I am a pearl wholesaler. I would like to sell to Americans

[ferdinand]

hi everyone. my name is ferdinand from the philippines. actually im new in this site and am very excited to read all your posts. i seem to see a lot of opportunities and ideas about pearls.

my interest in pearls actually started only when i came visit my uncle one time to ask for work. instead of actually giving me work he suggested that i sell pearls instead. i didnt really appreciate it at first but later he told me that its a wonderful income opportunity and he even told me that he will give me a good price so i could start quickly and sell fast.

my uncle by the way owns a pearl farm here in cebu, philippines. as of today there are only two pearl farms here in cebu.

hope i could show you all the samples he entrusted me, after telling me how much it all worth...

[Valeria101]

There are some rules against outright advertising. But if your posting the pearls doesn't breach those rules... sure I'd like to see them and hear about their source! Any pictures of the farm by any chance? :)

[J. Larry Railey]

Hello, Ferdinand,

My wife is from Dumaguete and taught school in Cebu for 20 years until she was recruited by a school district here in Houston, Texas, US when I met her in 2002. She and I were in Cebu and Dumaguete last year. I didn’t know there were pearl farms in Cebu; I presumed the waters were too polluted. I presume your pearls are bead nucleated. What sizes do you sell? How long do you grow them before harvest? How thick is the nacre? What treatments do you do to them? Dyeing? Are they drilled? Do you sell loose or on strands? As Valeria said…we sure would like to see some pictures.

Larry
J. Larry Railey
Railey & Associates
jlr@houston.rr.com

[jshepherd]

Cebu City, highly unlikely. The only "farm" is the Davao resort, and it is not a real pearl farm. Cebu Province... I guess it is possible somewhere in the Visayas, but most farms are very remote and very difficult to get to.

[perlas]

I've never heard of a pearl farm in Cebu. The place is too commercial for a pearl farm. Although Cebu is a major exporter of shells, Philippine pearls usually come from Palawan and Mindanao.

[Kevin Canning]

well lets see a pic of your samples and give us more information on the actual location of the farm?

[SunshinePearls]

In the GIA's Book of South Sea Pearls within the Course on pearls is a section called "Phillippine South Sea Cultured Pearls", there is a map, whose source is Jewellery News Asia, showing 1 pearl farm between Bohol Island and Cebu Island, and 2 pearl farms on the other side of Cebu Island, between Cebu Island and Negros Island. All told this map shows 21 pearl farms with the greatest concentration around Palawan and Busuanga. A lot of the area between Cebu and Bohol is a marine sanctuary and teeming with fish, not polluted at all. I have seen something that looked like a pearl farm; but,of course they don't advertise.
The GIA book says that the Philippine culture both P.Margaritifera (native to the Philippines); but smaller than those grown in French polynesia. Mostly they grow P.maxima in silver and gold lipped varieties.
As is a lot of the business in the Philippines, most Philippine farms are joint ventures with the Japanese. It says the largest farm employs about 700, and consists of four farms, and they sell most of their pearls in Japan.

[perlas]

In the GIA's Book of South Sea Pearls within the Course on pearls is a section called "Phillippine South Sea Cultured Pearls", there is a map, whose source is Jewellery News Asia, showing 1 pearl farm between Bohol Island and Cebu Island, and 2 pearl farms on the other side of Cebu Island, between Cebu Island and Negros Island.

I'm not sure... the data maybe outdated.:o
If a pearl farm is located between Cebu and Bohol (approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes apart by boat), I would have known about it. If it's between Cebu and Negros Island (approx. 2.5 hours apart by boat), this is more probable.

I've done island hopping in these places and have not encountered any pearl farms.

In either case, vessels usually pass between Negros and Cebu, Cebu and Bohol.



All told this map shows 21 pearl farms with the greatest concentration around Palawan and Busuanga. A lot of the area between Cebu and Bohol is a marine sanctuary and teeming with fish, not polluted at all. I have seen something that looked like a pearl farm; but,of course they don't advertise.

Metro Cebu is polluted.
Bohol and Negros are marine sanctuaries.

The marine sanctuary in Dumaguete, Negros, was just restored after being desroyed by fishermen and now a scuba diving resort.

The best marine sanctuaries are in Palawan, Busuanga and Mindoro where the famous Apo Reef is located.

http://whc.unesco.org/fr/listesindicatives/5033/



The GIA book says that the Philippine culture both P.Margaritifera (native to the Philippines); but smaller than those grown in French polynesia. Mostly they grow P.maxima in silver and gold lipped varieties.
As is a lot of the business in the Philippines, most Philippine farms are joint ventures with the Japanese. It says the largest farm employs about 700, and consists of four farms, and they sell most of their pearls in Japan.

Yes, I've heard of joint-ventures with the Japanese but the farms are located in Mindanao. There is also a farm in Luzon producing fw blister pearls.

[mandyshan]

I 'm new here ,but i really like to introduce our zhuji fresh water pearls here .All of them are natural color and nearly round in nice shining .Our zhuji city is famous for the fresh water pearl ,the scenery is very beautiful for the pearl farms .I will send more photo so share with you .

[Valeria101]

Hi! :)
It is hard to miss a couple of pearls in the pile with particularly intense color .. violet and orange, aparently, although the colors apear slightly distorted in the image. Do you single out these stronger colors?

[Caitlin]

Hi Mandyshan
At what stage are those pearls in? They have been washed, but nothing else? Now do you separate and grade them? What other processes do you subject them to? I like the natural colors. Do any of them have orient and water?

[mandyshan]

Now they are grading, they should separate from size ,color ,shape for many times. Normally it's finished by less necklaces .most of them would be sold by single or kilogram,if by kilogram the quality is not good enough ,but of course they are natural ,just because the shape is not round enough or is not shinning .And the single choosed from them are really perfect .:)

[National Pearl]

Hi Mandyshan,

Just wanted to welcome you to the forum. Good luck!

[Mandy]

ferdinand kinda went poof, didn't he? :o Maybe he'll come back offering another type of pearl, hmm? ;P

[mandyshan]

I like pearl-guide very much and like to share my freshwater pearl in pearl-guide .:)

[Caitlin]

The color is so bright they look dyed at first glance. Are they natural in top picture? I take that back, they have several shades. Nice.

They are unstrung pearls meant for beaders. I am wondering why you want to show them here. (we do have a beader's forum better suited to unstrung beads)

I am wondering what you plan to do with them- make something with them or sell them as is?

Have any huge pearls 12mm and up? Any shape. Baroque ok.

[mandyshan]

Yes ,our family are making the business of f pearls .i really want to let more people know zhuji pears which is the natural fresh water pearls .:)

[Raisondetre]

As far as I know Zhuji pearls are cultured, not natural. Freshwater pearls are mostly from Zhuji - Jeremy Shepherd from PP sources from some of the farms there. I've passed Zhuji on the way to Yiwu myself.

[salem]

I got the impression she meant natural colored, as opposed to dyed. No?

[mandyshan]

yeah ,the color is not dyed .

[mandyshan]

all of the pearls are freshwater ,some of color is dyed not natural :) just the photos is not good than actual practicality .

[nlerner]

1216

This one is decorating my bathroom.....a superb kitsch !!!

[jshepherd]

Those figurines are a lot of fun. I have give a lot of them away over the years to animal rescue groups. They auction them off at fund raisers. They are always a hit.

[salem]

Hi,

Very cute figurines. Mandy, I was wondering in the thrid picture above the eagle picture, is that a pig on the shelf? I know it is the Year of the Boar, and it looked like a pig nose showing. Just curious because I like pigs. :D

[Caitlin]

Nora
That horse is so cute! It is cuddley.

Mandy,
Is that a horse or pony next to the pig? I'd love to see it. And a better pic of the Dragon too.

[Mandy]

I dunno...these pearl animals are kinda creepy to me. Some can be cute (like nlerner's horse) but...yeah, not my cup of tea! ;)

[Raisondetre]

I think the horse looks good, as does the dragon/crane, but it's mainly for really hardcore NCNs - I'm not quite that hardcore. Nice novelty items. I'd rather wear the pearls on myself though. I think the first picture shows a dog. Not too sure though.

I had no idea they could do it with pearls. Anymore surprises?

[Satine De La Courcel]

And I thougth I had an expensive hobby! Cute.

[mandyshan]

Hi,

Very cute figurines. Mandy, I was wondering in the thrid picture above the eagle picture, is that a pig on the shelf? I know it is the Year of the Boar, and it looked like a pig nose showing. Just curious because I like pigs. :D

yes ,it's pig's nose .

[salem]

I thought so, I am pretty good at spotting pigs! it is kinda weird, I never thought pigs were cute until I came to Japan. Now I love them and see them everywhere(esp as kids toys). I had never seen anything like these figurines before. How common are they?

[pattye]

Hi All,

Those pearl animals are larger than I originally thought! The pearls look like fairly good quality also. Are the pearls glued or or sewed on? I do think they are quite charming!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[Aycee]

I thought I read about these animals before.
The Strack book mentions them and other things like ties, shirts, waistcoats and dresses. She talks about it on page 441 for those who are interested.

Alain

[nlerner]

Pattye,

The horse is 20 cm (8 inches) long and 16 cm (6.25 inches) high at the head. The mane and tail are strands of pearls and the body is covered with interwoven strung pearls neatly glued on.

Normally, I wouldn't go for this kind of art.

[mandyshan]

I like this nice goat and put it in my bedroom .:p

[Valeria101]

I thought I read about these animals before.
The Strack book mentions them and other things like ties, shirts, waistcoats and dresses.

Dresses! One of those should weigh a ton :o ... and would probably go just fine with these cuties down here.

Speaking of (way!) alternative pearl uses:

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/5182/pearlshellshoenu8.png

Wouldn't mind some seed pearl embroidery though, that's for sure :cool:

[Raisondetre]

Love the shoe ...

[youngster]

The shoe! Oh my gosh. Unreal. Ana, where do you come up with such things? :)

[mandyshan]

this shoe is so nice .:p

[salem]

Wow, that shoe is different. Certainly isn't my taste. The pearls aren't so bad, but those shells (IMHO) just seem kind of tacky to me. But then, I am not into flashy colors at all. I am a much more subtle kind of girl.

[Valeria101]

Just looked outrageous to me :rolleyes:

Would rather imagine that sort of decoration on flip flops (or some other informal, summery concoction), and definitely prefer real shells to those.

Can't remember who makes the sandals - Lanvin, perhaps. Feel free to guess the price tag! :o Prada came up with black pearl set mules this spring, using realistic-looking shell pearls in different shades of gray. Those on the sandals are fakes too.

Along the same lines, has anyone seen those necklaces with cocos fiber and black pearls? Didn't look them up online yet - saw one at a get together earlier this week and totally fell for the mix of textures although the rough fibers were not exactly comfortable on the skin. The pearls were nothing to write home about on the example I saw, perhaps the maker didn't dare 'waste' valuable pearls on such a setting, but I would have:cool:

[salem]

Guess a price tag? Yikes! Are the pearls CFWP?

Let's see, pearls, cloisonne, name-brand...I put my guess at $850.

[Valeria101]

Guess a price tag? Yikes! Are the pearls CFWP?

Let's see, pearls, cloisonne, name-brand...I put my guess at $850.


No, fake pearls. And I don't think the findings were cloisonne, just enamelled common metal stamplings.

Make that twice (almost) ...

Can't imagine what the demand might be for the type of object irrespective of brand - I am a bit surprised that pearl set shoes are not more common given the low price for some types of freshwater pearls. There are simple white flip-flops on bridal wear listings, for crying out loud. And they are getting used :p

[salem]

Well, I was going to say $1250, but I thought that was too high. And I still would have been low. Sheesh...for such a price you would think they would at least use real pearls!!

Actually, maybe you just came up with a new market, pearl-trimmed bridal shoes. Even the grooms shoes could be trimmed in dyed cfwp. lol Why do I think this probably exists somewhere already? Although I have to say, a flip flop with a thong of pearls sounds oddly attractive to me, kinda like a necklace for the foot. Especially on a nicely tanned foot. Mine are rather too white. ;)

[Raisondetre]

Mine are rather too white. ;)

Meh, just wear dark pearls. Nothing is going to stop NCNs from wearing pearls, shoe or not!

[jerin]

Meh, just wear dark pearls. Nothing is going to stop NCNs from wearing pearls, shoe or not!

I must have missed something here - but just what does NCN mean?:rolleyes:

[Raisondetre]

Nacre-covered nut.

[Caitlin]

Is that in the glossary thread? If not-it needs to go there.:D

[Raisondetre]

It is actually. That's how I knew of it.

[Valeria101]

Footwear revisited: THIS (http://www.piperlime.com/browse/product.do?cid=35339&pid=516532&mlink=35339,193377,WBrideIsland&clink=193377)came up in a NYT add...

[Ingykiz]

For that kind of dough, I'd rather have a pearl necklace! or two..

[Valeria101]

For that kind of dough, I'd rather have a pearl necklace! or two..


Yeah!

On the other hand... lower grade CFP are so low priced compared to designer shoes, I don't know madness from reason anymore :D . Bridal Flop-Flops were an oximoron only months ago too. Crazy world ! :o

[Caitlin]

I just wanted to give this thread a bump. I have been emailing back and forth with Mandy Yue since she first posted the pictures at the top of the thread.

She is from Zhuji. Though she is a wholesaler and used to selling in large quantities, she is interested in selling to Americans. As a result, she set up a Paypal account on my advice and I ordered 20 strands in purple. They are on the way, with decent freight cost ($8- I think) I have not gotten them yet, but I am looking forward to seeing them. I will report and take pix when they get here.

Anyway, she seems to have real perseverance and dedication to making this an easy buy for me. I have some hopes that this is a contact that will bring Mandy, good prices, and some American buyers together.

Maybe someone visiting Zhuji can meet her. she writes intelligible English, and may even speak it too.

[salem]

Hey caitlin, I figured your pearls haven't arrived yet, but I was curious if you still had contact with Mandy? I think more people might like to know further developments with her company, but she seems to have dropped off the face of PG. Just curious, really. Can't wait to hear what you think of them.

[Caitlin]

I have been in email contact with Mandy a couple of times a week. I will report when I get the pearls. I am very exited. I ordered 5mm and 6mm- enough to make some purple ropes ......

I will let you know when I get them. I am encouraging her to develop her webpages a bit so we can see her wares and order from there- she is at the heart of the trading business in Zhuji and must have some good contacts.....how could you not?

I see her skills in English as being very helpful in dealing with Americans, both here and in Zhuji......to say the least!

[mandyshan]

thank you ,Caitlin .IT's so nice to see your message and you really gave me more help from your mail .Hope you can get the 20 stings of pears earlier .

[Caitlin]

I got the 20 strands of purple I ordered- 10 in 5-6mm 10 in 6-7mm. The smaller ones especially have nice strong natural color and are fairly round- a slight tendency to button shapes here and there, but these are just good medium quality CFWP.

I will take some photos when my batteries get charged. I plan on making some ropes.

I think this is Mandy's first sale direct to USA customers. As I said before, I am impressed with how she met each obstacle and overcome it. Now she is poised to make more sales using Paypal, so I suggested she try eBay.

Anyway, I took a chance here, though I didn't spend a lot and it came through. Her prices to me were close to the dealer prices at the G&LW mini-show that is spending the weekend here in Tucson and will return for the big show in Feb. 2008, so I know we both made out well.

She lives in Zhuji, so I hope someone visits her there.

[hayley]

X-mas is coming soon, and lots of businessmen begain to do some festival promotion.
I have a business website called --------- wholesaling Chinese jewelry, like pearl, coral, lampwork, etc. As an Chinese wholesaler, we can supply reasonalble priced and good qualitied products. but I don't know how I can let more foreigners know us.
Any advice will be preciated.
Wish everybodr a merry x-mas and a happy new year !

[Caitlin]

HI Hayley
We don't allow ads over here and your post is pretty much an ad, albeit a fairly discreet one. This is a good place to ask pearl questions or answer other peoples' pearl questions. We don't allow advertisements.

It is not a good site for wholesale sales pitches. The merchants here have very high quality Chinese pearls and get them in China. The buyers here are crafts people and consumers. You are competing with eBay- so you may as well join eBay-you'll do far better.

I personally would buy a dozen off -round but very dark purple strands,4-5 mm-- maybe even 2-3 dozen, but I just about drove the last person from China (member Mandyshan) who tried to sell wholesale here, nuts. Here (http://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1510) is one of her threads.

She had to set up a Paypal account so I could/would pay her because I wouldn't do any of those bank transfer things- they cost a fortune. Also getting the shipping low enough to compete with eBay took more time and effort for her. It was a lot of work for about 3 dozen strands.

I did get the strands and they were very nice, none was anywhere nearly as dark as in her picture, but they were very pretty with a kind of fisheye look to them- but she went away and never tried to sell here again and I don't blame her. If you want to use Paypal and you have some dark purple, natural colored, undyed freshwater pearls, PM me.

below: Manyshan's pearls in a 60" rope. 5mm. For knotters: That is about 255 knots which took about one TV movie to string and knot up.

[Caitlin]

Although none of the strands I received any where near were as saturated as in Mandyshan's pictures above, they are pretty pearls.

Mandy told me she is expecting a baby. She has dropped out on me. I don't think I am worth dealing with for a big Chinese wholesaler.........

[Caitlin]

Any advice will be preciated.

Hi Hayley
Just a thought..... I was visiting your website. It will be useless for most Americans as it is in some Chinese language. I don't even have those characters on my computer. All that is in English is the money figure. It is called yens?

Also, you are not a specialist in Pearls- you sell a lot of other stuff too. One way to get American wholesalers interested besides joining eBay is to have a website in English. Ebay will solve that problem too.

All in all, I'd say your post here was a waste of your time, not to mention ours.......there is a chasm separating you from doing business over here........

I took some time to answer your question honestly and sincerely. Good luck.

[Sueki]

Yes,
I, too looked at your web-site.
Interesting Tiffany items you have there....... :(

[Josh]

Caitlin, I'm impressed that you can string pearls and watch a movie. I'm pretty good at chewing gum and walking but that's about it.
Hayley, welcome to the P-G meat grinder.

[Raisondetre]

Meh, I just ignore them. They usually go away if there's no response. I doubt Hayley's even been back since he/she posted. Anyways, that weird yen thing is the Chinese symbol for dollar. It means "yuan", or the dollar unit in Chinese.

[Caitlin]

Hi Josh.
I look when I am stringing, but I can knot without looking- it's kinda like knitting- or typing- your hands learn what to do.

Thanks Raison.

[pattye]

I'm in awe of you Caitlin, that's my goal--to someday knot without looking!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[Caitlin]

Lets Practice Together. Bring some thread and needles.

[pattye]

DEAL!!:D

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time