Egypt Guide
Cairo
Jewellery and precious stones
Most Egyptians still regard jewellery as safer than money in the bank; for women, in particular, it constitutes a safety net in case of divorce or bereavement. Pharaonic, Coptic and Islamic motifs, Bedouin, Nubian and oasis designs, work from Syria, Jordan, Yemen and Arabia – Cairo's jewellers stock them all, and can also make pieces to order.
Gold and silver are sold by the gram, with a percentage added on for workmanship. Barring antiques, all gold work is stamped with Arabic numerals indicating purity: usually 21 carat for Bedouin, Nubian or fellaheen jewellery; 18 carat for Middle Eastern and European-style charms and chains. Sterling silver (80 or 92.5 percent) is likewise stamped, while a gold camel in the shop window indicates that the items are gold-plated brass.
Downtown jewellers are concentrated along Sharia Abdel Khaliq Sarwat and Sikket al-Manakh, near Midan Opera. In Islamic Cairo, the Goldsmiths Bazaar (Souk es-Sagha) covers Sharia al-Muizz between the Muski and Sultan Qalaoun's complex, and infiltrates the heart of the Khan via Sikkets al-Badestan and Khan el-Khalili. There are also several good silversmiths in the Wikala al-Gawarhergia.
The most popular souvenirs are gold or silver cartouches, with given names in hieroglyphics. The price depends on the quantity of metal used and whether the characters are engraved or glued on.