McAlipne's has been operating for years. Adam McAlpine is a watch and clock repair expert. I have…read moretaken wathces here of batteries, straps, cleaning and servicing. Watches that only need a few things done like a battery are done there and then. Once, he brought back to life a treasured moon phaase watch of mine by ordering a new logic board for it. Very few watch repair guys would be able to accomplish such a feat. He is so inexpensive. If you need watch repair, make the trip to Portobello High Street.

As a local resident I have used Mcalpines for years and have never been disappointed in the quality…read moreof the service. I was concerned that a new battery for a very expensive and exceptionally thin Zenith watch would be a problem but no it was fitted while I waited. A new strap for my other watch was also fitted while I waited. Total cost £11-50 superb value for money. Can thoroughly recommend.

The dingy sign and bars across the window make this place look a little daunting. But fear not,…read morefriend. Venture inside and you'll be greeted by a very friendly man who is an expert on everything clock and barometer related. The actual room (and it is just a very small room) has an extremely impressive collection of grandfather clocks, carriage clocks, wall clocks and barometers. The back of the shop is reserved for their workshop which, by the looks of it, is as big as the shop itself. Specialising in antique clock and watch repair, their workmanship is guaranteed for two years and is of the highest quality. They also run exhibitions, featuring some of the finest antique timepieces around. And I mean it when I say they know their stuff. Just one thing - they're only open Wednesday to Friday, which can be a bit restricting if you work full time.

A real find with top quality professional watch and clockmakers who as well as providing servicing…read moreand repair, design and build from scratch, real quality timepieces, many with unique features and capabilities. Very friendly and happy to take time to explain and help wherever possible. To me the revealing feature was the window to the workshop which was spotless and everything in its place which reflects true perfectionists in their profession. Service with a smile, you cannot beat it.

If I have to describe Laings in one word then that would be awesome. I have been their customer for…read moreyears and they have consistently delivered excellent customer service. The boutique is wonderful and their customer service is excellent. I cannot recommend them enough. My latest experience with them was today and needless to say it was another amazing experience. They really made our 10th anniversary extra special!

Laing Boutique is the quirkier, more costume jewellery edged little sister to the bigger, more…read moreexpensive Laing the Jeweller a few doors up. The boutique may be wee, but it's full of glass cabinets of jewellery joy, with many trendsome brand names, such as Juicy Couture, Lulu Guinness, Mont Blanc and Cruz. The jewels in here definitely have a fun edge to them, and are certainly fashionable, so this is a good option for browsing when you want something that's less high street trinket, and more quality fashion jewellery that you can wear over and over without worrying about it falling to pieces. There are still more expensive, special occasion items to be found here, like the Gucci watches, and as watches go, I'm quite a fan of the Juicy Couture cream numbers that Laing also stock. They've recently brought in a range of Mancini rings, which are excellent, because you just buy whichever band you want from the range, and they're all really reasonably priced, then you can keep coming back and buying different colours of stones to team with the band, as they're detachable. Great for fickle minded people like me, who get bored of the same colour after a few days.

WOW!!! I drove past…read morethis shop on my way to Inverness, and I had to park to go and have a closer look. It was so f***ing cool!! It is a charity shop for save the children, but completely unlike all the others I've been in before. I felt like I was in the gift shop of an art gallery, everything is kitsch and retro, and the colours are amazing. The whole shop is decorated brilliantly and it looks like something out of the movies. Upon further investigation, I found out that the shop is owned by TV retail advisor and Save the Children Ambassador, Mary Portas, and it is infact a designer charity shop. I didn't know you could get them! I plan to spend an awful lot more time in here.

In agreement with Emily, I did a swift double take when I saw this place!…read more Towering above its neighbours in a gorgeous old building, Mary's Living and Giving looks more like a pretty boutique than it does a charity shop. Essentially, it is - boasting secondhand designer clothing and accessories, it's got some chic and often retro offerings. So you can get a snazzy outfit for a dinner party at an absolute steal of a price! With its creaky, varnished floorboards and warm lighting, it feels as though you're in Monsoon rather than in a charity establishment. The pictures toward the back of the shop remind you of who you are helping, however, making finding a bargain in Mary's an ethical choice! Gok Wan would be all about it!

Don't be put off by the shabby appearance of this place. Genuine down to earth old style honest…read moreknowledge and service. I haven't seen a shop like this since being a kid in the 70s, ramshackle, somewhat disorganised, dimly lit, but with an air of tranquility, that oddly feels ironically as if time stood still. I had my watch battery replaced while I waited, along with some friendly chat and all for considerably less than I would have paid to an service centre suggested my my watch manufacturer. Please be patient when approaching the counter, the proprieter may be at his desk a few feet away, and seem to take an age to acknowledge you. Look again and you'll see he is working on the intricate mechanism of a clock or watch with many small pieces to misplace. Be patient, he will get to you in good time. Cash only, but the prices are extremely reasonable.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS My watch was taken in for repair, lost…read morethen found, then in pieces with hands and winder lost. I demanded its' return. What I did not realise until I had a competent and reliable repairer look at it was that the balance wheel was also missing. No point in returning for the lost parts. I've watched the proprietor look through trays and boxes too often, turning up watches and bits of watches with no idea of their origin. I now know he has no idea where things are in his ramshackle premises, what belongs to what or to whom. If you value your watch or clock take it elsewhere.

Like Stephanie, I expected the watches in Swatch to be an absolute fortune so it was a nice…read moresurprise when I noticed that many of them are really very affordable indeed. Being an absolute girl who likes cutesy things I was instantly drawn to the glass cabinet with the Hello Kitty watches inside. They were around £30 and are really aimed at children but I really am such a kid at heart and have my very own Hello Kitty watch, even though it isn't a Swatch one. I have to say I found some of the watches quite garish and naff, but fine if you're just looking for a watch for a bit of fun and to add some colour to an outfit.

Initially I snubbed Swatch as a rather novelty brand of watches, the tacky multicoloured watch…read morestraps you see immediately on entrance originally deterred me. On a closer inspection I found some great designs that completely reversed my opinion. Refreshed to see a more modestly sized watch face and a less blingy design that plague so many crap watch brands, I was pleasantly surprised by Watch's offerings. I'm currently watch-less at the minute and plan to make have a decent rummage through Swatch's designs. Top stuff.

Jeremy was extremely professional and also took the time to explain stuff that I needed to maintain…read morethe clock. Really good service. My clock works really well. Would recommend.

This sort of place always gets the seal of approval from me. Making money for the benefit of…read moreothers, 10/10! This shop is a bit different from your standard charity shop though, it's cooler, somewhat trendier and nicer! There's a pleasant atmosphere that makes charity shops cool. There's been a wave of this following the appearance of charity shops on a Channel 4 'Mary's' documentary, so it's refreshing to see it put in place. The staff are lovely, the clothes are good and it's an all round good experience.

I have a great deal of time for Bethany Christian Trust. I know a good few people who have been in…read moretheir care, and have come out changed people. As a result of this, I enjoy a visit to one of their shops. This one is on St John's Road in Costorphine, and as Emily says, feels that bit cooler than other charity shops I have visited. This place has more than your average charity shop. Apart from the normal selection of clothes, books and much more, there were also some bits of furniture and other household items. The overall quality of the items they had looked great, including the ubiquitous CDs from the 80s and 90s. If you're lost in the sea of charity shops, and can't pick between them, then go for Bethany. They do a really great work with people across the city, and I have seen this first hand. Quite often, the staff in their shops are people who have been in their care, and so you can see the support they have for the charity as well. Come on and support this great cause.