Pearl Necklace (Freshwater or Akoya) - Any Recommendation for online company?

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#31
I'm a huge fan of both Pearl Paradise & Pearl Outlet :D
I've bought more from TPO though, just 'cos they have what I like.

I like unusual, baroque and am not too fussy about the perfectness - it's the orient & baroque-shapes I go for.

Both are, IMHO, equally fantastic companies.
 
#32
Laneige: Here are the pics I told you I'd take!

Sorry they aren't of the best quality- it's night time here atm so I can't seem to get any decent shots.

Tbh it really was just the lighting for the first shots. On examination side to side with the multi-coloured metallics, they have at least as much lustre if not more.

HTH!

I am glad to hear yet another good review for Pearl Outlet though- maybe I will cave in and get something from there soon :D
 

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#34
I would't go with the Pearl Outlet. I ordered a necklace and bracelet set for my mom for Christmas, and the first set I got looked horrible. The pearls looked like they'd been "busted" (for lack of a better word) when trying to string them and looked very dull. I was unhappy with their quality and the length of the necklace, so I returned them and re-ordered a different set, thinking that the ones I was returning was a fluke. The second set looks MUCH better, but when I went to put the bracelet on my mom after giving it to her, the clasp broke! So, now we've got to send them back to fix the clasp and re-string the pearls. On top of that, I sent back the original set and my tracking info says they received it on the 22nd of December. I still have no received my refund, even after talking to a manager who claimed that he would take care of it that day (a week ago). Not worth the hassle, IMHO, and I doubt that I'll ever order from them again.
 
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#35
Hi!
Thanks Crystaldreams for yr pictures! They are stunning and the multicolor looks so interesting!

I have also came upon a post .. not sure which forum and there's a necklace strand from Pearl Outlet? The picture shows the side of the pearl kinda badly drilled or badly affected after it was drilled.

I think I will drop Pearl Outlet.

Wondering if anyone tried Pearls Distributors?

I have heard abt Mikimoto pearls being pinked but when i read their website information, they said they dont do anything to their pearls........ or is it so common (bleach n pinked pearls) that its not neccessary to mention it?
 
#36
I ordered and returned a pair of Freshadamas earrings from PP. They didn't look as nice to me as I had expected but they were nice. Frankly, I was hoping for a substitute for Hanadamas/nice Mikimotos and they definitely were not that. I ended up with a cheapy pair in a earring and necklace set from a seller on ebay...probably not even real pearls but I paid something like $20 for the set. Someday I will buy myself some nice pearl earrings. I hope you can find something. :)
 
#37
I think Akoya pearls are all pinked... but I'm probably wrong. If you go to the Pearl Guide forum, theres loads of helpful info that might help you answer any more specific questions you have about pearls :)
 
#40
I have bought from a collection (a step above Hanadama) pearl strand from www.americanpearl.com and was quite pleased. They have 10% off around certain holidays. Sign-up for their newsletter for further information.

As far as getting a completely smooth feeling pearl at ANY price point, it just isn't going to happen because pearls are made by nature. If you want a completely smooth pearl you will have to go with a good faux like Majorica.
 
#41
CrystalDreamsoh

i see. sorry for the misinterpretationthats what i read too - about how mikimoto is pinked from elsewhere... and this is what Miki said on their site

High quality VS, G color or better diamonds (certified via the Kimberley Process)
All natural-color gemstones - no radiation or color treatment Finest silk thread for pearl strands"

Maybe the color treatment isnt pinked. i just went to one site where the pearls are like change of colors. (bright pink, orange etc).

read abt how pearl pinking is so universal used that its not regarded as treatment



tbbbjb
True, its not going to happen but i learnt that some gd quality ones, the blemish is naked to the eyes while some are so obvious u can see it. and often it may not be the most expensive ones = the best ones. just like how some co. marked up the price etc?


there will be some issues with pearls but more or less? or how the company select its stock? *shrug*Faux pearls....... they are losing on the luster & the surface looks plastic to me.
 
#43
Bleaching and pinking is considered standard and is not disclosed by any merchant; it doesn't have to be. Please take it for granted that ALL akoyas are bleached and pinked, including Mikis. There are some natural pale blue/grey akoyas sold that have no color treatment, but any white strand you see has been treated. The only color treatment they must disclose is dyeing, for example when they make a FW pearl black. Bleaching, pinking, polishing - these are all considered standard and are not disclosed by any merchant because they are taken for granted.

The only pearls that undergo no color treatment (again, unless it is disclosed like for "chocolate" pearls) are South Sea and Tahitians. But now there are even questions about whether Australian pearls are sent to China, undergo heating treatment and are then sent back to Australia. So merchants can claim they underwent no treatment in Australia, implying that they are untreated. It is suspected that the newer South Seas with a more metallic lustre are probably treated without it being disclosed. So taking it for granted that even South Seas are untreated now may be a mistake.

Basically, there are almost no pearls that are completely untreated, and those that are usually collect a premium. You can call and talk to Jeremy at PP and he will be happy to tell you about the treatments various pearls undergo and which they don't. He is an honest vendor and talking with him is one of the only ways you can make sure you get pearls that haven't undergone treatment of some sort.
 
#45
CrystalDreamsi was told that the metallic exotics is AAA quality. but i think the website stated as freshadama? *shrug* getting confusedbtw, do you have pics of the metallic exotics on yr neck? thanks i like multicolor but i dont like the dark lavender on the pearl... but not sure how it looks when its wore.
 
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