-barred adventure. Piney Hollow is much more than a bead store: They've got a beautiful collection of hand-crafted necklaces, rings, earrings and pendants, ranging from exotic to elegant, from retro to romantic. The best part is that if you don't see exactly what you're looking for, the Hollow's super-talented staff will help you design something unique. Whether you opt to have their artists create a piece in your behalf, or you roll up your sleeves and give it a go, you'll end up with more than a piece of jewelry; it's a work of art.

CLUE IN: A longtime mainstay of St. Philip's Plaza, Bahti Indian Arts, 4300 N. Campbell Ave., Suite 20, is a small storefront packed to the rafters with fine, Southwestern wares from nearby Native American communities. Among the jewelers owner Mark Bahti represents are Hopi artist Victor Masayesva, Tohono O'odham silversmith Rick Manuel, Zuni craftsmen Sanford and Dennis Eedakie, and Navajo artisan Ray Scott, all of whom are becoming internationally known thanks to his efforts. (You can check out their work, and that of other Indian artists, at Bahti's "virtual showroom," www.bahti.com.) With prices ranging from $2.50 to $7,500, there's something for every budget here.