A classic beach aesthetic staple, authentic puka shell necklaces and leis are made with the natural beads of cone snail shells. They are a symbol of Hawaii and their popularity was first brought to the mainstream by surfers in the 1960s. Today, they continue to be a fashion staple among beach lovers around the world and can add a unique touch of tropical flair to any outfit.
But it takes a lot of patience and time to collect the right shell bits for a single necklace. Someone has to go out in the ocean and search for these rounded, worn and weathered shell fragments that are then meticulously collected, sorted, cleaned and poked before they are ready to be strung together. It’s a time-consuming process and it can take years for each necklace to be completed. That’s why so many imitation puka shell necklaces are available in stores and online – they don’t require the wear-and-tear from mother nature that genuine pieces do.
One way to tell if you’re buying a genuine puka shell necklace is by looking for a smooth dish-shaped shell with one side that is concave and has natural pits. You’ll also want to make sure the shells haven’t been chipped or polished. Many inexpensive stringed necklaces that are currently being sold as puka shell jewelry are actually cut from different types of seashells or even plastic and then tumble polished in an attempt to imitate the natural wear-and-tear that genuine shells experience when they are tumbled by the surf over long periods of time. Puka Shell Jewelry