Girlfriend Getaways

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Scuola del Cuoio in Florence (Courtesy Scuola del Cuoio)

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Baubles in Brazil
At H.Stern in Rio, 600 gemologists and designers toil to create the high-end jewelry line. During the free hour-long tour, you'll visit the diamond hall and the gemological museum, but for the best deals, head around the corner to H.Stern Off-Price, where you can score bling at 30 percent off retail. Fun tour take-away: When craftsmen exit the workshop, a fan blows gold dust off their clothes to be recaptured and melted down. Rua Garcia D'Ávila, Rio de Janeiro, 011-55/21-2106-0000, hstern.net.

Leather in Italy
See artisans craft purses and accessories by hand at the Scuola del Cuoio (School of Leather), in the Monastery of Santa Croce in Florence. The chic finds include woven lambskin belts ($185), signature calfskin bags ($365), and sales offering up to 50 percent off on occasion. Prebook an hourlong tour for $15. Fun tour take-away: Leather's worst enemies? Coffee and oil stains. Via S. Giuseppe 5R, Florence, 011-39/055-244-5334, scuoladelcuoio.com.

Batik in the Bahamas
Trek to Andros Island to watch fabrics starring sea horses, hummingbirds, and conch shells come to life at the colorful Androsia batik factory. After your free 30-minute tour (or an hourlong batik lesson for $25), pick up a fun tropical halter dress ($45) or beach cover-up ($17). Fun tour take-away: The batik motifs are created by applying hot wax to fabric with foam stamps, paintbrushes, and wax pens. Next to the Lighthouse Club, Fresh Creek, Andros, 242/368-2020, androsia.com.