Exclusivity, luxury, and design motifs inspired by ancient and modern cultures around the world are the trademarks of Haimoff & Haimoff. This upscale jewelry designer maintains three locations on the Hawaiian Islands.
Owner Deanna Kay Haimoff Wander says, with wry understatement, “You won’t find what we have in the local mall.”
Not likely, considering that the aptly-named Haimoff Wander ceaselessly travels the globe, forever searching for new sources of talent and inspiration. Her quests take her from Southeast Asia to Europe. She also finds fresh concepts in locales within her own Aloha State. One recent motif utilized by H&H was suggested by ancient art in Istanbul’s Topkapi Palace.
Haimoff & Haimoff began as a partnership between Deanna and her first husband, the second-generation jeweler, Harry Haimoff, in Carmel, California. Together, they moved to Maui in 1975. Later, the business relocated to Honolulu and in 1987 Deanna bought her husband out.
Haimoff Wander’s early fashion design background prepared her well for many aspects of her successful business. Her second husband, the accomplished designer Robert Wander recently won first prize at the Spectrum Awards for gemstones. He contributes about 25% of the designs to Haimoff & Haimoff, Deanna another 35%.
Haimoff Wander spent a couple of very happy childhood years in Japan while her father was an army colonel posted there. The influence is apparent in her work. “Like the simplicity of lines in Asian design, and I like to do things with coral branches and pearls,” she said. One of her more unusual pieces is a beautiful, lustrous bronze Tahitian pearl strand, made from enhanced black pearls. Fewer than 50 places in the world carry these “designer-type pearls,” but Haimoff Wander is one of that exclusive number.
Haimoff & Haimoff specializes in high-end designer jewelry, but also offers some inexpensive selections. Prices can range from $35 to $80,000 -- beginning with mother of pearl shell themes in silver.
More exotic, timeless items include the “Midnight Keawe” pendant designed by Harry Haimoff in the 1970s. This ongoing hit is a black onyx disc with a diamond-studded, flowing tree mounted on it that recalls the native Keawe tree, a tree that H&H manager Patti Oshiro, the describes as moving and flowing in a timeless way.
“Trees are comforting; they represent strength,” she says, and the soothing sway of the trees, like the waves, is something visitors to Hawai’i lovingly remember. The lava black in the piece may trigger associations with volcanoes, adds Oshiro a force of nature that has shaped these spectacular islands.
Haimoff Wander herself recently designed a daring new piece, inspired by the elements around her: the tides, sun, and rainclouds that leave rainbows and mist in their wake. It’s a black coral branch necklace with freshwater pearls with gold weaving in a large neckpiece and matching earrings. Multi-colored sapphires recall seaweed wrapped around coral branches.
With showstoppers like this available, H&H continually reinvigorates its selection of unique, fresh pieces that are both fashion and art…and Deanna Kay Haimoff Wandercontinues to capture the imagination of her faithful international clientele, who return searching for new treasures to add to their jewelry collections.
Locations:
Halekulani Hotel, Honolulu;
Kings’ Shops, Waikoloa;
Orchid at Mauna Lani, Big Island
