Singapore is a shoppers paradise. Although you can still find deals on handcrafted rosewood furniture, Chinese objects d'art, and carpets, prices for most items are the same as or higher than those in the United States. Though prices don't vary much from shop to shop. 

Shops in the Orchard area tend to open daily by 10:30 AM. Specialty malls, such as computer-centric Funan Centre and Sim Lim Square, tend to unfold anywhere from 10 AM until noon. 

Most antiques stores have a variety of small items - porcelain, brassware, idols, and so on - as well as Chinese furniture, which may be of blackwood inlaid with mother of pearl, or red-stained wood with elaborate carvings picked out in gold. Falling halfway between souvenir shops and antiques stores, curio shops sell a fascinating variety of goods, mainly from China. 

For small, inexpensive souvenirs, take the MRT to the Bugis stop. On one side of Victoria Street is the Parco Bugis Junction - an air-conditioned, semi outdoor, multilevel shopping center. On the other side is an array of market stalls that sells everything from fake designer watches at unbeliveble cheap prices to silk boxer shorts and scarves. Dollar stores abound here, and they're full of such inexpensive and indispensable consumer goods.

Singapore is a good place to buy jewelry, and there are so many jewelers that prices are competitive. Never accept the first price offered, no matter how posh the store. (All jewelers give enormous discounts). The Singapore Assay Office hallmarks jewelry, though the procedure is time-consuming and not many jewelers submit to it unless required for export. 

In Chinatown, particularly along South Bridge Road and in People's Park, there are dozens of jewelers who sell 22K gold. Many of these are old family firms, and prices are calculated by abacus based on the weight of the ornament and the prevailing price of gold. The bargaining procedure can take quite some time.

Some of the main shopping centres of Singapore are:

CENTREPOINT (176 Orchard Rd.) : This spacious and impressive center has the Robinsons department store as its anchor tenant. One of the liveliest complexes, Centrepoint also has jewelry, silverware, and fashion shops; furniture stores that sell Philippine bamboo and Korean chests; and a large basement supermarket. 

DELFI ORCHARD (402 Orchard Rd.) : Delfi is full of wedding boutiques, art galleries, and jewelry shops.

FAR EAST PLAZA (14 Scotts Rd.) : This is where the young and trendy gather to see and be seen. The shops are geared to them, and there's a bargain-basement atmosphere about the place. A forecourt offers fast-food restaurants (including Starbucks, Burger King, and Canadian Pizza - the best in the city), outdoor tables, and entertaining people-watching.

FORUM GALLERIA (583 Orchard Rd.) : Here you'll find a huge Toys 'R' Us, as well as an assortment of boutiques, including Guess! Kids. 

FUNAN CENTRE (109 North Bridge Rd.) : On North Bridge Road and High Street, near the Peninsula Hotel, this shopping center will thrill computer and information-technology lovers. 

THE HEEREN SHOPS (260 Orchard Rd.) :. This complex at Orchard and Grange roads houses a branch of the popular Nonya restaurant, Blue Ginger; Electric City, an electronics superstore; a huge HMV music store; and True Colours, a futuristic makeup boutique. 

HILTON SHOPPING GALLERY (581 Orchard Rd.) : Most of Singapore's upscale hotels have a boutique or two in their lobbies, but the Hilton has an extensive shopping arcade full of them. It is home to several top names - Giorgio Armani, Matsuda, Valentino - and, through a boutique called Singora, many other Italian and French fashion houses. Among its other top-flight tenants are Davidoff, Dunhill, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and L'Ultimo. 

LIANG COURT COMPLEX (177 River Valley Rd.) : Liang Court is off the beaten track but only five minutes by cab from Orchard Road and worth the drive. The department store Daimaru is here; half of its floor space has been transformed into selected designer boutiques, such as Dunhill, and areas that sell books, silk, pearls, and other specialty items. 

MARINA SQUARE : Part of an elegant complex that begins east of the Nicholl Highway downtown (a five-minute walk from the Raffles City MRT station), it includes Millenia Walk (look up to admire the architecture) and houses Metro, a large department store that has great sales; DFS, a massive duty-free shop; and about 200 small shops, including the English store Mothercare. 

NGEE ANN CITY (391 Orchard Rd.) : Although the Japanese store Takashimaya takes up most of this complex, you'll find a number of small boutiques as well. 

ORCHARD POINT AND ORCHARD PLAZA (220 and 150 Orchard Rd.) : These side-by-side centers don't have the popular appeal of some other complexes but will reward dedicated shoppers with good finds. Reptile bags can be found in the basement shops of Orchard Point.

ORCHARD TOWERS (600 Orchard Rd.) : Thai silk, antiques, and leather goods vie for space here with tailors, electronic stores, restaurants, and a food and wine supermarket. Larry Jewelry has some good bargains and fine gems. 

PALAIS RENAISSANCE (390 Orchard Rd.) : Across the road from the Hilton hotel, this high-fashion center is targeted at those who seek status labels at high prices. It's chic, opulent, and overpriced, a delight to wander through regardless of whether you're well heeled or not.

THE PARAGON (290 Orchard Rd.) : The glossy Paragon has more than 15 men's fashion boutiques and counts Gucci and Sonia Rykiel among its more popular tenants. It also has the Metro department store. 

PARCO BUGIS JUNCTION (230 Victoria St.) : Linking the Hotel Inter-Continental and the Bugis MRT station, this shopping center has the Japanese department store Seiyu. It also houses a host of boutiques, restaurants, cafés, a Cineplex, and the Amusement Wonder Park Namco. Bargain hunters might want to stop by the pasar malam (night market) at Bugis Village. 

PARKWAY PARADE (80 Marine Parade Rd.) : This excellent and very attractive center is on Marine Parade Road, 15 to 20 minutes east of town by expressway. On weekdays you can shop here in peace and quiet; on weekends, it's uncomfortably crowded. The focus is on up-to-date and affordable fashions. Things get started around noon. 

PEOPLE'S PARK COMPLEX AND CENTRE (Eu Tong Sen St.) : Though not new and glossy, this Chinatown center has an international reputation and is always entertaining. Everything is sold here: herbs, Chinese medicines, cameras, stereo equipment, clothes, luggage. Shopkeepers are much more aggressive here than in town.

THE PROMENADE (300 Orchard Rd.) : The elegant architecture (there's a spiral walkway with a gentle slope instead of escalators) here is matched by the elegance of the tenants. Its fashion stores carry some of the hottest names, including Charles Jourdan, Dolce&Gabbana, and Issey Miyake. Home-decor shops sell superb Asian odds and ends. 

RAFFLES CITY AND RAFFLES HOTEL ARCADE : Bordered by Stamford, North Bridge, and Bras Basah roads, Raffles City Shopping Centre has a confusing interior. Although you may get lost, you're sure to come across many finds, some of them in the Japanese department and grocery store Sogo. You'll also find several fashion boutiques, the Times bookshop, and a post office branch. Across the road is the Raffles Hotel Arcade, whose 60 boutiques sell high fashion and art. There's also a tourist board office here. 

SCOTTS SHOPPING CENTRE (6-8 Scotts Rd.) : One of the best places in Singapore for affordable fashion that stops just short of haute couture, Scotts also has a basement food court with local and delicatessen food, plus activities and demonstrations to keep shoppers entertained. 

SHAW HOUSE (350 Orchard Rd.) : Isetan, a large Japanese department store, is the major player in this complex. The Kinokuniya bookstore is excellent for volumes on Japan. Etienne Aigner is a good place for leather items. 

SIM LIM SQUARE (1 Rochor Canal Rd.) : You can bargain for anything related to computers.

STAMFORD COURT AND STAMFORD HOUSE : This corner of North Bridge and Stamford roads has more specialty shopping centers than any other section of downtown Orchard Road. Check out the fine array of furniture and home decor stores here, as well as antiques, sculpture, fine art, and gift shops. 

SUNTEC CITY MALL : At the corner of the Nicholl Highway and Raffles Boulevard in the Marina Bay area, this large has divisions of the Tropics (lifestyle products and services), the Entertainment Centre (housing the French superstore Carrefour), the Fountain Terrace (an array of restaurants, pubs, and a food court), and the Galleria (high-end boutiques). One could shop and dine here.

TANGLIN SHOPPING CENTRE : This center, where Orchard Road meets Tanglin Road, has a good selection of antiques shops, especially in a small, self-contained section at ground level. Moongate is one of Singapore's oldest dealers in fine antique porcelain. Antiques of the Orient is the only shop in town that specializes in antique maps. The contemporary interior-design shops, as well as the food court in the basement, are excellent, too.