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Visit BijonatCostume jewelry and lithotherapy

In the Bijonat workshop

Today, I’m going to introduce you – if you haven’t already heard of it – to a very friendly little boutique located in the Village de la Poterie in Les Trois Ilets. It’s Bijonat, where you can buy pretty costume jewelry and discover thevirtues of natural stones, her specialty for nearly 15 years. Whether you’re a loyal customer or just passing through, be sure to pay Martine, artisan jeweler, a visit.

Martine Cornelus

Artisan jeweler from Bijonat

A store in the heart of the Pottery Village

In this emblematic place for tourism in Martinique, many craftsmen share their trade and their passion. Such is the case with Martine, whom I met today. I wanted to find out more about her business and understand her approach… The store is pleasant and well laid out, with many models on display. Behind her counter, she’s making bracelets from natural stones.

– How long has Bijonat been in existence?

“We opened Bijonat in 2009, but in fact my husband and I had already been present in the Village de la Poterie since 1996. We‘ve been making and sellingcostume jewelry for almost 30 years! Over the years, we’ve become increasingly specialized in natural stones. I’m passionate about lithotherapy, so it’s a matter of personal taste, but it’s also appealing to customers, because it’s beautiful jewelry, whether you believe in the virtues of stones or not. Today, this is our primary speciality, even if we continue to offer a fewleather or shell-basedpieces .”

A recognized jeweler

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– What types of jewelry do you make?

“At Bijonat, you’ll find rings, necklaces, pendants, bracelets,earrings and anklets for women, men and childrenalike ! We most often work with silver or gold-plated steel wire, which is the most resistant to corrosion (a problem in our latitudes). “

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Made-to-measure creations

– Do you manufacture on site? To order?

“Yes, I make most of my jewelry in the boutique, in front of my customers. Stéphanie and Laëtitia, my collaborators, also create jewelry, which allows us to vary our inspirations and offer different styles, different trends… We can of course make customized creations (choice of wire material, choice of stone, size, clasp…). I also work in my workshop at home, for the noisiest or dirtiest jobs, such as leatherwork, which aren’t always compatible with welcoming visitors…

Depending on how busy it is, I can do it straight away. Otherwise, you can collect your jewel within 48 hours maximum!

Opening hours

Natural stone

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– Where do the gemstones on your jewelry come from?

“I sometimes travel abroad: to the Dominican Republic (famous for its larimar stone) or Cuba, for example. Otherwise, I’ve been working with the same suppliers for 30 years. I’m loyal to them for the quality of their stones with certified origins. “

– Are natural or semi-precious stones available in Martinique?

“Many people here don’t know it, but Martinique’s subsoil contains red jasper. This is the case on the Caravelle peninsula and in Les Salines , the two oldest lands to have emerged to form Martinique! These stones arouse curiosity, but they are not used in jewelry, and their extraction is not organized – not enough to create an industry in any case. “

Best-sellers

– So which stones do you use most often and which are the most successful?

“Each stone has its own audience, and as with everything else, to each his own, depending on whether the stone ispurely aesthetic ortherapeutic. I can, however, see my customers’ preferences: tiger’s eye, very popular with Martiniquais (men and women!),amethyst, rose quartz, labradorite, Caribbeanlarimar, lava stone…

The virtues of natural stone

As well as creating jewelry, Martine has long been interested in lithotherapy, the virtues of stones for health, energy and emotional balance.

– How do you promote lithotherapy and advise your customers?

“I’m not a therapist, I just share my knowledge. In general, it’s a fairly spontaneous process: people come to me with their problems. These range from stress, lack of energy, sadness and temporary fatigue to personality enhancement. Iguide them towards the choice of certain stones, renowned for their properties and virtues forcenturies.

– Some examples of these virtues?

“Of course! Tiger ‘s eye, one of the most popular gemstones, is a stone of protection, giving energy and strength.Amethyst balances excesses and deficiencies;amber reduces allergic reactions; rose quartz has soothing properties, particularly suitable for children. It’s important to remember that these propertiescan beenhanced by combiningdifferent stones. In lithotherapy, wearing a stone as a pendant, ring or bracelet is one of the simplest and most effective ways of receiving its energy. Sometimes you start with one stone and add others over time, to see if the combination is beneficial. I’m passionate about it, and people are very interested! “

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I’m leaving Martine and her team, I really enjoyed this meeting and I hope I’ve given you the desire to discover this lovely address where a zen and warm atmosphere reigns…Of course I fell for a beautiful bracelet “full of virtues”!I hope I’ve made you want to discover this lovely address, where a warm, Zen atmosphere reigns… Of course, I fell for a beautiful bracelet ” full of virtues “!

I’m continuing my discovery tour of the Village to make other beautiful encounters…