Best Necklaces in St. Thomas: A Guide to Cardow's Gold and Diamond Collection

Necklaces are one of those things people don't plan on buying when they land in St. Thomas, and then somehow end up walking out of a store with one anyway. There's just something about seeing gold up close, in the sunlight, on an island, that makes it hit different than looking at jewelry back home. If you're searching for the best jewelry store in St. Thomas for necklaces, or just trying to figure out what's actually worth buying while you're here, this is a good place to start.

Cardow has been doing this a long time, and the necklace collection covers a lot of ground, from diamond pieces to gold chains to necklaces that are actually shaped like the islands themselves. Here's a closer look at what's currently in the collection and who each piece is really for.

Necklaces for Sentimental Value

If you want something with real sentimental meaning, start here.

• The 1 Carat Diamond Open Heart Necklace is crafted in 10K gold and has a soft, romantic feel to it without being over the top. It works as a gift just as easily as it works as something you buy for yourself, the kind of piece people pick up as a reminder of the trip that also looks good every single day after.

• The St. Croix Diamond Island Map Necklace, the St. John Diamond Island Map Necklace, and the St. Thomas Diamond Island Map Necklace are all shaped like the actual outline of each island, with diamonds worked into the design. If you spent your trip specifically on St. John, or you're heading to St. Croix next, you can pick the necklace that matches exactly where you were. It's a nicer way to remember the trip than a generic souvenir.

  
  

Gold Chains and Pendants Built for Everyday Wear

For pieces you'll actually reach for once you're home, these are worth a look.

• The 14k Gold Gucci Link Chain is a real St. Thomas classic. The mariner link style has been popular on the island for years, and Cardow makes it in different link sizes and lengths, so you're not stuck with a one size fits all option. It works alone or layered with other pieces.

• The 14K Gold Caneel Petroglyph Diamond Pendant is one of the more interesting pieces in the collection because of the story behind it. It's inspired by actual ancient petroglyphs found at Caneel Bay, so the design connects to real island history rather than being pulled from nowhere. It carries around 0.30 carats of diamonds in a 10mm design, enough sparkle without being loud.

• The 14K White Gold Diamond Palm Tree Necklace keeps the island theme but in a subtle way. It doesn't feel like a souvenir, it just feels like a nice necklace that happens to have a palm tree on it, a good pick if you want something you'd wear back home without explaining where it came from.

Statement Necklaces Worth Building a Look Around

Some pieces are made to be the main event.

• The 14K Gold Sapphire and Diamond St. Thomas Necklace leans fully into the island color palette, blue like the water, gold like the beaches. It carries close to 1.9 carats of sapphires along with 0.40 carats of diamonds, making it one of the more noticeable pieces in the whole collection.

• The Queen's Link Byzantine Graduated Chain is about as bold as it gets here. It has that thick, graduated Byzantine link style that's been a classic gold design for a long time, and it's not a necklace you wear quietly. This one is for someone who wants their gold to actually be seen.

• The Bezel Station Diamond by the Inch Necklace is a newer arrival built for layering. The bezel set diamonds spaced along the chain give it a clean, modern line that works well on its own or stacked with something heavier like the Gucci link chain above.

Why Buy Your Necklace in St. Thomas

St. Thomas is duty free, which is a real reason a lot of visitors end up buying gold here specifically instead of waiting until they're home. Cardow has built its name on the island since 1954, and it carries the largest selection of 14k gold jewelry in the Virgin Islands, so there's a solid range whether you're looking to spend a little or go all in on something like the sapphire necklace or the Byzantine chain.

Which Necklace Should You Actually Get

Picking a necklace here really comes down to what kind of piece you want to walk away with.

• Want something sentimental? Go with the open heart necklace or one of the island map pieces.

• Want everyday luxury? The Gucci link chain or the petroglyph pendant fit that better.

• Want something big and bold to remember the trip by? The sapphire necklace or the Byzantine chain will do exactly that.

You can browse the entire necklace collection online before your visit, or walk into one of Cardow's St. Thomas locations and try a few on in person, which is still the best way to figure out what actually looks good on you.