[Caitlin]

The bottom is Freshadama? Maybe

That is correct. What determined your decision?

[Caitlin]

Could you please take a look at the link I attached and let me know where I can do get appraisal? I just want to make sure that I am getting what I am looking for.

Why would you trust any old appraiser, most of whom are minimally trained in pearls? There's a very well known and respected appraiser in Idaho, Sharon something, however, please note that The Pearl Outlet has a very good return policy LINK

You can buy it and get it appraised and send it back if you are not pleased. You also need to send along that certificate to the appraiser so they know what you are looking for.

That certificate from Japan is completely reliable. An impeccable reputation is everything and they are very strict about issuing the certificate to anything less than a Hanadama quality necklace. If you get a certificate with your pearls, it has been through rigorous examination by a very strict bunch of guys who are determined not to award the name to even slightly lessor pearls.

[jerin]

Well if you have read some of the posts of our Pearl-Guide members on this forum you should be able to trust our vendors. Many of the members have bought a lot of pearls from them and if they would not be satisfied, they surely would say so! In fact our sellers are the most honest professionals you can buy from. Not only will they tell everything you need to know about high end pearls but they also share freely their knowledge and educate us customers. So you don´t need to be afraid at all NOT TO GET THE VERY BEST QUALITY for a really GOOD PRICE!

[Caitlin]

I missed a line you wrote, so here is the answer.

Hanadama pearls are graded by a very strict standard and only in the Japanese lab. The lab is of impeccable reputation and will not issue a certificate unless the pearls meet every category of their standard.

As for price, online dealers have a much smaller overhead. No stores no sales people and manager and janitors' salaries, much less expensive than B&M stores' overheads.

The online dealers do not have a huge markup, they have a website instead of stores. They sell by volume and a small markup. They have joined all the appropriate business agencies like the BBB and they have guarantees and good return policies.

[TheresaL]

Thanks all for your information. I went through a couple of online vendors (pearl outlet, purepearl or pearl paradise) here again, their prices are vary when came to Hanadama. It's really hard to identify and choose. My mother does have a few strand of natural and fresh water pearl. My parents went to BeiHai(most famous pearl farm/factory) in early 90s and bought strands there when pollution was not as bad as today. So, I want to buy absolutely finest strand for her. I am going to Miki store in New York City next week to take a look at their pearl in person. As I have no experience with any of online seller mentioned in the forum, it's hard for me to go with either one even with their high reputation and generous return policy.

Could anyone share their experience with any of online selller? Or explain a bit to me why their prices are so different (from a couple of hundreds to a thousand) (I know it's kind of stupid question).

Thanks,
Theresa

[Caitlin]

The variation in price may be due to the size. The bigger ones cost more. Pearl Paradise has two sizes, the larger size is about a thousand more dollars than the smaller, which is the lowest priced. His lowest price is because he is the biggest volume dealer online. Pearls of Joy is listing an even larger size and the Pearl Outlet has the largest size I saw. I also think they source from different factories too because their aren't enough Hanadama pearls to go around. I just checked out Pure Pearls' hanadame collection. Amanda has 4 sizes LINK. She wins for largest size.

This forum is full of happy customers who posted about their satisfaction with the quality of the pearls and customer satisfaction. Just scroll through the Show Us Your Pearls forum.

You sound like you value the brand name over anything else, so go for it.

Out of curiosity how do you know some of your mother's pearls are natural? Can you define what natural means to you?

[pearlescence]

Please remember that when you buy Mikimoto pearls you are paying a huge premium for the brand name. Pearls of similar quality are obtainable for much less elsewhere.
White Round pearls of AAA quality can be either salt or freshwater also. Freshwater can be of identical quality and be much heavier and more durable because they are all nacre rather than having a coating of nacre over a bead

[jshepherd]

I think going to Mikimoto and checking out the best they have is a great idea. If more pearl shoppers did that before making a purchasing decision it would make my job a lot easier The last I checked, the AAA 8.5-9 mm, 16-inch strand was going for about $40,000 at the Mikimoto here.

TheresaL,

You mentioned Behai and I wondered when your parents went there? This was the area akoya perliculture started in the 1960s in China. Things were going well until about the 80s when short-culturing started to catch on (a Japanese import). Even today, Behai has several hundred farms and dozens of medium size and family factories. The quality, however, is not as good (on average) as the production a little farther to the east near the Leizhou Peninsula (south tip of Guangdong).

[TheresaL]

Caitlin,

Thanks for your information. I am going to take a look at all vendors' Hanadama carefully again. I am not a huge fan of brand name either, but you know, I need to carefully search around before I make the decision as it's an expensive gift. I really want to buy the best of the best for my mother. My mother's natural pearl does not have round shape, they are in different shape and luster is not comparable to cultured pearls. She bought it from Beihai in late 80s.

Jeremy,

Thank so very much for your information. My parents traveled twice to BeiHai in late 80s and early 90s. As I saw a lot of good comment about your online store, I am very interested in buying Hanadama from you. But I saw your post before saying that it's better to physically look at the pearl in person if people want to buy Hanadama. Unfortunatelly, I am living in the east coast. Do you have any good suggestion? Thanks.

Regards,
Theresa

[TheresaL]

Another question for Jeremy, I just checked out your Hanadama Akoya Pearl Necklace
7.0 to 7.5 mm (Cost $1,550). I think it's size I want for my mother, my mother does not like very big size. But my question is if i want to order for 22inch, could you customize for me? Thanks.

Theresa

[Caitlin]

Of course Jeremy, or many other fine pearl sellers, will construct a 22" necklace. It will cost more for the extra pearls. You should call Pearl Paradise or one of the other venders I mentioned earlier. Most people come here to learn about pearls or share their professional expertise. We have an article on the Pearl timeline in the list to your upper left.

My mother's natural pearl does not have round shape, they are in different shape and luster is not comparable to cultured pearls. She bought it from Beihai in late 80s.

Behai in the 1980s was not harvesting natural pearls. No place in China in the 20th century did, although centuries ago China did find some great freshwater pearls. Following is from the Pearl History Timeline.at the left above.

Pearl History of China

China claims the earliest mention of pearls in their historical texts, about 4,000 years ago. Mentioned specifically were freshwater pearls from the river Hwai and the province of King Hau; these were described as "not quite round", which is still a common description of freshwater pearls!

In fact we have on article on hanadama pearls HERE I encourage to educate yourself.

[jerin]

Hi Theresa,

since you seem so bent on buying the most expensive saltwater pearls possible it probably would be best to go to a Mikimoto Shop and if it does not harm your purse or disturb you to pay for just a name, it surely will be the right thing to do. I do doubt though that the personal of Mikimoto will give you an education in pearls like the one you have gotten here for free as well as all the advice from our other members. Good luck, anyway.

[TheresaL]

Hi Jeremy,

Thank you very much for giving me information about Akoya Pearl. I am interested in buying Hanadama akoya for my mother. As I mentioned earlier, I will going to Miki in NYC this weekend to take a look at their best ones. I never purchase or have experience with any online retailers on this forum. But I did noticed that you have a very good reputation from feedbacks I saw on this forum. I went through several threads here, and I saw some complaints about some vendors here, like they paid but never got the pearl. I was kind of worried when I saw it. I really don't want that happen to me. Because I am willing to spend money to get the best quality of hanadama akoya. But just want to make sure I get what I paid for. You suggested on one of your threads that it will be better to physically look at Hanadama at your store before purchase it. I am living in the east coast and might not be able to go to CA any time soon. Do you have any good suggestions for me? Thank you very much in advance.

Regards,
Theresa

[gravityalwayswins]

Hi Theresa,

Be careful when you read the complaints about the vendors. There will almost always be references to the name of the online store/company, and you are right that there are SOME vendors mentioned in these forums who have consistently negative feedback. You will also find that the great majority of people are very happy with 3-5 of the vendors who frequent here, and it's not appropriate to assume that since one set of vendors is not reliable, that they are ALL not reliable. There are some great ones.

It really does sound like you're uncomfortable with online purchases, and I agree with another poster that it sounds like you will be most satisfied with a purchase at a store, not online. We can all tell you about our positive experiences with Jeremy's, Kevin's, Amanda's, and other organizations, but in the end there's no way for us to PROVE to you that it will be a good experience without you trying it. It seems like that's what you're looking for.

Happy hunting and please show us pics of what wonderful pearls you find!

[jshepherd]

My comment was actually that you go to a Mikimoto store and check out their pearls. This would be your best first step. Just be sure the store is Mikimoto, not a store that sells the Mikimoto brand. There is a big difference.

Drop me a PM as this looks like a personal question not one for the forum.