Aloha, everyone —

One of the most common questions customers ask is whether the photos on my website show the exact item they’ll receive, or a design style reference. When purchasing handmade jewelry — especially Niʻihau shell jewelry (ニイハウ シェル ジュエリー) made with Hawaiian seashells shaped by Mother Nature — it’s important to understand whether the photo you see represents the exact item you’ll receive or simply a design style.

One of the most important things you can do is pause and ask yourself, and the seller, a simple but meaningful question.

➡️ Am I going to receive the exact item I see in the photos, or is the image shown only as a style reference?

With jewelry made from Hawaiian marine shells collected from Niʻihau or neighboring islands, each shell is naturally unique. Even when shells appear to be the same color — such as pink, black, yellow, green, or red shades in Kahelelani shells, or even within Momi shells — there will always be slight natural differences.

When many shells are placed together, these variations become more noticeable. This is part of the beauty of working with shells formed by nature, and it’s what gives each finished piece its own character and life.

At ShellsHawaii.com, you will receive the exact item listed and shown in the photos.

Each piece is individually created and photographed. I take new photos for every item and never reuse images. While I may create pieces in the same style, the pattern and shell arrangement are often different, making each piece one of a kind.

Some shops may use one photo to represent a style and reuse it for similar listings. When you use natural shells, each finished piece is always going to be slightly different.

✨The only thing I would like to point out is that colors may appear slightly different than what you see on your monitor due to screen resolution.

I hope this blog helps answer the questions you may have. To learn more before you buy, you’re welcome to visit my Buyer’s Guide, where I share helpful information for choosing Hawaiian shell jewelry (ハワイアンジュエリー) with confidence. And anytime you have a question or need guidance, please feel free to contact me — I’m always happy to help.

You can also take a moment to see what other customers have shared about their experience by reading their reviews.

With aloha,
Janjira