Fiji J Hunter pearls Savusavu

kelluvpearls

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Australia
I visited Fiji Savusavu in August, we had a wonderful time there, one of the best holiday ever. A big thank you to Justin and Leanne Hunter who took a lot time and too us on a tour of the hatchery, the farm and showed us their latest harvest. Justin told us many interesting stories about their pearls, pearl farming and industry tidbits.

I was a bit overwhelmed with indecisiveness trying to pick a couple of beautiful pearls, too many different colours to choose from and not enough real life pearl buying experience. I want a colour unique and representative to Fiji J Hunter pearl. I picked up a pendant, a bronze colour that reminded me of antique Chinese bronze, I asked Leanne for her expert opinion, she commented the pearl has crazy colours (sounds good so far), then she chose another pearl with some blemishes but with a similar gorgeous colour appropriate for a ring, lastly I picked up a chocolate keshi with strong lavender overtones for another ring. I am now lamenting over the bright pastel pistachio that I passed up on.

Based on this experience and to get more out of the visit, I definitely need to increase my understanding on pearl grading, types, develop a 'pearl eye' so I could pick out beautiful pearls. The best way to learn more is seeing and touching many more pearls in person.

Apart from acquiring a few gorgeous pearls from the visit, I developed a deeper appreciation for pearls, especially the Fiji pearls, and the process of learning the difference between Tahitian and Fiji pearl colours, from confusion to a better understanding of the difference between the two.

Thank you to Jeremy for putting me in contact with Justin, we definitely learned and saw a lot more about Fiji pearls because of you. :)

Here're some photos of the pearls, my photos aren't the best but it was a lot of fun putting together the collage series for my fellow Pearl Guide buddies.
 
Outside the Savusavu store and studio, Justin holding a pastel baroque strand, a close up of the stand and Leanne's Gellner Jelly ring with a bright green Fiji pearl.

1508FJH1_collage.jpg
 
Rounds, chocolates, a series of three gorgeous large pearls more typical of Tahitian colours, greens/pinks/gold pearls, and a trio of the pastel colours.

View attachment 36572

Third last photo.

1508FJH3_collage.jpg
 
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Those muticolor keshis are outstanding!! How much was he asking for that strand, if you don't mind? :eek:
 
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Thank you so much, kelluvpearls, for your trip report and your beautiful photos. Such gorgeous colors. I would have been all over that cranberry keshi. Gah!
 
Thank you pattye and GemGeek, I loved sharing the photos with you all. I'm a pearl novice and if I knew more about colours and shapes I could have taken more interesting photos.
 
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