TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Garnet jewelry at Marigot market

I hear that a lady sells hand made garnet jewelry in the Marigot market. Anyone seen it or have any of the pieces?

My wife bought some earrings from her several years ago. They are quite nice. She said the garnet was mined locally--can't remember if that was on St. Maarten or a surrounding island. We have not seen her at the market the past several years. We go in July so not sure if she is still there in high season but not low season.

Huhm, ok, thanks. We go in June. My birthstone is garnet, which I do not generally like, but I thought I might look for some of this jewelry.

My wife always stops by when we visit, mostly October, and has a nice collection of their pieces. Last 2 times, it was a guy selling the goods (I think he's the owner), other times it's been different sales ladies.

Always located in the same place when we visit--as you're heading towards the mall from the market, there's a breezeway through which Rosemary's in on the right. The garnet stand is on the left right before the breezeway.

Thanks. So, someone was there last October?

I bought a lovely pair of earrings for my sister in October- her birthstone too. There was a man and a lady selling them there. The garnet is mined in St Martin.

They were open in March

My wife has a set of earrings - nice

Link for more info
http://www.sxm-shopping.com/octaedre/

Cruzer's directions are spot on - not big easyish to miss, they generally set up with a wall behind them.

J&B

Carol, someone was there, but I'm pretty sure they aren't there all days.

BTW, they do sell green garnets, not from St. Martin, but from Russia.

Bought a beautiful necklace from them a few years ago - I do not know how to post pictures on this site, otherwise I would.

OK, thanks. Green garnets? Didn't know they existed.. As I said, in general I do not like garnets, but if they are mined on SXM, that makes them special.

Hi Carol,

The woman selling garnet jewelry was at the market last Wednesday. I personally haven't purchased any pieces, but am tempted to. We may venture to the market tomorrow.

Thanks. So, you think Wednesday is the best day to go? If you do go tomorrow and talk to her, you might ask if she is normally there every Wednesday. Thanks!

Bought my secretary a beautiful garnet necklace about 5 years ago in Marigot from the garnet lady. She loves it and wears it all the time. It was on a Wednesday and it was in July. I recall her being set up somewhere near the mall.

My wife purchased a piece of jewelry last year. I wrote a story and posted several photographs on my blog about the jewelry and our experience. And then ... I got a comment on my blog story that you just must read. I'll leave it at that for now ... the comment is at the end of the story. When you click on link below, type Garnet Jewelry in the white search box at the top of the blog page and hit enter.

Do you believe there is indeed a garnet mine on St. Martin or was the person who commented on your blog correct?

I had never heard of any gems that were mined on St. Martin, but I never really cared. We have traveled back to Friars going both routes toward the water, but never saw or heard of garnets being mined. Doesn't matter anyway to my wife or I, since she is totally happy with the garnet that she did get. Just thought it strange that no one ever said anything about it until we visited and then the resulting comment on my blog. I didn't pursue it, since I get strange and unconvincing comments at times.

It does seem somewhat unusual, that there would be gemstones mined on SXM. For me, it would probably be one of those things that I wouldn't necessarily worry about, one way or another. If I find a piece I like, I wear it and I associate it with SXM because I bought it there.. I have never even looked at garnet jewelry much, because the stones always seemed so uninteresting. Hopefully we'll make time to get to the market this year.

I bought a pair of garnet earrings around ten years ago; they were a gift, so I don't still have the packaging or the lady's card; but I seem to remember that the garnets are in fact mined on the island. Either that, or they're mined on a nearby island and the jewelry is made on the island.

Their website, which someone linked here, definitely SAYS they are mined on the island, near Friar's Bay.

Sorry, I missed that; but now that you say near Friar's Bay, I remember her telling me that at the time.

It is not a semi- precious "true" garnet but a mineral called St martin garnet because of its color. They have explanation at the table in the market we have bought some and were pleased,