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IntervalWorld.com INTERVAL WORLD Summer 2016 31
HOOKED ON LOVE
A clean silver band with a simple hook clasp has been captivating jewelry shoppers in St. Croix for
50 years. Said to be a symbol of love, hook bracelets are sold throughout the island, and even
elsewhere in the Caribbean. But sources credit Sonya Ltd. in Christiansted as the originator of the
design. The artisans — including Sonya herself — still handcraft the bracelets, which range from
spare silver pieces at $60 to more elaborate 14- and 18-karat-gold designs worth thousands.
FOREVER AMBER
Although the semiprecious gem is found in other parts of the world, amber from the Dominican
Republic is valued not only because it contains far more fossil inclusions such as insects, but also for
its clarity and range of colors, from the classic golden yellow to red and even blue. No wonder jewelry-
makers from around the world seek out Dominican amber for their finest pieces. For the lowdown on the
story of amber, visit the Amber Museum in Puerto Plata.
CONCH PEARLS
Not technically a pearl, this rare treasure is a byproduct of the queen conch.The large mollusk that makes
its home in the quintessential pink-lustered seashell is found mostly in the Caribbean, and it’s estimated
that only one in 10,000 produces a pearl; thus, the typically astronomical prices. Even a single pearl can
cost more than $1,000. The gems are mostly pink — ranging from rose petal to deep coral — and
exhibit a wavy sheen that’s been likened to watered silk.
TRUE BLUE LARIMAR
If you could capture the ocean in a stone, larimar is what it would look like. The rare blue mineral,
found exclusively in the Dominican Republic, has only been mined and marketed for a few decades.
Larimar ranges from the lightest of blues to deep-sea azure, and its striations seem to mimic the
movement of waves — the perfect souvenir to evoke the essence of the Caribbean. Polished stones in
settings of silver or gold make for stunning pieces.
UNBURIED TREASURE
The Caribbean Sea is awash in shipwrecks, attracting divers with dreams of discovering their fortunes.
But prospectors are more likely to strike gold at a shop that specializes in shipwreck jewelry. These
retailers sell upcrafted pieces such as pendants fashioned from fragments of old British pottery, and
designs that incorporate silver reales recovered from Spanish galleons.
St. Croix Hook Bracelet
Sonya Ltd.
The small shop at #1 Company
Street in Christiansted, St. Croix,
is celebrating its 50th anniversary
with a commemorative bracelet
for $150. But there are plenty of
other styles to choose from, too.
877.766.9284
Dominican Amber
The Amber Museum
In the center of Puerto Plata, a
Victorian mansion serves as a
museum and well-stocked gift
shop with plenty of Dominican-
made designs.
809.586.2848
Conch Pearls
Coin of the Realm
In Nassau, Bahamas, Coin of the
Realm holds court on Charlotte
Street in a stately historic building.
The family-owned shop features
conch pearl dazzlers, among other
high-end pieces.
242.322.4862
Dominican Larimar
Harrison’s
The island’s largest jewelry
chain, reputable Harrison’s has a
shop in popular Plaza Palma Real
in Punta Cana, carrying a trove
of larimar in high-quality
settings.
809.586.3933
Also, the Larimar Museum in
Santo Domingo sports a shop
with plenty of merchandise.
809.689.6605
Shipwreck Jewelry
The Pirate’s Chest
St. Thomas’ Skyride to the top of
Paradise Point affords fantastic
views and delivery to The Pirate’s
Chest, a popular souvenir shop
specializing in authentic shipwreck
coins. 340.774.5279
SHOPPING
FOR JEWELRY
National Geographic Creative/Alamy Stock Photo; Sonya Ltd.; Dominican Republic Ministry ofTourism; imageBROKER/Alamy Stock Photos; Grard GUITTOT/Glow Images