[Valeria101]

Always a good read!

A paragraph sounds particularly intriguing - that about change and limits:

" The cultured freshwater pearl industry, unlike the Tahitian, South Sea and akoya industries, operates in an environment with little to no constraint. [...]where producers are free to set their own rules. "

... thinking a bit of what kind of operations, where in the world make pearls outside China, 'costraints' gets quite interesting. What constraints might bind, say, Kamoka more then a typical Chinse pearl farm?

[effisk]

Originally Posted by Valeria101

What constraints might bind, say, Kamoka more than a typical Chinese pearl farm?

Minimum nacre thickness for instance. It's not the best example as virtually all CFWP are not bead nucleated, but you get the idea; there is simply no regulations in China.

[pearlescence]

Okay then - what length do we think is reasonable?
And to be fair, we need to say a start date, to give them time to get their acts together...January 1, 2009?

[Nerida]

Jeremy - thank you for the article. Concise, informative, and well-written!

Wendy - same problem. I am quite small, but for me a standard length "strand", when knotted and finished, thesedays is just the right length. I am CONSTANTLY using a second strand to make up longer lengths for a large number of my clients - and not just the "large" ladies.

[pearlescence]

I just tried on a couple of AA 11-12 blacks which I had made..both too short for me. I'll have to remake them with added pearls. grrrr

Checking the strands they are 39cm / 15 1/2.
I'd say that 45cm is about right
January 1, 2009

[Sueki]

You can count me in Wendy and Jerin,
I'm totally fed up with the ever decreasing lengths of strands; and even more fed up with the seemingly dishonest sizing issue.
If I buy a strand of pearls, sizes 7mm. - 8mm., then I expect to get a strand of pearls where the smallest pearl is 7mm. and the largest pearl is 8mm.

O.K. Rant over.
Now just to praise Amrita if I may.
I measured the smallest and largest pearls on the strands purchased from her, and every one was actually slightly bigger than the sizes quoted on her site.

P.S. Jeremy, thanks for the article. Like everyone else, I've saved it for reference.

[pearlescence]

I got a hank in of AA lavender 7-8s and they measured 7.5 to 8.5mm so I can't complain at that.
If we don't do something soon about strand length two strands will come out as a necklace and a bracelet soon and that is getting silly.

[Amrita]

Originally Posted by Sueki

Now just to praise Amrita if I may.
I measured the smallest and largest pearls on the strands purchased from her, and every one was actually slightly bigger than the sizes quoted on her site.

Ohh. Thank you, Susan. You are so kind.

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by effisk

Minimum nacre thickness for instance. It's ...there is simply no regulations in China.

On other circumstances (other threads, topics) those standards didn't sound like a bad thing. Funny stuff

[jerin]

Hi Wendy, Sueki and other members!

Just let us know what we as individuals are supposed to to and I will do so... if even only 1 pearl does not come up to the standard, 1 strand is just not long enough to suit most of us.

[pearlescence]

Well, I think we need to be reasonable and give plenty of warning - so I was thinking that if we say now that we expect strands to be x long by new year - or later - say June 1 next year to allow time for the message to filter through. Then after that we just don't buy under x long. The retailers will soon be shouting to their factories.
And emphasise we don't mind paying the right price for a proper length.
we just want one strand = one necklace

[pbazar]

You can set specifications and requirements we do not accept undersized pearls or short strands. Once you make the processors aware that you will not accept non conforming product they will not try to play games. Remember you are the customer you just have to be aware of the game. We provide our customers with specifications and cannot fall below those specs. After initial protests that it is generally accepted practice and you state that it is unacceptable and return the product it does not happen again. There is to much competition to let such games take place 8mm is 8mm not 7.9

[GemGeek]

Originally Posted by pbazar

8mm is 8mm not 7.9

Right On!!!

[jshepherd]

That is true. But most buyers do not work with a single processor from material to finished product. They buy from shows or shop around Zhuji, Shanghai and Weitang. These buyers purchase at material sizes unless the processor has switched to half sizes (a lot of the big ones have). Buying from Hong Kong dealers alleviates this problem because most dealers based in Hong Kong deal in full or half sizes that are sized correctly. But the Hong Kong premium is huge.

There is one point that even working with your processor will not get around. That is the 75/25 rule when dealing with full mm sizes.

[pbazar]

Originally Posted by jshepherd

There is one point that even working with your processor will not get around. That is the 75/25 rule when dealing with full mm sizes.

What is the 75/25 rule? I assume you are saying that when buying full size 75% will be the smaller size.