A pearl producer from French Polynesia sets her lustrous and affordable gems in silver with youthful designs to appeal to a new generation of pearl enthusiasts.
Aline Baldassari-Bernard of Tahizea Pearl Design
Headquarters: Papeete, Tahiti French Polynesia
Year firm launched: 2004
Signature style: “My design is a mix of modern jewelry with an ethnic connotation, inspired by the occidental civilization as well as the Polynesian one. Motifs include leaves, tribal effects like tattoo designs and shell, animal themes, and more.”
Training, education, and design process: “I got into jewelry design in 2003 because I have been in the production and sales of pearls and loose pearls for 25 years. I sketch the designs and then the jewelry is made in a workshop under my supervision. The jewelry is cast and fabricated, and made in Tahiti, French Polynesia. Tahizea is the only brand of Tahitian black pearls made in Tahiti with our own pearls.”
Materials of choice: “I use rhodium plated 925 silver and Tahitian black pearls because they are a resource from our country and we are a producer.”
Accounts: “We have 18 U.S. accounts, including International Flair Jewelers in Knoxville, Tenn., and 350 international accounts.”
Jewelry trade show exhibits: JCK Las Vegas
Retailer buy-in: “Since Tahizea is creating a concept within a retail store and the buyers understand this, they start off with 25 to 30 pieces, but some buyers will start with 80 pieces.”
Starting retail price: “90 dollars in the Mamanzea Babyzea Mother and Child collection of cotton string, silver, and Tahitian black pearls; $140 in the Ozea Ocean collection of rubber, silver, and Tahitian black pearls; $220 in the Tahia Classic collection of silver and Tahitian black pearls; $220 in the Kanao Tribal collection of leather, silver, and Tahitian black pearls; and $550 in the Paatoa Poe Luxury collection of silver and round, semi-round, and semi-baroque Tahitian black pearls.”
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