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We went to Tahiti expecting prices on pearls to be at the high end or out of our price range. What we found was that there are pearls for sale everywhere and for a range of budgets. Compared to other shops we visited that sell loose pearls from buckets, we found Mihiarii to have the best choices for us - the nicest quality and color for affordable prices. The staff is helpful in choosing pearls and coordinating colors and sizes for jewelry pieces. They have several jewelry settings, but I wish they had more variety. Having a pearl made into jewelry can be done in a few hours, and they'll give you a certificate with the size, color, and quality of the pearl on request. We went to both the shop upstairs in the pearl market and the main store a few blocks away, and we bought several pieces for ourselves and for gifts to bring home. We'll definitely go back the next time we're in Tahiti.…
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Date of experience: February 2019
1 Helpful vote
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I Came to Papeete as part of my cruise holiday in February 2019 together with my Uncle. I intended to hunt for loose Tahitian pearls and we visited every Tahitian pearl shop in downtown Papeete. We visited both of Miihiari Pearls' outlets: the one located on the first floor of the Papeete municipal market and the flagship store located 2 blocks from the market. In the flagship store, I purchased 4 loose 14mm round engraved pearls(also known as tattooed pearls), I had one of them mounted on a rubber necklace with a magnetic clasp, and the other 3 drilled through and strung up on a thin leather necklace, both of these are popular men's-style necklaces. The engraved 14mm pearls cost USD50 each, the rubber necklace cost USD25 and the thin leather necklace costs USD8, including drilling & mounting. The salesperson here said that the price of all their pearls are tax-free, therefore, they do not give a 16% discount to overseas travelers, unlike many other pearls stores we visited. However, after a bit of haggling, she gave me a 10% discount on the pearls. In this store, they literally have buckets of pearls to choose from, the pearls are already separated according to their market value. For example, in the bucket of USD100 pearls, you can find round and semi-round 12mm to 15mm pearls of various colours, from silver to dark grey to light brown to light blue, etc. The larger pearls will have more defects on their surface, hence their reduced market value. In the store upstairs in the municipal market, I purchased 3 round pearls with a value of USD70 each and of varying sizes, ranging from 14.8mm to 15.3mm, and they also charged me USD8 for drilling and mounting the pearls on a thin leather strand. Here, I tried to get a small discount but the saleslady refused to budge from the price. I must mention that Miihiari pearls has buckets of pearls starting from USD1(Yes, One American Dollar!) to USD5, to USD8, and all the way up to USD5000 each!!! However, those pearls which cost below USD20 each are of very poor quality. The salespersons in both stores are not as friendly and accommodating as those in other pearl stores we visited. And I wish to acknowledge Jonathan Burckle, the General Manager of Miihiari Pearls, who gave me advice and information via several emails a year before I arrived in Papeete, regarding French Polynesia's taxation system on Tahitian pearls being taken out of the country by overseas visitors. He informed me that each overseas visitor is not allowed to take more than 10 loose Tahitian pearls, regardless of value, out of the country. At the airport, the customs officers will scan all our luggage and if they find that a person has more than 10 loose pearls in their possession, that person will have to pay taxes on the value of all the loose pearls they are carrying, to the French Polynesian customs. There are no restrictions on the number of jewellery items a person can take out of the country. Therefore, whenever I purchased loose pearls across the whole of French Polynesia, I had them strung up on necklaces. As long as the pearls are strung up on a thin leather strand for a necklace or bracelet, it is considered to be a piece of jewellery. I wish everyone who is reading this review a safe & very enjoyable holiday in Beautiful French Polynesia!…
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Date of experience: February 2019
1 Helpful vote
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This is a good place to buy - can negotiate and pearls are of a high quality. Get a legitimate certificate with purchase. Staff friendly and don't try aggressive sale techniques. Nice cafe close by also
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Date of experience: April 2018
1 Helpful vote
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We made 2 trips to this store during our stay in Tahiti and buy several pearls from here. The service was great and didn't feel we were being pushed to buy their products. They let us take our time to choose our pearls and helped us picked out nice ones. Love our pearls!!
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Date of experience: December 2016
1 Helpful vote
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We had a great time picking out our own black pearls and then we choose to have them made into earrings.
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Date of experience: August 2015
1 Helpful vote
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