[jeffro]

Hi i am currently at QATAR and would like to buy pearls from the PEARL SHOPS IN DOHA. Before i purchase them i would like to get some opinions on the quality of the pearls. As well how much do you think they are worth.

[jeffro]

another pic

[Zeide Erskine]

Hi,

You are apparently in a discount store in Qatar. The pearls in the pictures are Chinese freshwater cultured pearls from hyriopsis cumingii probably grown in Zheijang or thereabouts of upper medium quality. The peach pink bracelet seems the best value and the color is uneven enough to be natural. The grey brownish dark ones look dyed and most of the white ones look bleached with dull areas, the turquoise is either dyed howlite or reconstituted. As long as you stay well under $100 you are paying fair retail value. The clasps look dingy but that can be a good thing if you are worried about theft. No thief is going to go after pearls with dingy clasps and no french wire ends. Qatar is known for its valuable natural pearls. Maybe you want to shop around someplace else. When the prices look like New York telephone numbers you are in a store that deals in natural orientals.

Zeide G. Erskine