Let’s Talk About Surfer Puka Jewelry!

Name: Let’s Talk About Surfer Puka Jewelry!
Brand: Vintage
SKU: 5ea258e36f6c916ba6a45365
Price: 486.0 USD
Availability: InStock

Vintage

$486

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With boho VSCO popularity, many fakes are hitting the market. Don’t be fooled: not all puka are real—Or vintage! Authentic puka are rarely completely even. Other types of stone/shells & heishi are also part of the genre: clam shell, coconut, spiny oyster, coral, etc. Look to the clasp to help date the piece; barrel clasps, fishing hooks & line were utilized by surfers. If it’s shiny, it never saw salt water. Questions? True love? Ask me! Let’s go surfing!

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blackonyx88 and 37 others like this

52 Comments

gigi11155 Use to wear the Pukas on this vintage body lol!! Where do you get yours from??❤️👍😊🌹🌹🌹

May 07Reply

kyetaka @gigi11155 I’m love them SO much- I’m always on the hunt for them out in the wilds... I did get a lovely cache of them from an estate, just gorgeous stuff. Man, she loved her puka!!

May 07Reply

kyetaka @gigi11155 I haven’t posted a pic of my personal one- I should. Every time I wear it I fall in love again!

May 07Reply

gigi11155 @kyetaka ❤️👍😊🌹🌹🌹

May 07Reply

gigi11155 @kyetaka oh wow!!!❤️👍😊🌹🌹🌹

May 07Reply

kyetaka @gigi11155 yeah, I dropped some cash on that estate- but really, straight out of Hawaii, incredible pieces s-among decades. What else could I do??

May 07Reply

kyetaka @gigi11155 I posted a pic of my personal piece. I love it sooo much 💕😍

May 07Reply

gigi11155 @kyetaka I’m jealous lol!! It takes me back quite a few years!!❤️👍😊🌹🌹🌹🌹

May 07Reply

barefootmuse OHHH I didn’t see this! This is really beautiful how you explained the difference between a cheap knock-off and the real dealy-o! XoXo 🌺🤙🏽🌺

May 25Reply

kyetaka @barefootmuse aww thanks! People should know! I see SO many fakes and mislabeled pieces, it’s crazy out there.

May 26Reply

barefootmuse @kyetaka Absolutely! And with them becoming so hard to find, if they’re priced cheaply then it’s most one from a touristy gift shop and is a fake. Love, love, love your slides!

May 26Reply

leslie98396 thank you for posting this! good stuff to know! XOXO, Leslie

Jun 03Reply

leslie98396 and anyone know the difference between a puka (hole) and a cowrie shell?

Jun 03Reply

kyetaka @leslie98396 I love this genre of jewelry SO much- I want to share the joy! LoL

Jun 04Reply

kyetaka @leslie98396 puka and cowrie are different kinds of shells. Usually (these days) cowries fall under the “puka” category, because the very term is trendy. Cowries have a lot of fakes happening in the market right now, and the cheap producers are making “gold plated” cowry jewelry, as well.

Jun 04Reply

kyetaka @leslie98396 I’ve got a couple of true vintage cowrie pieces to be listed- they’re really hard to find! (Well, I’ll list them if I can bear to part with them) I don’t know if it’s because people hoard them or if they’re so beat up by hippies falling off their surf boards they don’t survive 🤣😂

Jun 04Reply

sarah4thenguyen I never knew this! Thank you so much 🙏🏼 Your closet is a real treasure.

Jun 08Reply

sarah4thenguyen Also let’s talk about that bad-ass bikini and where I can get one!! 🏄🏻‍♀️

Jun 08Reply

kyetaka @sarah4thenguyen lol right? She rocks!

Jun 09Reply

kyetaka @sarah4thenguyen thank you— you’re so kind!! Yours is pretty amazing, too... I tend to drool when I’m in there lol I need to keep an eye out for vintage bikini sets- that would be Next Level !

Jun 09Reply

muthaluvvintage @kyetaka I did the same thing in Pensacola. The Blue Angel's fly outta the big base and it is a huge military town. lotsa retired military and some of the best estate sales. I have a huge flamingo paint by number hanging in my house that was painted by a retired Blue Angel pilot while he was in flight school in the 60s. It is one of my prized possessions. Alicia

Dec 14Reply

bethann7883 Love me some real vintage puka !...for every 100 necklaces I see online, about 99 of them are cut/sliced shell of some ilk but definitely NOT pukas. It's usually just a case of not knowing, but if the price is high I usually leave a polite comment. Scrupulous sellers will then do some research, change the price, etc. My pukas are worth way more than some cultured pearls.

Mar 01Reply

kyetaka @bethann7883 I share your experience! So many clam shells—and super low quality 90’s pieces! People don’t know. I’ve got a scale, I’m going to be including gram weight in the upcoming listings... I’ve got a ton to list, I’ve just been neglecting the closet. And yes- so valuable. I love the history of puka, and the feel... well, I’m an addict lol don’t listen to me hahahaha

Mar 02Reply

kyetaka @bethann7883 ps: I want to see your collection!!

Mar 02Reply

kyetaka @muthaluvvintage I *miss* estate sales!! Can’t wait till this pandemic lifts and we can have a bit of normal again.

Mar 02Reply

bethann7883 You rock ! Just keep posting what you can. My spare room is my jewelry box but it's all packed up. If I can find this one particular necklace I will send a pic. I got it maybe 10 years ago online and almost cried when I opened it. I am a sick woman !!! Posh Luv, Beth

Mar 02Reply

rainne97 Love the information!!

Mar 14Reply

caroline_mroz so interesting! great read! thanks Kye! :))))

Sep 07Reply

kyetaka @rainne97 cheers! I love shell jewelry, so it’s fun to share :)

Sep 08Reply

kyetaka @caroline_mroz anytime my friend! I need to add more soon- it’s on the to-do list, but you know how that is :P

Sep 08Reply

caroline_mroz @kyetaka Yess!!!!! I do!

Sep 08Reply

retrorandy What a great job styling your closet, I could stay and browse forever 🙌 bravo, truly 👏 great job hope your e commerce is in lots of areas of good fortune 🤲

Nov 13Reply

divynestock Thank you for the education!! I've been able to weed out some fake stuff from my own stash just based on these little tidbits. 🤍🙏🏽

Dec 18Reply

kyetaka @divynestock awesome! I’ve bought plenty of fakes. Once there was the sweetest old lady, she was so proud of her puka - and it was a complete phony (she had no idea). I bought it anyway, because it gave her joy. Jewelry is all about emotion, isn’t it? :)

Dec 18Reply

kyetaka @retrorandy hello! Sorry I missed this- comments on Posh can be hard to keep up with! Thank you for your kind comment- within you much success, as well!

Dec 18Reply

divynestock @kyetaka It really is! I don't mind owning and wearing imitation stuff but I'm cautious about reselling. I'd much rather lose $ on something authentic than accidentally misrepresent a fake so thank you! ♡♡

Dec 18Reply

kyetaka @divynestock I have a pretty incredible jewelry collection, but sometimes, especially if I’m looking at making a (for me, which isn’t saying much) large investment, is I’ll pick up a knockoff to be sure I love the style. As a generalization I end up being perfectly happy with that gold plate or whatever lol I’ve got Gangnam Style!

Dec 18Reply

divynestock @kyetaka Ha! I love it! Well Happy new year to you and yours. I wish you closet clearing sales (well maybe not for those pieces that you secretly don't want to part with!) 😂

Dec 19Reply

kyetaka @divynestock lol they’re in here- its always bittersweet when one sells, for sure!

Dec 19Reply

kyetaka @divynestock you know what kills me is when I sell one of those and then the person doesn’t bother to leave me a glowing revue… like, what?! Recently I accepted less than I should have on one and that happened; I swear, lowballers. Every. Freakin. Time. I should have just kept the skirt.

Dec 19Reply

divynestock @kyetaka I totally it. Most of the items I sell, I really like for one reason or another but have no attachment to...for other things, it's really important hearing from the buyer that it's the perfect thing for them and will be appreciated - often more important than $$. Especially true for anything I've restored or spent time customizing. Hearing crickets after those sales does irk...

Dec 19Reply

belerina72 Hi! Thanks for posting about Puka shells! Went to a Hawaii in 73 for the first time and bought a a necklace for myself and my boyfriend. I have mine still …it’s well matched shells and the REAL thing like you describe! Love you closet! Belinda

Apr 21Reply

kyetaka @belerina72 Nice to meet you! So glad you carried home some island love ❤️🏝🌺

Apr 22Reply

belerina72 @kyetaka yes me too!

Apr 22Reply

ems_place Thank you SO much for sharing your knowledge. 20 year San Diego Beach girl here.... With about 100 lbs of shell jewelry to sort and list. 😳 Or keep. 🥰. You've helped me so much, pushed me to learn more and I love your descriptions! I tend to be very literal. :) I wanted to say HI!

Aug 14Reply

linnfield Thanks so much for pointing out the fakes. Family went to Maui in early 70s. My brother and I dove every single day at Kaanaapali and carried home large bags of puka. He had huge puka shells, mine were more normal size. Well, he lost his and swiped mine. I was so mad. Had to buy a necklace of my own a few years ago :( Amazed at the prices necklaces go for now - should have done more diving back then!

Dec 17Reply

kyetaka @cloudyskygrouse Its a range of indicators, from what it is strung on, how it is strung, the clasp, the shells/finishes, along with rare & essentially extinct ones, and the final pieces near the clasp. Its very easy to spot 80’s,90’s Y2K or modern pieces, but when you get deeper into 50’s 60’s 70’s dating becomes more complex. At this point I’ve got knowledge about what kinds of fishing line were used during certain decades and the different screw barrel clasps, but it’s taken me years to learn.

Jan 20Reply

kyetaka @cloudyskygrouse It’s a specialty, for sure 😅 if you ever need help just ask and I’ll do my best to assist.

Jan 20Reply

kyetaka @cloudyskygrouse the listing is probably the best way, it’s how I’ve done it in the past :)

Jan 20Reply

kyetaka @cloudyskygrouse 😍

Jan 20Reply