Massive South Sea pearls in Dubai

[MistofCassiopeia]

Hi everyone, I'm finally back!

I saw so much jewelry in Dubai it makes my head spin! I must have visited over 150 different places! Now, pearls:

1. Dubai is the place to find some massive pearls. It was not unusual to find 15mm to 21mm pearl necklaces. I tried them on and it's like I'm Wilma Flinstone, they are really heavy. The south sea pearls were really nice, especially from Paspaley and Mikimoto. I tried on a 17mm south sea pearl ring from Mikimoto ($40,000) but was not, believe it or not, really impressed. I prefer a nicer, smaller more exotic pearl. The salesperson at Mikimoto, ahem, stressed that they are the only ones with the AAA pearls (in their opinion no one else does) (I know, thems fightin' words). Their pearl education seems to be minimal and are only told what they should know. Not many customers are buying their pearls (according to a reliable source that I cannot name).

2. Paspaley pearls were also 15mm + and really nice, with much prettier designs than Mikimoto. They had some interesting soft triangular pearl shapes that I have never seen before. They were made into pendants (with cuffs) and went with a set of earrings. It was amazing how they matched. It makes me wonder if they were nucleated that way, because they matched too perfectly.

3. I saw some amazing jewelry, a 52 carat skating rink diamond ring (emerald or step cut). Lots of the big 3, emeralds, sapphires and rubies. Once you've seen the jewelry in Dubai, you are really spoiled for anything else.

Overall, I saw from the very poor pearl strands to the extremely large. Interestingly, I didn't see one pearl that I liked, i.e. interesting colour. The tahitians were all pretty predictable, nothing really to write home about. South Seas were either yellow or white/silver.

Some of the stores selling pearls had them in closed cabinets with hot lighting and when I held the pearls they were really hot (don't worry, I gave them a piece of my mind!) Paspaley, on the other hand, train in Australia and learn how to showcase their pearls. I was quite impressed with that.

So...since I wasn't able to find me a nice pearl I went for the next best thing - tanzanite!

If I remember anything else (brain fog from jet lag) I will write more. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Cheers!
Debra

[MistofCassiopeia]

oh yes, I went to the Pearl Museum in the National Bank of Dubai - only to be told that it was by appointment only....bleh, but I did get to go to the Chairman's office! What a view!

I was given 2 sets of goodies as a consolation gift (lol), 2 CD's and 2 brochures about the museum. If anyone is interested in the 2nd set, please let me know.

[pattye]

Mist-

Thank you sooooo much for the informative report! Such fun! Sorry you missed the Pearl Museum. My guess would also be that the triangular shapes were nucleated that way. Way cool!

[barbie biggs]

Tringles:
I have always loved those things. They look so neet! I even have a couple in a strand of exotics from Jeremy that have that shape. Non-nucleated freshwater version of course.
Funny thing is, until you mentioned it today, I never connected that shape with nucleation...DUH!!! Oh, of course they are nucleated to look that way; they are giant SSP's! What a dope I am.
I am so happy you got to Dubai and saw all those pearls and gems in person! What a great time.
Thanks so much for sharing all this with us.
What a fun report!!!
barbie

[GemGeek]

Really? I don't think Tringles are nucleated with anything but a round nucleus. Just a creative way to use the cute top-shaped pearls. ;)

[Satine De La Courcel]

oh yes, I went to the Pearl Museum in the National Bank of Dubai - only to be told that it was by appointment only....bleh, but I did get to go to the Chairman's office! What a view!

I was given 2 sets of goodies as a consolation gift (lol), 2 CD's and 2 brochures about the museum. If anyone is interested in the 2nd set, please let me know.

Oh wow what a trip! Glad you had fun! Sorry you missed the Pearl museum.. Bleh..

cheers
Ash

[Pearly Shell]

That sounds like a really special trip! Thanks for sharing your experiences.

I do love those Paspaley Tringles! I got to try on a strand of tringles down in Darwin. It was lovely, but a little out of my price range.

I agree with Blaire, I'm pretty sure they use round nuclei.

Do share about the Tanzanite you found!

[judimcc6]

Did you go to Dubai to check out the jewelry? That would be a great reason to go, just out of curiosity. I think with such large sizes (18-21mm), it can be a case of diminishing returns. You have to have the right Style to carry pearls that are that large. I am trying to decide what my optimum size of pearls is...

[robinmce]

Tringles:
I have always loved those things. They look so neet! I even have a couple in a strand of exotics from Jeremy that have that shape.
barbie


What is a tringle?? Ive never heard of this before??
Robin

[pattye]

They had some interesting soft triangular pearl shapes that I have never seen before.

I guess I am not sure exactly either, now. Hopefully Mist can post a photo of something similar? Are we talking a drop pearl with a pointy top, not a longer drop???? I was picturing something more flatish, like a high quality coin pearl in a triangle shape. Sounds like I have the wrong idea, however, whatever the shape, I am sure I would love a set!

[MistofCassiopeia]

Here is a link to the website: The pearls are under "Classics" (at the very end) and they are next to the drop earrings with the citrine stones. They are a pair of earrings on the top right with white gold cuffs.

http://www.paspaleypearls.com/english/home.htm

[pattye]

Thanks very much, Mist!

Ah, yes, I see now! Need a lot of pearls to match a pair that shape! They are very lovely, though! My thought was incorrect, those would no doubt have a round nucleus----interesting earrings for sure!

[robinmce]

Very pretty shape.. I now see that the word was triangle as in geometric shape, tringle being a typo!
I still would not have imagined that shape without your photos though.
Thanks robin

[barbie biggs]

Pretty aren't they? And it doesn't really matter one way or the other but I call them tringles because I've seen them advertised that way. Mostly I see the term used with diamonds but I saw it with pearls once and just borrowed it. I was in LA at the time.
At any rate, that triangular shape is really intriguing to me. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet they say.
They look pretty sweet in WSS's don't they?
barbie

[barbie biggs]

I think diamonds are actually usually called trillions. Calling them tringles is maybe pretty much a thing done just in my family to humor me because I'm the family "pearl girl". My Mom and sister were/are both diamond girls.
Anybody else?
barbie

[robinmce]

I agree Barbie, very pretty !! I am partial to trillion and pear shape stones, but my style is more colored stones than diamonds, and more pearls than colored stones!

Robin

[barbie biggs]

Dear RobinMC:
I LOVE pear shapes, especially pearls. Have you ever seen a pearl with a really long lustruous 'tail' that wiggles? I saw a picture of earrings made from naturals that looked like that once. Have wanted some ever since. They don't even have to be naturals. Just long and wiggly!!LOL
barbie

[Valeria101]

Have you ever seen a pearl with a really long lustrous 'tail' that wiggles?

Like THIS (http://cgi.ebay.com/Unique-White-Baroque-South-Sea-Pearl-12mm-5602_W0QQitemZ350118965590QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item 350118965590&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C 240%3A1318&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14) ... not to mention THIS (http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-Baroque-Cream-South-Sea-Pearl-23mm-5639_W0QQitemZ350118971292QQihZ022QQcategoryZ11085 2QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262) sort of thing! Wow! How strange! About as strange as the string-shaped keshi resulting from the same farms (here's one such thing (http://cgi.ebay.com/White-Cream-Bali-South-Sea-Keshi-Keishi-Pearl-19-26-mm_W0QQitemZ200263053569QQihZ010QQcategoryZ110852Q QcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262)).

http://i3.ebayimg.com/08/i/001/18/8d/cb39_2.JPG http://i12.ebayimg.com/04/i/001/11/32/f891_2.JPG Tadpole pearl? ;)

http://i13.ebayimg.com/08/i/001/18/8d/2280_2.JPG http://i16.ebayimg.com/03/i/001/11/32/f7a9_2.JPG



Somewhere in an old thread there was an attempted explanation for how these things form: that the thin (or flat, deflated) tails form when pearl sacks get deformed by slow-heeling mantle around the inserted bead nucleus... or something along these lines, as much as I remember.

[Amrita]

Thanks so much for the interesting report, MistofCassiopeia! How lucky that you could be in Dubai to see such fabulous pearls and jewellery! :)

[MistofCassiopeia]

me! lol - although its my mother that wears the serious bling!

[barbie biggs]

Amazing! A musical note, an albino pea pod, a shark's tooth, and I'd like to have the one in the lower left corner, whatever it looks like. Actually I'd take any of them, they're great, thanks for the pics!
barbie

[la_corsetiere]

Hi everyone, I'm finally back!


1. Dubai is the place to find some massive pearls. It was not unusual to find 15mm to 21mm pearl necklaces. Debra

Anyone selling single loose south sea or Tahitian 20+ mm pearls, either in Dubai or Hong Kong? Or elsewhere? If so, any idea of price? Always looking to enlarge my stable of monsters...

Sheri

[pearlescence]

Josh may have some soon, I think

[la_corsetiere]

Josh may have some soon, I think

Oh my, I certainly do hope so, though those true monsters are quite rare. Museum rare, in fact, unless I'm mistaken. Seems like the south seas pearls can get a bit larger, perhaps due to the size of the oysters.

Sheri

[GemGeek]

These are "Tringles". I do believe it's a trade name that Paspaley uses.

5666

I would adore having this around my neck!!! ;)

[pattye]

Very, very nice! Had not heard that name "tringle" before, but it certainly fits the pearls~

[robinmce]

These are "Tringles". I do believe it's a trade name that Paspaley uses.


Thanks for the info.. SO not a typo!!! :D
love the shape but that luster..wow
Robin

[GemGeek]

We were drunk on the pearls in the Paspaley grading rooms. :)

See more here:
http://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/pearling-industry-news/1813-gia-alumni-pearl-tour-paspaley-pearls.html

[pattye]

Such fun to see those photos all over again!

[Miriam Reed]

Hey, I liked the tringles photo, GemGeek.

[Valeria101]

Anyone selling single loose south sea or Tahitian 20+ mm pearls...

Long drops and other baroques might be just a matter of searching (HERE's one (http://cgi.ebay.com/Gigantic-Silver-Bali-South-Sea-Baroque-Pearl-21-42-mm_W0QQitemZ120325693301QQihZ002QQcategoryZ110852Q QcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262)) but rounds, buttons... symmetrical shapes are quite a different story, apparently (look HERE (http://www.cherrypicked.com/Gallery/Score.aspx?ItemID=1549)) - no idea who has them consistently. Pearl Paradise sounds like a good source for exceptional things...

I am not sure whether 20mm length is truly 'enormous' for a baroque SS pearl... . I'm wondering what makes a monster for the type myself :rolleyes:

[la_corsetiere]

I am not sure whether 20mm length is truly 'enormous' for a baroque SS pearl... . I'm wondering what makes a monster for the type myself :rolleyes:

Thanks, Valeria...the price quote on that pair of buttons ($30,000) is certainly eye-opening. I don't think that 20mm+ in length is all that extraordinary - it's the huge diameter that's so hard to find.

Sheri

[laurenb]

The first looks like a molar :D

[GemGeek]

The first looks like a molar :D

Ha! I knew it looked familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it. A Molar! :D