By: Gillian Birch
Jewelry is traditionally bought or given to mark a special event such as a birthday, engagement, marriage, or anniversary. Why not mark your visit to Fort Myers, Florida with a contemporary piece of jewelry as a reminder of your wonderful vacation? Congress Jewelers on Sanibel Island and their Sealife by Congress collection is just the place to find the perfect piece.

Family History of Sanibel’s Congress Jewelers
Scot Congress is a third generation jeweler who credits his enduring success to the pride he takes in producing high quality jewelry along with a personalized service. His father Larry Congress was a jeweler in Peoria, Illinois before the family relocated to Southwest Florida in 1981. He and his son Scot ran a Bike and Boat Rental business for a time, but it quickly became evident that Sanibel Island needed a quality jeweler.

Larry’s wife Dee was a keen sheller and she asked Larry to recreate an olive shell in gold as a pendant. The rest is history. The business is now run by Scot and his wife Melissa. As well as designing and creating jewelry, the in-house jeweler also offers repairs, whether it’s a modern piece or a precious heirloom.
Discover Your Birthshell at Congress Jewelers

Most people know their birthstone, but Congress Jewelers has gone one better. They have created a range of beautiful rings and pendants that incorporate specific polished shells–one for each month of the year. These include the Auger shell for January birthdays, followed by tulip, olive, conch, lions paw and other beautiful seashells.

Find out which is your Birthshell by visiting the store or contacting them online. It’s a beautiful way to give a personal birthday gift, especially for someone who has an affinity for nature and the sea.
Sealife by Congress Sanibel Inspired Jewelry Collection
Inspired by the natural beauty of Sanibel and Southwest Florida, Scot and Melissa Congress have created a signature line of jewelry that is handcrafted by local artisans on the island. Some of the original pieces from the Sealife by Congress collection include a beautiful 14k gold sand dollar pendant necklace that comes in various sizes. The textured finish, five pointed star and natural indentations exactly capture the sand dollars that are regularly washed up on Sanibel beaches. Finding a sand dollar is meant to bring good luck, so having your own gold sand dollar pendant must surely be a charm!

More informal and beachy is the sterling silver Sanibel Sandals pendant – a fun and delicate pendant that will look good with any casual beachwear.
What’s more, these items are surprisingly affordable. Other pieces in this bespoke Sealife by Congress jewelry collection include a yellow gold polished olive shell pendant, a Sanibel Island map pendant, and silver sand dollar earrings. Pieces that are more expensive include diamonds and gemstones.
Congress Jewelers is located in Periwinkle Place shopping plaza on Sanibel and is open daily.
