Na Hoku Tahitian pearls vs online vs local jeweler

[tigers78]

I am looking at a necklace at Na Hoku in Dallas store that is 8-10.5 mm, 16 in long for $3500. This is for my wife's 30th anniversary. We first saw black pearls on a trip to New Zealand and Australia and have wanted to get her some since.

they seem like a good retailer and pearls looked good in the store - not sure of their grade, though. I think there were 43 pearls on the strand ?? She tried them on there and size and color were real good. I don't think Na Hoku has a link to their pearls - just to their gold Hawaiian jewelery. Other things we have bought from them have been good and great service. She has olive skin and color was "pewter" and looked real good. some of the "greener" ones were not as good. Didn't like mixed colors or sizes.

checked with long time local jeweler and he could get a string from Stuller (?) for A grade $7925 and B Grade $5995 less 25%. This seemed a little high.

Need some help if Na Hoku is good choice or do they have large inventory of only fair quality ?? What about local jeweler ? Could get him to make earrings from strand for nominal additional cost.

Should we buy 18 " strand of real good quailty on line and have local jeweler shorten and make studs out of single pearls ?

We can afford quality - just want to invest wisely.

OK buying online if from reputable source.

Thank you. Forum is great. Thank all of you for your time !

 

[Josh]

Hi Tigers,
You have come to the right place. If people are posting here and are part of the community you can be sure of their integrity. It wouldn't benefit anyone here's business to be less than impeccable. As for the most bang for your buck, most people would agree on Pearl-Paradise. Good luck!

 

[Caitlin]

Hi! Na Hoku is a store? Do they specialize in pearls? Their pearls may be beautiful, but stores usually have to charge full retail for pearls.

Try pearl paradise for comparison. It really is not fair to wonderful brick and mortar stores, but a major online supplier of Tahitians such as Jeremy Shepherd can get you the same quality for a drastically lower price. I linked you directly to the main Tahitian page.

You decide which to buy from. Sometimes the benefits of a relationship with a jeweler is worth the retail price. Sometimes not.
This beauty is the top of the line at less than 3,500. 10mm to 12mm the beauty below is this one

 

[Caitlin]

PS Josh is a Tahitian pearl farmer. He has a boutique which is nice because his pearls are very sustainably raised. You can even get Kamokas from Jeremy too!

I wandered off and checked out JOsh's store. I just had to post his pearl here. Not for you- I know you want a strand- but because it is an extraordinary pearl! I have never seen one like it. It is so symmetrical and colorful. I hope someone of us adopts this one!!!

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Otherworldly Pendant

‹ See more Pendant.
This incredible semi-baroque 11.5mm pearl gets it's name from it's impossible mirror luster and wild colors. Green, cherry, purple, blue, the improbable list goes on. This is as intense as Tahitian pearls get. An extremely rare pearl.
The double-loop setting is solid 18K gold.



$720.00 USD

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• OOPS! I TOOK MORE OF THE PAGE THAN I MEANT TO, BUT WE NEED A PERMANENT RECORD OF THIS SPLENDID ORB

 

[Josh]

Thanks for that Caitlin (where's the misty-eye smiley when you need it?). You'll be happy to know that a member of this great community is now the proud owner of the pendant above. I'll let them reveal themselves but I have to say that it really made my day to see it "stay in the family."

 

[Caitlin]

Are you saying I helped you find a forever home for the puppy? Er I mean pearl? Fantastic!!!!!!

I wish I could have bought it, but I am so happy someone here did!!!!! Actually, common sense tells me that I already have a Goddess of a Kamoka Pearl, so I really don't need to hog more than that! I'll try to get a photo of it. As time has gone on, I am more and more unimpressed with my photography skills..... Maybe you can photograph it next time I see you! Mwahh!!

 

[lilliefuzzysocks]

I used to work for a jewelry store who purchased from Stuller. When you call their order desk Stuller has little or no control over the color of the pearls they send to you when you order. All Stuller's shipping is over night and the jeweler should bring in a strand or two for you to view prior to making any decision.
I have purchased beautiful pearl strands from Pearl Paradise and earrings to match from Josh "Kamoka Pearl Farm". You have much more control over the quality and colors when you buy from them. Price points are much better than Stuller can sell them to your jeweler for also.

 

[lilliefuzzysocks]

Na Hako doesn't make all the jewelry for their stores. Some of their pearls are dyed black akoya others Tahitians and are manufactured at I B Goodman Manufacturers. If you google IBG you can see them on their site and NH.

 

[Josh]

Haha, yeah Caitlin you sure did help find a home for our baby. Hopefully I'll have the time shortly (after the holidays most likely) to make the pearl photography vid I've been brewing for a while.
Nice to hear from you "fuzzysocks."

 

[lisa c]

And What great Tahitians Kamoka grows!!! Put Kamoka in the search bar above and you'll even find/see the beauty of his circled pearls. Oh, mama!

 

[Na Hoku]

Aloha Tigers78,
Thank you for visiting our Na Hoku store in Dallas. We would be pleased to assist you in selecting a lovely Tahitian strand for your wife. It may be helpful to speak with our store manager, Ginger, who can bring in additional Tahitian strands which we have available, even if they are not currently shown in the Dallas store. Ginger can be reached at (214) 265-0543. Mahalo nui loa, Na Hoku

I am looking at a necklace at Na Hoku in Dallas store that is 8-10.5 mm, 16 in long for $3500. This is for my wife's 30th anniversary. We first saw black pearls on a trip to New Zealand and Australia and have wanted to get her some since.

they seem like a good retailer and pearls looked good in the store - not sure of their grade, though. I think there were 43 pearls on the strand ?? She tried them on there and size and color were real good. I don't think Na Hoku has a link to their pearls - just to their gold Hawaiian jewelery. Other things we have bought from them have been good and great service. She has olive skin and color was "pewter" and looked real good. some of the "greener" ones were not as good. Didn't like mixed colors or sizes.

checked with long time local jeweler and he could get a string from Stuller (?) for A grade $7925 and B Grade $5995 less 25%. This seemed a little high.

Need some help if Na Hoku is good choice or do they have large inventory of only fair quality ?? What about local jeweler ? Could get him to make earrings from strand for nominal additional cost.

Should we buy 18 " strand of real good quailty on line and have local jeweler shorten and make studs out of single pearls ?

We can afford quality - just want to invest wisely.

OK buying online if from reputable source.

Thank you. Forum is great. Thank all of you for your time !

 

[Caitlin]

Welcome Na Hoku.
As I said earlier,

Sometimes the benefits of a relationship with a jeweler is worth the retail price.

You may put your links in your signature, a section you will find in your settings at the extreme right hand top of the page.

Then we can all shop your store!!!