Tahitian Pearl jewelry without breaking bank? Etsy?

[Foxhollowky]

Hello all. Newbie here trying to make purchase for my wife's 40th birthday. I really want to buy her a Tahitian black pearl necklace (not string) or dangle earrings. I'd prefer handmade (and handmade looking)...not jewelry store perfect. I'd prefer Sterling silver, and I'm not concerned about getting the highest quality pearl. However, I do want authentic. No dyed pearls. I'd really like to even know the farm/Lagoon the pearl(s) come from. I tried contacting a pearl farm in Cook Islands directly that had some pretty and simple designs on Facebook. But they told me FedEx charged $140 to ship to US! So that's out of the question. Unfornuately I don't have a ton to spend. Hoping to spend less than $150 total probably.

Any ideas? How do I know if jewelry on Etsy is authentic Tahitian pearls? Found few Etsy stores that had few pieces I liked but not sure how authentic (MartiniInspired and TheCalloftheIslands)???

Thanks in advance!
Broke and Confused

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Hi,

If you wish to know where a pearl came from, one vendor you could check out is Kamoka pearls. It's a family owned farm on Tahiti. I see several pendants set in silver that would be in your stated budget or near to it:
https://kamokapearls.com/collections/pendants

I haven't checked out the two you mentioned but will go have a look.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I just had a look at TheCalloftheIslands. They do look like saltwater pearls. Some listings say the chain is not included, so just be aware of that.

Also, Cook Islands pearls are not Tahitians (hence the vendor's use of the quotes around the word Tahitians) and do not have to meet the same standard for exportation. Tahitians have to have a minimum of 0.8mm of nacre, while the Cook Islands don't. Nacre thickness matters, though-- for durability as well as for luster.

 

[BWeaves]

You may also want to look at Pearl Paradise for authentic Tahitian pearls. I've bought from them and been very satisfied. I've also bought from Kamoka and they have top of the line Tahitian pearls from their own pearl farms. Gorgeous pearls.

 

[Lady_Disdain]

I don't think you are going to be able to get a Tahitian necklace for under $150, of any quality. The lowest I have seen for individual strands is around $100 and, then, you would need a clasp and knotting. I would contact Wen Pearls on Etsy, as they have some inexpensive Tahitian pearls and may be able to make them into a finished necklace for you.

Personally, I would go for higher quality earrings with interesting fittings.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

The OP said he wanted a necklace but not a string so I think he's not looking for a strand. A Tahitian pendant can be found within his budget.

 

[Foxhollowky]

I just had a look at TheCalloftheIslands. They do look like saltwater pearls. Some listings say the chain is not included, so just be aware of that.

Also, Cook Islands pearls are not Tahitians (hence the vendor's use of the quotes around the word Tahitians) and do not have to meet the same standard for exportation. Tahitians have to have a minimum of 0.8mm of nacre, while the Cook Islands don't. Nacre thickness matters, though-- for durability as well as for luster.

Thanks Pearl Dreams! I didn't realize difference between Cook Islands and Tahitian. Good to know. And I'll check out Kamoka.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Also regarding the term "black pearl" -- most of them are not actually black! They come from the black-lipped oyster but the body color of the pearls is usually some shade of gray or green.

Many of the pearls also have overtone colors that mostly are seen in diffuse light, such as indoor natural light or outdoors on an overcast day. Studio photography tends to bring out the overtone colors to a greater degree than you will see in person, at home.

Edited to add, also see Tahitanpearls.biz, but then you wouldn't know which farm the pearls came from, which you said you would really like to know.
http://www.tahitianpearls.biz/tahitian_pearl_necklaces.htm

 

[KatalinPG]

TahitiPearlsdesigner on Etsy has some nice looking pendants, although I've never bought from them. Or you could try Pearl Society on EBay. If the pearl what you like is a loose pearl, just ask for the price of a silver setting. I have bought several items from PS, and all were really nice.
Or you could even look on Etsy WenPearls, she sells now 11-12 mm round Tahiti pearls for a good price, and if you ask her, I'm sure she could set it for you. Good luck!

 

[Foxhollowky]

Pearl Dreams, you broke my heart. I went to Kamoka and found the perfect pendant and within budget - https://kamokapearls.com/products/silvery-blue-infinity-pendant. But....it's out of stock. Nothing else moved me. And it seems like there is a disconnect to some degree with all the jewelry. I certainly want to know the pearl is authentic, but would love to know where it came from (like with Kamoka), and the artist that created the piece. Seems like there is a market here...

 

[Cicadalady]

Email Kamoka - they have a lot more than they display on their website. I'm sure they could find something that would be perfect for you.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Goodness, yes, use the link on that page to contact Josh at Kamoka. I'd be very surprised if they only had one of that finding. I should think they could make one up for you.

 

[Msroser]

Sarah at Kojima Pearl has some lovely Tahitian pendants. She's legit. You can shop her store with confidence.

 

[goodluckkitty]

I am brand new, but I have been eyeballing these on eBay. He seems to accept "Best offers" and if you look at the feedback it seems to be consistently good for the pearls.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tahitian-Ba...345560?hash=item41cbb27958:g:IyQAAOSwIaFZLDjG

 

[Marianne]

goodluckkitty, the pearls in your link are not very good quality. I would save my money and buy good quality from Kojima, Kamoka or Pearl Paradise! good luck

 

[goodluckkitty]

Thank you Marianne. I was very curious because buyers seemed impressed. Since I am learning-- is it the extreme baroqness? Or the luster? Thank you.

 

[BWeaves]

Having seen good Tahitians, those in your link are just really boring and ugly, sorry. They don't have any interesting colors. They are not shiny, they're dull. They have no overtones. They just look like little rocks instead of shiny, lustrous, pearls.

 

[Marianne]

As BWeaves noted, seeing good pearls in person gives a person an education to help evaluate photos of pearls. The pearls in your link have a variety of unusual shapes, however, they lack luster, overtones and most likely have very uneven nacre levels. You can do much better!

 

[lilliefuzzysocks]

I am brand new, but I have been eyeballing these on eBay. He seems to accept "Best offers" and if you look at the feedback it seems to be consistently good for the pearls.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tahitian-Ba...345560?hash=item41cbb27958:g:IyQAAOSwIaFZLDjG

Many of us bought horrible pearls at the beginning of our pearl buying days. They sit unworn , were given away or even thrown away. The only reason anyone would give this buyer high praise for these pearls is the buyer doesn't know what good pearls look like.

 

[JerseyPearl]

One thing I will say about Tahitians, in general, you would be very hard pressed to find a full strand for such an inexpensive price. Set a reasonable budget for yourself, then start your search. You will be far better off saving and searching than buying an inexpensive strand. Quality and value over low price and sub par. Buy the very best that is within your budget, and if you cannot, then wait until you have the means to buy what you really really want. Just some advice from an old lady who has been around the block a few times.