[jshepherd]

ShopNBC and Pearlfection pollute late-night television (as if it were not bad enough).

Glancing at television listings late last night I saw something that caught my eye. ShopNBC had a show called Pearlfection. I had never heard of this brand or company before so I thought I would check it out.

First glance at a randomly presented piece immediately told me they were selling a fake pearl line. Not a big deal, but nothing which appeared to be a good deal either. Just run of the mill fake pearls. But listening to the hosts was very disturbing.

The show was hosted by a Daniel Green and another gentleman apparently from the Pearlfection company. I believe his name was Mark Brown.

What disturbed me about their presentation was the repeated embellishments, the clear violations of the Lanham Act and the FTC guidelines in describing “pearls”, and the way they constantly insinuated that the pearls were real, or at least nearly so. Here are some of the things Daniel and Mark repeatedly said over the course of a two hour show.

- The pearls are not imitation. They are 95-98% real.
- A jeweler would not be able to tell the difference between their pearls and a $40k strand.
- Their black pearls come from P. margaritifera.
- Their whites are from Australia.
- Their golds and roses are from the Philippines.
- Bronze was a rare natural color and the Asians and Europeans are buying them all up.
- Mark only referred to the fake small line as akoya, repeatedly talking about Japan.
- Mark claimed to have sold an 8mm akoya strand 2 weeks ago for $20k.
- Black is a rare color found in Japanese akoya.

It is very disheartening to hear such blatant untruths. It is no wonder so many consumers are confused about pearls. The fact that a TV shopping show like ShopNBC would allow this illegal type of presentation to air indicates that they likely have no clue what they are selling. Let's break it down for them, point by point.

- The pearls are 100% fake. Calling them “not imitation”, and “98% real” is unethical and is prohibited by the Lanham Act and the FTC.
- Any jeweler that has any degree of pearl knowledge would be able to tell the difference.
- How can they claim a fake black pearl comes from P. marg., the black lip?
- The fakes are designed to look like Australian. They are in no way Australian.
- See above.
- They were showing a strand of what appeared to be chocolates. Popular in the US, not Asia and Europe, and not a natural color.
- The pearls were fake. However, Mark only referred to them as akoya. He talked of traveling Japan and naming his son after an area of Japan because akoya are so important to him. Again, the pearls were fake.
- Who is this unknown, fake pearl dealer that sells a strand of 8mm akoya for $20k? More expensive than a Mikimoto? Sounds like a lie to me.
- Black is not a natural color found in Japanese akoya or any akoya. It is a dyed color and is by no means rare.

All I can say after watching that show is shame on ShopNBC, and shame on that company Pearlfection. They should be selling on eBay and shipping out of Hong Kong.

[xeresana]

What were they trying to say with "98% real"? Are they shell pearls? That IS awful. Every time we flip through the TV and land on a home shopping network, I'm always mesmerized by the hosts. I can't imagine doing that job. I'd be full of self-hate. It's like looking at a car accident, I just can't pull my eyes away.

[aerinha]

I have seen this line sold on HSN too. If you go to www.hsn.com and search undert technibond pearl it usually brings them up. In their case they claim they are almost "real" because the "pearls" are mother of shell beads coated in a "marine solution" that is almost the same as an oyster's nacre. I think the item description at HSN even explains a little about the coating.

The first time I saw them presented on the air the host talked about how they felt cold when first put on like a real cultured pearl does. When I watched, they didn't say anything about confusing them with the real thing, but did make it sound like these pearl plated beads (here is where that term truly should apply) were a good alternative to south seas.

If you look at the customer ratings, people who have seen the real thing say these beads look fake and could never be confused with actual pearls.

[salem]

Actually, I preer PearlFICTION, as in all these facts are completely fictious. lol I can see Tarantino liining up to direct a we speak. I wish I could call up and ask qustions, esp. about Japan. lol I wonder if Mark has ever been here. If he names him Kobe, we know it was really a basketball reference. I don't think I have ever seen any chocolates in any stores here, let alone hanging from anyone's neck. And 98% real? lol Real what? Garbage, it sounds like.

Althouhg, morbid curiosity makes me want to see the show.

[Ingykiz]

I saw a pair of "pearlfection" earrings at a discount store. They look so fake like shiny balls. No character, even vintage fake pearls have some style but not these. I guess I saw that same show (ShopNBC) and those pearls are expensive. You can buy a nice freshwater strand from one of the vendors of this forum for those prices!

[GemGeek]

What a creepy-sounding guy (from Pearlfection). The host should have known better. Their promos are bragging about how all the hosts have AJP diplomas from GIA. The warning about using the correct terms -- the word imitation or its clear equivalent must be used in conjuction with the word pearl -- is right in the text of the course. So, how clueless can they be?

The only good thing about sales of fake pearls is the creation of desire for the real thing. Of course, once you experience your first real pearls, then you want more and better pearls. Warning! The day may come when you find you have to sell pearls to finance your habit...

But I wouldn't know anything about that
Blaire, aka GemGeek

[jshepherd]

Originally Posted by xeresana

What were they trying to say with "98% real"? Are they shell pearls? That IS awful. Every time we flip through the TV and land on a home shopping network, I'm always mesmerized by the hosts. I can't imagine doing that job. I'd be full of self-hate. It's like looking at a car accident, I just can't pull my eyes away.

Apparently they were referring to the bead within their fake pearl. In the way that a beaded, cultured pearl has a nucleus, so does their fake line. They are using a coated nucleus. They claim that it is the exact same nucleus that pearl farms use. So, if the bead makes up 98% of their pearl, it is 98% pearl.

So to sum it up, their pearls are 98% composed of the 60-80% of bead-cultured pearl that is not actually pearl. Why don’t they just wrap a 14mm parasite and call it a 98% natural pearl?! Or why not wrap a chunk of coal in tinfoil and call it a “non-imitation, 98% real” diamond?! They are using a twisted form of logic that is just dishonest and misleading.

They also neglect to mention is that the bead is NOT the same as that used in perliculture. If it is shell, it is ground shell like that used in shell pearl production. It is not American freshwater bead. Only the mapleleaf and washboard produce beads that large. But they would cost more than the price of the fake strand in the sizes they featured.

What made this show so disheartening is that it is airing on a US based network, under US law, to US consumers. This is not eBay where dishonest dealers have no higher authority. This is ShopNBC! One would assume the network would care enough about their own credibility and integrity to monitor these sorts of things.

[Caitlin]

I am glad you are going on the record, Jeremy. I think people could and will take notice.

[salem]

OMG!!! So, I just went to the ShopNBC website, and found a link to the Pearlfection jewelry. First, the description is laughable. the photo unattractive, and completely overpriced. I saw the white baroque photo and saw it was $149. Anyone reading this who doesn't know, go to PearlParadise and you can get a genuine strand of CFWP in baroque shape, with a choice of color for the same price.

But what really upset me was the link at the bottom of the picture stating something lke 'California residents only: Proposition 65 warning'

So of course I clicked to see what it said

Here is a quote:

"Prop 65 warning: This product contains lead, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, and other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. "

Seriously, this is a WTF moment for me. Wash your hands after handling your pearls? Yeah, that really makes me want to string them around my neck. Forget that they are fake, ugly and over-priced, but they can also physically harm me. Wow, what a deal. God, I hope anyone who considers buyng them reads this. Although above that notice it does say it meets FDA standards. So maybe the risk is minimal. I guess I just wouldn't buy any jewelry that came with a waring label.

[Valeria101]

That's crazy! the led warning... wonder how they might have found out that such a thing applies to their pearls Perhaps from the threats of a law-savvy customer trying hard to return !?

Beats me... where there could be lead in pearls. NOW I'm curious!

I'm not a hater of costume jewelry, but tend to prefer those pieces that can stand on their own without pretending to be something else (i.e. looking fake). And would rather admire those on others.

[knotty panda]

Interesting. Swarovski pearls being crystyal-based contain lead and all Swarovski carries that California lead warning. But that isn't the product that was described above. What about the clasps? They could contain pewter which would also mandate the California lead warning.

Salem, can you give me a link, please? I don't know what this ShopNBC thing is. Thanks!

[salem]

Hi Knotty,

I will see if I can link it in. If not, for some reason, I just googled ShopNBC and Pearlfection. A link came up to ShopNBC'S jewelry department and they had a link the Pearlfection section.

As far as the lead, I did a search for lead and pearls, and saw a small reference to some fake pearls using lead based paints. Nw, there was no mention of a lead based paint with the pearlfection pearls, so I am just making that guess myself. Not really even an assumption. But I would think if it were the paint, that might make the warning understandable as I guess the paint could mix with sweat and leech into your skin more than the crystals would? Again, just my guessing. But the warning was odd.

Here we go*http://www.shopnbc.com/product/?fami...4&track=-65102


Ok, and as added fun, I linked to the baroque page. Just scroll to the bottom to see the California warning link

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by knotty panda

Interesting. Swarovski pearls being crystyal-based contain lead and all Swarovski carries that California lead warning. [...] They [clasps] could contain pewter which would also mandate the California lead warning.

That is strange! Lead warning on gass and pewter?? LOL!
But again... that is California, I guess.

[salem]

Here was the paint link, just in case anyone was interested. http://www.sierraclub.org/healthycommunities/lead/

If you don't want to read the whole article, the pearls part in bullet 4 under, "What you can do to protect your children".

[bluecamel]

Hi Jeremy,
Very eye opening post reference Pearlfections. Checked out their site and noticed this piece of propaganda: Designed to mimic high-end cultured pearls, Pearlfection is created by using the same identical nucleus that is used to grow actual saltwater cultured pearls. A special aquatic solution has been created and applied by man. The result is the same look, feel, weight, sound and make of fine gem quality saltwater cultured pearl jewelry. Our jewelry making techniques that are used in Pearlfection are the same techniques that you would find in the finest cultured pearl jewelry in the world, including individual hand knotting. Pair with your favorite cultured pearl jewelry or wear alone for a standout look.

I'm sure that your post is finally going to shine a bright light on these claims. So the Forum appears to be at a crossroads and needs to decide if enough is enough and is this the hill to die on? If so, what should be the next steps?

Maybe purchase some of this fine jewelry and go over it with a fine tooth comb, comparing it with Akoyas, Freshadamas, or even a grade A strand, posting the finding within a new permanent forum? (of course you could not have Nat taking the photos, because she does such a fine job, even she could make their junk look good. ) Then members could expand this new forum to include other on-line sellers that are making bogus claims. Eventually, word would get out and reach the uniformed consumer, or at the very least clean up some of these crooks.