[salem]

Hi Gemgeek,

Care to share more information about your company? I saw the photo you posted above of some baroques. They have some nice rainbow i them. You said you have a lot of stock, and fancy colors are always desired around this forum. So I was just kind of curious, are you just starting up a company of your own designs or are you already established and importing loads of pearls yourself? I kow you may have posted elsewhere, but I may have missed it. If you have a website, could you post a link?

Let me explain my situation. I wish I were importing masses of pearls I use them to make and sell jewelry. Depending on how expensive they are, and how much I think I can use, I generally purchase four to twenty strands of each kind. I have purchased as many as eighty strands of one kind at a time, but that would be something like tiny button pearls.

I've never counted, but I think I have around 2,500 strands on hand, covering every color of the rainbow. I use a lot of dyed and fancies. Those silver baroque freshwaters are favorites of mine. I donated a necklace of them to the GIA for their alumni dinner auction in Tucson 2008. It has a clasp of silver leaves.

I purchase most of my pearls from my favorite vendor, John Tu, who lives in Oregon City and does the Gem Faire trade shows. He has the best stuff, very reasonable, but it's hard work to go through everything at the start of the show because I have claustrophobia and it's tight.

I am good at zeroing in on the best pearls. Invaribly, there is a line of people waiting to buy any strands left over from the hanks I have. It can be creepy. I have had people follow me around the show, buying whatever I buy as soon as I leave. I'll bet the people on this site have the same ability. The more pearls you see, the better your skills at evaluation.

In the spring, I had to put the business and my studies on hold in order to compete in an a' Cappella quartet. We won medals, but I think I am giving that up. When I went back to my studies, I remembered how much I love gemology. I now have a master plan of two more years of courses after I finish my GG. so I can eventually become an appraiser.

In order to become a good appraiser, it turns out that I will have to also become a jewelry historian, so it will be a very long time until I am qualified. I hope to specialize in pearls

So, I started the business to get experience in the jewelry industry. I don't make everything I sell. I purchase ready-made jewelry to augment the handmade stuff. I can fabricate, but I don't have the time and with the price of metals so high, it's hard to make a profit.

Saturday I went back to getting my business in order and knotted two pearl necklaces. I'm going to do a couple of shows in Palm Springs in the fall, so I have to produce some inventory. I can't afford to skip the holiday shopping period because I'm going to need the money to pay for these pearl tours

When I update my website, I'll post it so you can tell me what you think.

I can't tell you how much I enjoy this forum. You guys are smart and funny

Blaire

[knotty panda]

Am I the first to receive mine? Oh my! They are gorgeous! They really are everything I expected and more! The color is gorgeous! The thread I bought to knot them is just a bit darker than the pearl color, but I'm sure it will be just fine! I have a small lamp next to my computer that gives off very little light, and I can see the orient! I'm amazed! Jeremy, you outdid yourself! I feel so honored to be able to be a part of this special offer. Thank you so much!

I bought a medium-priced strand and the cheapest one. I can't tell the difference! If they weren't marked, I wouldn't know.

Everyone! Check your mailboxes!

LOL, you all are getting blow by blow account of my package opening! I just looked inside! I got some cutey little Pearl Paradise post-it notes! Love them! You can NEVER have enough stickies!

And! An appraisal! I am in shock!

[jshepherd]

Wow! You must be the first. I think only a couple of them made it out on Friday. Most will ship today and tomorrow.

[knotty panda]

LOL, well, it's probably because I do my own knotting so they were an easy ship. But they are beautiful! Everyone is going to be so pleased! They were definitely worth the wait!

[Sueki]

Oh, come on Knotty, pics. - PLEASE.

[knotty panda]

Hun, no camera! I got strands 114 and 159. Is the link still up? No wait! Let me try the camera phone . Oh, I'm going to hate this. There is no way this is going to do those strands justice. Jeremy, I apologize.
-------------------------
No, sorry, it's too horrible. I can't do that to him. Remember how horrible my Mother's Day offer pics were? Well, I'm sorry. I can't do that. You'll have yours soon. I will say this though, I actually prefer the least costly strand!

Jeremy, is that because of the texturing that they display more orient and color?

[aerinha]

Knotty must tip her mailman well to get her so fast I can't believe they are shipping today or tomorrow that is really fast! Were they already strung in advance or are stringers in CA thinking murderous thoughts about us? I live in PA and that's as far in the US as I can get from Pearl Paradise, so I don't expect to see mine for a bit. I can't wait.

[aerinha]

Originally Posted by knotty panda

Hun, no camera! I got strands 114 and 159. Is the link still up? No wait! Let me try the camera phone . Oh, I'm going to hate this. There is no way this is going to do those strands justice. Jeremy, I apologize.

I just peeked at yours online Knotty and they are really pretty. I'm curious about 159 as I bought on also marked blemished (154). How noticeable are they?

I thought I saw strings in the photos.

[knotty panda]

Yes, they are temporary strung. Then the pearls are cut from the temporary strand and are knotted. Lucky for me Jeremy doesn't knot his strands until they are ordered.

Aerinha: YOU ARE GOING TO BE SO PLEASED!!!!! I can't see the blemishes. I haven't started knotting them yet, but so far, I can't find ANYTHING unpleasant. I'm just totally dazzled by the colors! And I truly do think the less costly strand displays not only more intense blue color by more orient as well. The skins are not as smooth, but the least costly strand has more personality to it.

[aerinha]

I assumed they were the temporary strings that the hanks came on, but having them pre-strung would explain the quick shipping.

This is going to be like a feeding frenzy! (the good kind)

Congratulations Knotty Panda
Blaire

Oops just checked, didn't see any.

[jshepherd]

We did not string them in advance because we knew some people would request them unstrung, and some people would want yellow gold because it is just their preference. But I believe we only sold about 60 strands on Friday. An easy number of knotting jobs, not one we would do in advance. When we have public specials that go to our main customer list we do string in advance.