Anyone have suggestions or recommendations about where to buy for best rate,,,what to look for? We didtn really want to go on pearl farm excursion.

Our group found pearls they liked at the Motu
beach day.

Black Pearl Shopping.

Black Pearl shopping is available in numerous shops in Bora Bora, Moorea, and Tahiti. I did not have an opportunity to shop in Tahiti. I cannot report on the shops in Papeete. They are basically the same shops on all the islands.

BORA BORA
In Bora Bora most of the shops are right off the dock in walking distance from where the tender drops you at the pier. Some of these shops also have shops on Moorea and will transfer any pearl you have an interest in to the Moorea shop so you may have more time to make a decision. (The store flies the pearl in on one of the flights going back and forth all the time)

MOOREA
When you get off the tender in Moorea, there are private drivers from many of the pearl shops waiting in the parking lot. They will take you to the pearl shops free of charge.

Price of the Pearls.
Price for one pearl varies tremendously, as low as $10 on sidewalk stand and up to the $1000’s. Average cost for a nice pearl set in gold with maybe one small diamond $1500 - $2000.

Key stores for black pearls
Comparing shops

One thing I did learn was that the prices and colors really do differ. It is probably best to shop at several places to find your own personal preference and what prices are. Many of the shops were willing to negotiate on final price. Many people bought pearls and everyone thought “their” shop was the best.

Black Pearl Gem Company in La Petite Village has such a taxi and there are also other pearl shops and souvenir shops you can shop while there, and they will transport you back to the dock free of charge. It takes approximately 30 minutes in each direction or 1 hour roundtrip so plan accordingly.

Ron Hall’s store is to the left of the parking lot. It is about a 5-minute walk or he also has a free shuttle.

Hevai’s store is about a 15- minute walk to the right or they have a free shuttle.
many feel the price of Black Pearls is cheaper in French Polynesia because the majority (over 95%) of them are produced here. However, I have seen Tahitian Pearls in the States and particularly in China for a lot less.

There are certain criteria that most of the shops agree determine the price of the pearl. These are size, shape, surface quality, and luster.

Sibani Pearls This is the store that has pearls on the ship. The store does a presentation board that gives you information and shows a film. This takes place the second day at 9.45 am in the main lounge on the way to Tahaa. However it is a sales pitch for their stores and their certificate “The Beep Certificate”. This is a good store as are the others mentioned above. As I mention below they all have their own certificates.

Telling one pearl from another

Size: 8-10 mm seem to be more common; those above 11 mm rise dramatically in price because they are more rare.

Shape: The more rare and more expensive shape is round. Semi-round or other shapes are less expensive.

Grading: Black pearls are graded for surface quality using a scale from A to D. An “A grade” pearl is supposed to have less than 10% surface imperfections and in many instances cannot be seen because they mount them where the imperfections are. A “B grade” is less than 1/3, “C grade” less than 2/3, and a “D grade” more than 2/3. I found that you have to somewhat judge for yourself. I was shown a pearl from a very popular shop where the salesperson stated it was an “A”, and when I began to point out the flaws, he agreed it was a “B” which can greatly effect the price.

Luster: Luster is simply the shine on the pearl. This is easy to determine just by placing pearls side by side. Some seem lifeless and others really shine.

Color: There is no one color seen to be more desirable. This is really a matter or personal preference. Pearls are often multicolored with metallic steel gray the most common. The color is determined by the oyster’s secretions and can range from gray to pink to blue to green or eggplant.

Certificates: Every shop has it’s own certificates. There is no government standard so the certificate simply states it is a black pearl and that particular shop’s certification as to the quality and size of the pearl. Since there is no standard there is no certificate that is better than another certificate.

VAT TAX – Value added Tax
There is a tax called VAT that you pay at the time of purchase. The shop will give you a certificate and a self-addressed stamped envelope you take to the airport. You turn it in at the airport right after you go through security before you check your bags. There is a customs officer you give the certificate to. The Custom Officer will ask to see the pearl so make sure you have it readily available and don’t have to search for it in your luggage. He simply looks at the pearl and certificate, stamps the form, and your place the envelope in the mailbox at the airport he directs you to. Three to four weeks after the purchase the tax will be credited or refunded to your credit card.

Getting the VAT tax up front.
I found several shops were willing to refund the tax at the point of purchase if you would commit to following the procedure at the airport so they would not in essence pay twice. At the shop I finally purchased from I was not offered this, but asked is they would refund it at point of sale. He was very reluctant but when I told him he would have my credit card and could charge me if I did not turn the form in, he finally agreed and did not charge me the tax at the time of sale. Either way, you still have to turn the form in at the airport. It did not take much time since I had the form and pearl together and got right through.

Loose Pearls or Set Pearls?
If you purchase a pearl that has not been set then you do not get the VAT tax back it is non-refundable. On the other hand the gold and diamonds are overpriced in Tahiti and the cost is higher than you would pay at home for the setting. Most people still seemed to buy set pearls - it is easier and you can wear it right away. The last night leaving Moorea there were a lot of pearls at dinner that night.

In the end it all boils down to what you like and when you feel comfortable with your purchase. Many people purchase pearls and they truly are all beautiful.

I would just add one bit of advice. Before you go, comparison shop at home to get an idea of prices. You will see an enormous amount of selection in Tahiti so it helps to have an idea of what a fair price should be. I have found that prices in Tahiti are not necessarily less expensive than at home, but you have a much greater selection. Tom.

Don't be afraid to buy an odd shaped or blemished pearl. Mounted in the right way; no one will tell the difference (except maybe your wallet!!)

Tom is right. I've seen Black Pearls at Macy's and Bloomingdales for 1/2 of what you'd pay in Tahiti when they are on sale. They just aren't from Tahiti.

But then, the charge for my pearls never came through, although, I did confirm the store got paid. The Credit card company put some hold on putting the charge through to make sure it was authentic and not a stolen/fraud card. They called my house and I confirmed I purchased them Free is always nice.

So true Tom and Kathy.

I had this in my Tahiti report and just posted it but I do agree.

I have seen pearls in the USA and particularly in the Pearl Market in Beijing for much less than you pay in Tahiti. Only two of my pearls are from Tahiti the rest have been purchased outside of Tahiti.

I think a lot of people just WANT to buy in Tahiti and there is indeed a huge selection.

We have a friend who is a custom jeweler and he told us the same thing - that through wholesalers he works with, he can get nice pearls at a reasonable price and that he could make something for less than what we would pay in Tahiti. His advice was to shop and see what we liked, then work with him to have it made here at home.

I've had fun in French Polynesia buying very inexpensive necklaces, some with pearls, from the craft vendors. I also have a nice set of black pearl earrings that I got for a very good price from a retail jeweler ("The Jewelry Exchange" - if you've ever heard their somewhat annoying advertisements). :)

I'd say if you want to have a beautiful souvenir of your trip, go for it and shop and buy what you like. But if you're looking for value, chances are you can do better outside of FP. Especially now, with the exchange rate very unfavorable to the US $.

Dena

In Tahiti there are many choices but the prices are high(at least in my mind). Macy's carries black pearls from Tahiti(at least advertised as from there) but they are the dark ones. I think it depends on how much you want a pearl and are willing to pay major money for a quality pearl. I elected to not buy one since I could see paying over $1000(US) for a pair of pearl studs.

Much of the issue depends upon whether you want a great souvenir of your cruise or a good value on a major jewelry purchase. I agree with Dena that you can likely get a better deal on the pearls outside of FP; but they won't be a souvenir of your trip. The two matters are quite different. As for Pat & me, who wear very little jewelry, the fact that our single pearl chokers were custom-made for us in Papeete adds enormously to the pleasure of wearing them. Those chokers are constant reminders of our wonderful time on PIP, which would not be the case if we'd bought them at The Jewelry Exchange or Shane Company. At the end of the day, it's a question of what do you want from the purchase, a good memory or a good value. (Of course, if we were buying whole strands of pearls, our outlook on this issue would be much less oriented towards memory and more towards value...) Cheers, Fred

Black Pearl Gem Company is now called Tahia Collins. I only scanned this thread so if someone said that please excuse me.

I haven't seen some of the more unusual colors outside French Polynesian. I can get black black pearls here but I have never seen aubergine or peacock or champagne colors. Not that I buy them or could afford to buy them if they were available, but at least as far as the pacific northwest goes, I would not be able to get some of the non-black varieties if I wanted them.