Shipping & Delivery

From our lagoon to your hands

Every pearl is selected, packed and shipped from our farm in Rangiroa. Here is how it travels to you, wherever you are.

Important

A maximum of 9 loose pearls per shipment

French Polynesian export regulations

No more than 9 pearls may be exported from French Polynesia in a single parcel. This limit applies to your whole order, whether the pearls are loose or part of a lot. Please take this into account when placing your order. If you wish to purchase more, simply place a separate order and we will ship it as a separate parcel.

The journey of an order

Four steps, from Rangiroa to your door

  1. You place your order

    Choose your pearl and complete your payment online. Payment is processed in XPF (Pacific Franc), with the euro equivalent shown for reference.

  2. We confirm and prepare your pearl

    We get back to you to confirm your order and make sure we have everything we need. Your pearl is then packed with its certificate of authenticity.

  3. Your parcel leaves the farm

    Parcels are shipped from French Polynesia. Depending on your destination, we use registered mail, an express carrier, or a personalized quote.

  4. You receive your tracking number

    As soon as your parcel is handed to the carrier, we send you your tracking number and the direct link to follow it in real time.

Destinations

Where we ship, and how

01

French Polynesia

Delivery across Tahiti, Rangiroa and the islands through the Polynesian postal service, or collected directly at our store in Papeete.

2 to 5 days Local post

02

Europe

Shipped by air with registered mail and full tracking, or by express carrier for the most precious pearls. Tracking is always included.

1 to 3 weeks Registered mail

03

Rest of the world

For Asia, Oceania and other destinations, we ship by international registered mail with tracking. An express service can be arranged on request.

2 to 5 weeks International post

04

United States

Shipping to the USA from French Polynesia is more complex. Two options are available to you, detailed just below.

Special conditions

United States

Two ways to receive your pearl

We cannot ship directly to the United States through our usual postal service. If you are ordering from the USA, you can still receive your pearl through one of the following options. In both cases, please contact us before or during your purchase so we can guide you.

Through a package forwarding service

A package forwarder gives you a delivery address in a country we can ship to, receives your parcel there, then forwards it to your home address in the United States.

This is generally the more affordable option, and many established services handle jewellery. You create an account with them, give us their address at checkout, and they take care of the rest.

More affordable

Direct with FedEx

Otherwise we can only ship your pearl directly to your US address through FedEx from Tahiti. This is the fastest and most secure route, fully tracked and insured.

Please note that this service is considerably more expensive, as it includes air freight, customs handling and insurance. We will send you a personalized quote within 48 hours of your order.

Fast, higher cost

Frequently asked

Your questions about shipping

Why can I only order 9 pearls?

This is not a choice of ours, but a French Polynesian export regulation: a single parcel leaving the territory may not contain more than 9 pearls. If you wish to purchase more, place a second order and we will prepare a separate shipment.

How will I track my parcel?

Once your parcel is handed to the carrier, we send you an email with your tracking number and the direct link to follow it in real time, whichever carrier is used.

Is my pearl insured during transport?

Every pearl is packed with care and shipped with tracking. Express services such as FedEx include insurance. If your parcel arrives damaged, contact us on receipt with photographs of the parcel and the pearl, and we will take the matter up with the carrier.

What about customs duties?

Depending on your country, import duties or taxes may apply on arrival. These are set by your local customs authority and remain the responsibility of the recipient. We always declare the parcel accurately.

Can I return a pearl?

French Polynesian legislation does not allow Tahitian pearls to be imported back into the territory. As we ship from Polynesia itself, returns are therefore very difficult, and after-sales service cannot be guaranteed. Please choose your pearl carefully, and do not hesitate to ask us for more photographs before ordering.

Need a quote?

Shipping to the United States, or a question?

Tell us the pearl you have in mind and your delivery city, and we will get back to you within 48 hours with a personalized FedEx quote, or with guidance on using a package forwarding service.

Contact us

Gauguin’s Pearl, Rangiroa, French Polynesia. Cultivating Tahitian pearls since 1992.