[GemGeek]

Originally Posted by knotty panda

Blaire: You have some interesting findings in that piece.

Including the clasp I had to make myself?

The problem with the brass is you can't get some of the ordinary findings and it costs more than sterling silver, sometimes way more!

[knotty panda]

That centerpiece is very unusual. Fits the theme of the piece well. Is brass easy to wire wrap? Your loops look fantastic.

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by pattye

...my suggestion for spacers on that necklace:

1. small rainbow dyed fw

2. round faceted red garnets

3. sapphire or spinel rondelles

4. moonstone

Spinel ? Thanks for reminding me of black spinel! Haven't seen allot o small ones, but you never know... I was thinking 'black' from looking at te picture - so that nothing interferes with the pearls subtle grays.

And for some reason black pearls look so great on red coral.

Hm... lots of possibilities!

[GemGeek]

Originally Posted by knotty panda

That centerpiece is very unusual. Fits the theme of the piece well. Is brass easy to wire wrap? Your loops look fantastic.

Brass is easy to wire wrap, yes. Just like gold-filled. That makes me wonder if gold-filled has brass inside, or just pot metal??? Hmmm...

Perfect loops??? Wow, thanks. The wire on the pearl stations was thinner than I would have liked, but the other wire was too big for the holes.

[GemGeek]

Originally Posted by Valeria101

Spinel ? Thanks for reminding me of black spinel! Haven't seen allot o small ones, but you never know... I was thinking 'black' from looking at te picture - so that nothing interferes with the pearls subtle grays.

And for some reason black pearls look so great on red coral.

Hm... lots of possibilities!

Ouch! My brain hurts from all the possibilities. I'll have to post some later in the appropriate forum.

[Josh]

Hi Caitlin and everyone else,
Price depends on size, the bigger the keishi the more expensive. As for prices, I suggest you contact DFrey from this forum. Care Ehret can also give you prices. The price of a necklace of keishi would depend on their size. Keishi get inspected and we pay the $2.30/g. We can't export real crumby ones but otherwise there is not a real strict sort on them. They are after all pretty much pure pearl.

[knotty panda]

$2.3/g for inspection seems a bit steep, but what's a pearl farmer to do, right? So what happens after the feds do their thing. Do they return them to you? Or do you tell the feds, I have sold this lot, please inspect and send on to my customer?

[Josh]

$2.30/g IS fricken' steep. Consider that all keishi have the requisite thickness and you find it hard to make any sense out of it whatsoever. After you pay it you have 10days to export it in a sealed (by them of course) bag. If you don't get your $#!t together in time, you have to have them re-open the package and reseal it again.

[GemGeek]

Originally Posted by Josh

$2.30/g IS fricken' steep. Consider that all keishi have the requisite thickness and you find it hard to make any sense out of it whatsoever. After you pay it you have 10days to export it in a sealed (by them of course) bag. If you don't get your $#!t together in time, you have to have them re-open the package and reseal it again.

That's outrageous! Do they charge less for regular Tahitian pearls, or the same? How can you make money when Cook Islands and other places don't have the same restrictions? It must be very frustrating at times to be a pearl farmer. Maybe you could collaborate with Roger Beattie on his book. The title is something like "Why the Government are SOBs"!

[Satine De La Courcel]

Rubies, Garnets, Tanzanite. Saphire, amethyst, Turquoise, beads Etc... I think I saw Caitlyn mention Small balack pearls.. ANd I remember somethign about her making something along these lines. Correct me if I am wrong Okay Caitlyn..

I would use two- 2mm then put a 4 mm gemstone then two 2 mm then a big pearl and repeat that for an added twist...

Not bad for a simple 1500's piece though... I have nto played with a replica of this one yet.. I do not do much wire work I am only now getting my feet wet in that department.. I am still too chicken...


Blaire I really Like your version. simploe and very elegant! so many looks wiht just one necklace you can get.. Very Nice!

Cheers
Ash

[GemGeek]

Originally Posted by Satine De La Courcel

Rubies, Garnets, Tanzanite. Saphire, amethyst, Turquoise, beads Etc... I think I saw Caitlyn mention Small balack pearls.. ANd I remember somethign about her making something along these lines. Correct me if I am wrong Okay Caitlyn..

I would use two- 2mm then put a 4 mm gemstone then two 2 mm then a big pearl and repeat that for an added twist...

Not bad for a simple 1500's piece though... I have nto played with a replica of this one yet.. I do not do much wire work I am only now getting my feet wet in that department.. I am still too chicken...


Blaire I really Like your version. simploe and very elegant! so many looks wiht just one necklace you can get.. Very Nice!

Cheers
Ash

Thanks! I love the ideas -- wish I had the time to try them now, but I will get to them. I like the idea of alternating pearls with gemstones a lot!

[Josh]

Originally Posted by GemGeek

That's outrageous! Do they charge less for regular Tahitian pearls, or the same? How can you make money when Cook Islands and other places don't have the same restrictions? It must be very frustrating at times to be a pearl farmer. Maybe you could collaborate with Roger Beattie on his book. The title is something like "Why the Government are SOBs"!

Blaire, thanks for feeling our pain. It's not in our government's interest to right a wrong and evolve with our current market situation here in Tahiti. It IS outrageous when you consider the numerous families in Polynesia that can no longer make a living with pearls. Not too long ago I saw a guy I know parking cars here on Tahiti. He used to graft pearls on a farm not too far from mine. For those of you who don't know, the grafter of the farm is at the top of the food chain and is supposed to make pretty good money.
The tax of $2.30USD a gram applies to all pearls and keishi, no matter their size. Also, as the US dollar drops it only gets worse for us.

[GemGeek]

Originally Posted by Josh

Blaire, thanks for feeling our pain. It's not in our government's interest to right a wrong and evolve with our current market situation here in Tahiti. It IS outrageous when you consider the numerous families in Polynesia that can no longer make a living with pearls. Not too long ago I saw a guy I know parking cars here on Tahiti. He used to graft pearls on a farm not too far from mine. For those of you who don't know, the grafter of the farm is at the top of the food chain and is supposed to make pretty good money.
The tax of $2.30USD a gram applies to all pearls and keishi, no matter their size. Also, as the US dollar drops it only gets worse for us.

That's depressing. I hope your harvest keeps getting bigger and better so you can keep ahead. We need you. By the way, I enjoy seeing Care Ehret promoting your pearls!

[Caitlin]

Hi Josh
I am sorry to hear about the thoughtless rigidity in Tahiti regarding "the pearl tax".

Being oldish and having a sceptical eye toward human nature, I would not be suprised if this kind of unyeilding attitude did not result in some smuggling out of Tahiti. Or rather, I am sure it does.

Josh, (in spite of your funny signature) I do NOT intend to put you in that category! You have shown me/us to be respectful, scrupulous, and beyond diligence in your greenness. This is just a comment on human nature and that the gov't of Tahiti is bucking it, if they don't lighten up!

[Josh]

Thanks you two.
Caitlin as far as the issue of rule bending is concerned I'm going to hold my tongue this time. The last time I brought it up on this forum I copped a talking to from our pearl promotion board.