Cook Islands Pearls

Greetings everyone! Sorry I have been MIA. I am currently in the Cook Islands and so I have been buying pearls. I’ve seen over the years that people ask where to buy pearls in the Cook Islands so hopefully this helps!

The best is T & S on Aitutaki. Her prices are the best, she hand makes everything and is interesting to talk to. She has all faux pearls and dyed pearls clearly labeled & you can buy with confidence. The bracelet I got is to die for. All of the pearls on it are from Manihiki, except maybe the stick one. She says she bought it from a jeweler who closed and isn’t completely sure what island it is from. It’s maybe the most beautiful pearl I’ve ever seen. Prices in NZD!!! Shop is a cute room in her house, Google Maps is wrong about the location, it’s off the main road on the east side of the island.

I’ve also stopped at Puka Pearls. They had amazing carved pieces, I may go back to get one. Carved pearls seems to be over here, I haven’t seen any. Just mabe pearls with the mop around them carved. From them I did get a set of studs that are just under 8 mm and that weird gold with green that Tahitians do. They’re not perfectly matched but very nice. I’m thinking they’re not dyed, no dye in the pin prick flaws. Cook Islands doesn’t have the same rules as French Polynesia so pearls under 8 mm can be sold.

I have been asking for loose pearls (I have some earrings I want to put them on…) and no one has any. I have been to probably 4 pearl stores and all of them have told me that they’re running out of pearls. T&S told me that there used to be 15 pearl farms and now there are 4. Of those, all of them are run by people of retirement age and none have children who want to take over, so basically expect the pearl industry here to close in the future. The island where the pearl farming takes place, Manihiki, is remote and there is maybe 1 flight a month. It’s like $10k to book a tour there on a private plane.

So, if you’re thinking of visiting Rarotonga or Aitatuki to pearl shop, do it sooner than later! And stop by T&S!

I like your bracelet! And I love the silver blue studs. I have a friend vacationing in the Cook Islands, I'll dash off a quick message.

Thank you! In person they’re even more beautiful. T&S had great selection.

I hope your friend has a wonderful trip—snorkeling with the giant clams and turtles has truly been one of the best things I’ve ever done.

My gold pearl studs—I believe they’re pipi pearls!! It would explain why the seller described them as “special pearls from oysters that make gold shells.” The shop I bought them from is known to occasionally carry pipi pearls, and there is currently another set of studs like this in their case. Apparently it’s a huge struggle to sell pipi pearls in Rarotonga and McLeods Pearls says that they gave up selling them but know someone who has a whole jar of them that would probably sell them.

18 mm pearl in the case at Kora Pearls, it’s quite stunning! They had some very large pearls as pendants, a number of 15 mm top quality ones. They own their own farm and the daughter was running the shop when I went in. She said that part of the problem all the farms are having is that the oysters aren’t spawning and no one knows why. It’s worth a visit to talk to her, she’s extremely knowledgeable.