What to Know Before You Buy

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RESEARCH QUESTION: As independent appraisers of jewelry and watches, we see many pieces purchased in the Caribbean. Some clients have done well; others have not. We wondered: Do people really save by buying jewelry in the Caribbean, or is it just a myth? And what do they need to know?

METHODOLOGY: We took a Royal Caribbean cruise to Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten and St. Thomas and investigated the shopping experience firsthand. We interviewed the cruise line, merchants and guests, and attended seminars given by the ship's port-shopping guide. Finally, we headed ashore and did a little research for ourselves.

RESULTS: With so many unknown stores and so much jewelry to choose from, buying pieces can be daunting. Generally, some of the best deals we found were on watches. Most watch companies have built-in suggested-retail prices that are consistent regardless of where you buy. So why buy in the islands? Because goods are sales-tax free, and they usually have a lower retail price to start with because they're also duty-free.

Here are five things to do before you buy any kind of jewelry in the Caribbean.

Be skeptical of onboard shopping seminars. These seminars, provided before you reach each port of call, are full of info on stones, jewelry, watches and anything else the islands have to offer but require some caveats. Listening to the ship's expert is a great start, but remember that the stores they recommend have paid a promotional fee. The good news: These stores are required to offer guarantees that they will stand behind anything purchased. The better news: We found many stores that aren't part of the program just as willing to stand behind their products and service.

Take special note on jewelry that is indigenous to the islands, such as black coral or ammolite. Neither of these is easily found stateside, and you may regret passing up the chance to buy.

Shop around . One mantra you will hear is, "See it, like it, buy it!" But that gold chain may be in the same store in the next port. If you want something else, you can exchange within the same company on the next island. Many stores have multiple locations; by attending the shopping seminars, you can find out which islands host what stores.