[v_ni]

i noticed the 3 main online pearl stores have not been restocking the 9-10mm gem quality white FWP necklaces for quite sometime now....

anyone knows why this is so? is it my timing of my purchase? since pearl harvests are usually in winter....by now (summer), most of the larger pearls have been sold. and i'm wondering if i were to purchase "now" when something becomes available, the gem quality would be the lower end of the spectrum (if that makes any sense)

should i hold off my purchases until the next winter harvest? i'm not in a hurry since i can only buy 1 pearl necklace so i really want the best i can get.

my ideal necklace would be 10-11mm and has to be gem quality but i've sorta decided that i should settle for 9-10mm instead since 10-11mm seems impossible. i did a search and it seems like the last time 10-11mm gem quality pearls were available was in 2006!!

any advise appreciated.

[Valeria101]

Rounds above 10mm seem rather unusual. It is easier to have the larger sizes with nice lustre then perfect round, although ... Anyway. PP seems to have those in the AAA label (HERE). The shop does not use the word 'gem' loosely, so those might be it. I can't remember 10-11mm strands of 'Freshadama', if there ver were...

[pattye]

Might want to call a few of the stores and see what they say. As we are finding out, not everything is listed, and they will be able to give you info about when the best availability is.

pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[jshepherd]

We were able to restock over 9 mm, but the second half of the mm has been a bit elusive. We took the best we could get on loose grade size and were able to make some freshadama up to 9.5 mm (http://www.pearlparadise.com/Freshad...rls-9-10mm.htm).

It has not been a problem getting large-size pearls lately. They have been available in fine quality larger than 12 mm. But the gem-grade loose-pearl stock has just not been up to par for some time.

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by jshepherd

It has not been a problem getting large-size pearls lately. ...But the gem-grade loose-pearl stock has just not been up to par for some time.

So... how are the large ones available: not loose, or not good enough to be called 'gem'?

[barbie biggs]

Hahahahaha!

Thanks Anna.
barbie

[The Pearl Outlet]

I expect we'll have the larger gem-quality sizes in by October.

[v_ni]

hi all,

are gem quality freshwater pearls suppose to be round to the eye even with the small percentage of deviation?

that's what i understood from reading the different posts but i've been looking at my pearl necklace for 2 days now and i still feel that they are not round. at first when i looked at it, i thought it was just my eyes so i tried not to focus too much on that but my husband looked at it and also commented the same thing.

my earrings, on the other hand, are definitely round to the eye.

[knotty panda]

I certainly hope no one ever tries to limit gem quality pearls to rounds. My favorite gem quality pearls are in other shapes like oval, nugget, or these. The orient is so much more pronounced in shapes other than round.

[barbie biggs]

Those are really easy on the eyes! I'm with you Knotty. I love the orient and the color. Gem quality and round aren't necessarily synonymous for me either.
barbie

[Raisondetre]

Oh knotty, these are simply gorgeous!

[Nerida]

Knotty- I'm with you. The colour and orient of those pearls is simply magical. Definitely pearls to keep in a little dish on your desk and play with over and over before knotting them up. They are just beautiful!

[knotty panda]

These aren't drilled. I don't know that I could bear to have them drilled, they are so beautiful.

[Nerida]

Don't drill - just play!!

[Sueki]

Originally Posted by knotty panda

I certainly hope no one ever tries to limit gem quality pearls to rounds. My favorite gem quality pearls are in other shapes like oval, nugget, or these. The orient is so much more pronounced in shapes other than round.

Have to agree with you, Knotty. And your photo. says it all.....