[Perle]

Okay, now we're talking! Steve, you want the $16 K one for your Poe Io Mata Nui? Maybe Caitlin would take hers, I'd find one . . . how many are there?

Just kidding - I guess he's not selling yet. Back to the wishlist . . . .

Perle

[smetzler]

Originally Posted by Perle

Okay, now we're talking! Steve, you want the $16 K one for your Poe Io Mata Nui? Maybe Caitlin would take hers, I'd find one . . . how many are there?

Just kidding - I guess he's not selling yet. Back to the wishlist . . . .

Perle

Not so fast—there would be good economic reason for taking that pearl (assuming it is a good choice from a design standpoint), as it would increase the value of the necklace by at least the pearl's purchase price. And I'd even offer to pay the $75 (thus outbidding the prior offer). On top of that, we'd gain a 14mm SS drop pendant, pearl appraised at $4500. As it is, the SS constitutes what is known in the trade as a 'poison pill', serving to make the necklace unattractive to the natural pearl market.

[Caitlin]

Now see what happened because I desire a most rare pearl? I will move the further discussion from this thread to another later, but to continue:

In any case, this certification business is a bit overdone. My advice to Dr. Stern, as a businessman, would be to offer 'conditioned upon natural certification' and certify them one at a time with money already in hand, if even necessary. And should he sell to Bahrain, they XRay everything anyway (and crush to smithereens all imposters).

I am sure that is fine advice, but the use he was explaining to me was that some of the (golden and white) rounds needed to be certified as natural so people would believe it. They are huge. Also, as I explained in another thread, he uses the certifications to convince the people bringing pearls in, that he only wants naturals and, indeed the proportion of naturals to cultured rose substantially after that. People are now bringing in Tridacna pearls-- remember they share the waters with Palawan where the gigas grow. They are also reporting pearl oddities, all of which Tom must check out individually.

Why would they bring in cultured pearls- how did they get them? I have no clue because I heard that Jewelmer (and other big holdings) have armed camps where their cultured pearls are grown. This part of Borneo is apparently known for natural pearls. Also Brunei is right next door, so maybe they will have to bid an outrageous price to get them. Who knows? But I am staying tuned.

[smetzler]

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

Now see what happened because I desire a most rare pearl?

Not inappropriate to the 'If only' theme, but understand a desire to keep things organized.

OK re certification reasons.

[Caitlin]

I will most likely move it because it does add to the unfolding story of these natural pearls on their way to the market

As Strack said in her lecture last Saturday, "You must understand natural pearls if you wish to understand cultured pearls." In fact, that was the leading sentence. Since we used to average about one, "My grandmother just died and left this strand of natural pearls" then the pearls turn out to be cultured, if not fake.........I think having pictures of naturals of all kinds is really educational.

[Slraep]

Caitlin, I hope the fishing for these naturals is being done with care. I hope this is not a case of some remaining precious patches of wild stock oysters being plundered without thought to sustainability. How are they harvested?

As for the Tridacna g. pearls, again, how have these been harvested? Coming from a species that is endangered, I find them to be a curiosity, yes, but not something to be marketed because that encourages poaching. You cannot tell a 100 yr. old Tridacna pearl from a recently harvested one.

Slraep

[Caitlin]

I am interested in pearling methods and that is a good question for Tom.
I think many of them are old pearls. I think these pearls are coming from individuals, families, Tom said he, "put out a call for pearls" and people started bringing them in.

He sorts the cultured from the natural and tries to identify what is brought to him. He has been brought 10 or so Tridacna pearls. These did not all come out of the water since he put out the call.

If the citizens of Sabah are harvesting wild t gigas, then maybe this board can help educate Tom on what to be saying to the people and families that bring these in. Maybe among his humanitarian works he should sponsor the cultivation of t gigas with sustainable methods..

Also he should find out what methods are used for finding new pearls. North Borneo has not really had accessible pearl information before Tom. As I say, I am following the story.

He is from Berkeley and can't have escaped the politically correct environment there! He wouldn't have had his practice there, if he hated it, because Berkeley is the most PC place anywhere I know of. He retired as a surgeon after 33 years and has since devoted his life to humanitarian projects, especially for Sabah citizens. The pearls are a sideline that developed from people asking him where/how they could sell their pearls to their advantage and the advantage of Sabah- not some foreign Company. Or some pearl shark from Brunei. (I made that last part up, but it is logical)

[knotty panda]

Did I forget to put a diadem on my list? Oh dear, I'm such a silly panda!

[pattye]

the SS constitutes what is known in the trade as a 'poison pill', serving to make the necklace unattractive to the natural pearl market.

For some reason I thought the terminology was "poison pearl"?? Could someone please clarify?? Thanks much!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[Slraep]

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

Hi Slreap
Maybe we can start a trend in crowns or whatever those are called. I really think wearing such an item would change our consciousness and the wand that comes with it ---well, using it would reverse pollution trends.

You've busted me Caitlin. Yes, it's actually the power, er...I mean "wand" I wand to wield!! Muahahahaha(I keep stealing that, Blaire)!!! But wouldn't it be great though---a magic wand that comes with a pearl diadem that comes with a conscience. Don't know if I'd make a lot of things appear, but I certainly would make a lot of things disappear. Well, I might make ONE thing appear: a natural fancy red coloured string of quite big pearls. And maybe more pearl diadems(hi, Knotty).

Slraep

[knotty panda]

All m'ladies in maille deserve a scepter.

[Caitlin]

For some reason I thought the terminology was "poison pearl"??

Hi Pattye
I think you are right. We saw an example of that in the antique set on Dr. Tom's thread. The family knows which pearl is fake and it makes for a good ID, should it ever be heisted......Teehee (as if it needed that to make it recognizable) We also saw it in a strand belonging to one of our members a couple of years ago. That lab in Bahrain Steve was talking about would smash it right up, right? Or at least insist it be replaced before a sale to Bahrain.

How much of that was Zeide of the marketing tongue's fairy tale? Oh well, it works for me.

[smetzler]

Originally Posted by Pattye

For some reason I thought the terminology was "poison pearl"?? Could someone please clarify??

Originally Posted by Caitlin Williams

How much of that was Zeide of the marketing tongue's fairy tale? Oh well, it works for me.

Thanks for the correction. I was actually hazily recalling a ZE post that must be long gone (a 'poison pill' of sorts).

[Slraep]

Here's that post/thread, Steve. Notice how ZE talks about forum member Ali as if she actually knows him. Read and weep with laughter at the part where she mentions "a flurry of e-mail offers" for her fabulous non-existent natural pearl collection!

Caitlin, please consider not nuking this thread! For us old forum members(me!!!), it's just too funny rereading it. And really good belly laughs are so hard to come by.

Baffled by estimate

Oh boy, in post #30 she imagines she has given "oral" lectures too. I wonder where that would be? In her basement? To an audience of her husband's collection of old pinball machines?

Slraep

[Pearl_dreams]

How did it finally come to light that Zeide was conning the members of the forum? And where was she drawing all her information about pearls from? (Is it even correct information?)