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Where to Find It

Perfumes

By Michelle Rodenburg

Fans of fine fragrances find sweet smell of savings in store

Fragrances have always sold well among visitors to the island. Buyers find shops carrying their favorite designer perfumes at prices unheard of back home. Both Penha & Sons and The Yellow House, in downtown Punda, are highly respected shops worth a visit.

Pay special attention to the timeless Penha (pronounced PEN-ya) building, as this most photographed historical site now celebrates its 300th anniversary. Constructed in 1708, the building contributed greatly to getting Willemstad on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Fun fact: Did you know the term "Curacao base" is a perfume additive used in many fragrance formulas?

Artisan Crafts

By Jane Ammeson

Ply the courtyards of Punda to find authentic Dutch and island crafts

Amid the swank shops of Punda, Willemstad's 18th-century candy-colored historic area, artisans lay out their wares in JoJo Correa Plaza and other courtyards tucked into labyrinthine walkways and streets.

Here the rich crafts of Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Haiti can be found. Blankets and stalls display a wonder of items — trinkets like beaded necklaces and earrings, strands of shells gathered for bracelets, ceramic vases and bowls, homemade candies, and Haitian carved wooden bowls, platters, and statues. Pick up a lushly colored mesh or cloth bag for the beach, a straw hat with flowers to ward off the afternoon sun, or a batik dress or shirt for a casual island dinner. Choose from artfully designed baskets, vividly painted enameled dishes, and gently polished seashells.

Nearby stores showcase a wide world of wares imported from the Netherlands: especially delicate Delft pottery and china, some hand painted with traditional blue drawings, and finely woven embroidered linens. Look for wonderful wheels of Edam and Gouda cheeses from Holland, coated with red or green wax and worthy of the title artisan.

Delightfully Duty-Free

By Michelle Rodenburg

How and why to shop duty-free jewelry while vacationing on Curaçao

Shopping for fine gems, jewelry, and watches on Curaçao turns up an exquisite collection by acclaimed designers. The illustrious brands in store include Bulgari, Cartier, Chopard, David Yurman, Girard Perregaux, John Hardy, Lagos, and Roberto Coin.

Even better, serious shoppers discover great duty-free bargains in such stores as Freeport Jewelers, Gandelman Jewelers, and Little Switzerland. In Punda alone, you can find a distinguished jeweler on almost every street corner. By saving so much in tax, some visitors pay for their whole vacations.

More than 40 varieties of gemstones light up the market. Adopting one is the beginning of a life-long relationship. While some varieties have been treasured since history began, and others were discovered only recently, they are all nature's gifts to us.

When shopping for jewels, keep a few important considerations mind. Within each variety, the value of a stone is based on the four C's of quality: cut, color, and clarity, not just carat weight.

The price ranges of all gem varieties break down into five basic categories: traditional gemstones, new classics, connoisseur, collector, and affordable. Of course, lower quality stones or ones with less popular colors may cost less; while stones of particularly fine quality or color may cost more. The ranges are meant to give a general idea of prices, but not to serve as a price list, since individual color and quality make such a big difference.

Take me shopping in Curacao!