Travelling around the world can also be an opportunity to bring home some high quality crafts, including extraordinary jewellery. If Paris has long been the first place in the hit parade of great designers and jewellers, we can also move away from the beautiful districts of the French capital and go and buy a rare stone or pearl on the other side of the globe. From Asia to Oceania, via Africa, this is our top jewelry destination. To dream a little bit when planning your next long-distance trip
Paris, luxury, glamour and diamonds
How can we not stop in Paris first? Of course, the French capital is and will always be the world capital of luxury, glamour and romanticism. And a privileged spot to allow yourself all the madness in search of a diamond or another precious stone. The Champs-Elysées, Place Vendôme or the suburb of Saint-Honoré, the favourite place of the nobility since the 17th century, is home to the most famous brands, notably the Baunat diamond jewellery. So what could be better than Paris to propose her beautiful in marriage and find her the stone of her dreams?
India, jewellery for all
In India, tradition has it that men and women wear jewellery: rings, earrings, medals, bracelets, necklaces, etc. Gold being reserved for noble castes, the most common jewellery is made of silver. Amulets or medals bearing the effigy of the gods play a protective or devotional role. Hindus also believe that gemstones emit vibrations more or less adapted to each individual according to astrology and many wear them. The desert tribes made thick silver bracelets for ankles or wrists, while the princely families wore gold jewellery, sometimes set with precious stones.
Tahiti, a pearl of legend
After tourism, this is the second pillar of the Polynesian economy. Once known as the "Black Pearl", the Tahitian pearl has been cultivated on the territory for more than thirty years. While it is coveted by high society worldwide, it is mostly exported in its raw form, except when it is sold as mounted jewellery in Tahiti, Bora Bora or Moorea. For the curious who would like to know more, it is possible to visit the pearl farms on the atolls. An excursion that is indeed an essential part of any stay in French Polynesia
Myanmar-Burma, jades, rubies and emeralds
Burmese stones are known all over the world. If it is nowadays more and more difficult to buy beautiful gems in Burma, every year is held in Yangon the Emporium of gems and precious stones. Even if the most beautiful pieces are quickly spotted by international buyers, you have to take a chance. One can then choose between jades from the Kachin state, rubies and sapphires from Mogok, emeralds from the Kayah state, which once covered the ornaments of Burmese kings and are still extracted from the mines in these regions today. You will also easily fall for a blood-red ruby or a bright moonstone
Madagascar, the sapphire king
The Malagasy soil fascinates geologists... and lovers of minerals and precious stones. The enthusiasm for sapphire, for example, explains the sudden and disproportionate growth of "mushroom cities" in the middle of the desert, such as Ilakaka south of Ranohira on the RN7. A true heart of sapphire production, this western-type town did not exist twenty years ago. When you walk around it, you feel like you're haunting a Sergio Leone movie. But sapphire is not all: Mada is rich in emerald, ruby, garnet, seaweed, tourmaline, amethyst, citrine, alexandrite... and even in green diamonds, as we have recently learned. The most creative jewellers can be found in Antaninarenina.
