[Rosomane]

I did it.
Thanks to Jeremy pointing out that Birdman was selling CFW dyed black as Tahitian (some with bogus appraisals). I returned a necklace and bracelet that I had bought from this vender. He refunded my money, even though he has a three day return policy. I lost on the shipping though but that's the norm. I would have left it as that and given him positive or neutral feedback but he then put the same necklace back on auction as Tahitian. So, I can only assume Jeremy was correct that he is intentionally deceiving people. I gave him negative feedback today with an explanation of why.

As an aside, while I still had the necklace, I bought a pair of baroque Tahitian studs at TJ Maxx and looked at them and the CFW blacks through a loop to see the difference. There is a big difference!
In addition, correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that P.margaritifera creates different shaped pearls (Tahitian) than the critter that is used for (most) CFW pearls and the difference in the shape is a dead giveaway (if the pearls are not perfectly round). All of Birdman's Tahitian necklaces had some/many near-round pearls in them, displaying that they could not be Tahitian. They were probably about A quality at best.

While I really fell in love with these dyed CFW pearls, they were not worth what I paid for them. I intend to replace them with a good quality dyed CFW necklace from one of the reputable dealers (like Pearl Paradise which is within driving distance) because I think they are really attractive.

So, my thanks to whoever brought that thread up (it might have been the pink "South Sea" necklace Birdman had at auction) and Jeremy who took the time to look over Birdman's other pearl auctions and take the time to comment on them here.

[jshepherd]

I know some of you who like the typical off-round look of the dyed freshwater pearls may not appreciate this, but we are in the process of dying loose-matched strands to make perfect blacks. It is just an experiment and I am only doing it with 20 kilo, but it has the potential to create freshadama quality black freshwater. Then again, I may have just destroyed 20 kilo of loose pearl.

The reason it is so difficult to find high quality dyed black freshwater is simple. Factories do not want to devalue their best pieces - dyed black sells for less than equivalent quality white. Lower-end pearls are typically used for dye treatment. It is a real challenge finding good quality black in China, and often you have to visit a dozen factories to find more than just a few hundred strands.

[jewel457]

Rosomane,

I take it that when you mentioned they were perhaps A at best that the A is applicable to Freshwater grade and not Tahitian. An "A" for Tahitian is the highest grade.

One can easily mix the grading up because some sellers choose to use the Freshwater AAA - A for Tahitian at times (personally, I don't believe that is the right way to go), however, it appears consumers are stuck on or understand the Freshwater Grading System better than the A, B, C, D for Tahitian. Throw in eBay's (extra As) grading system, the hk system and we all get lost.

[Rosomane]

[quote=jewel457]Rosomane,

I take it that when you mentioned they were perhaps A at best that the A is applicable to Freshwater grade and not Tahitian.

Well, yes, that was the point - they AREN'T Tahitian, they are FRESHWATER dyed black. If they were good quality freshwater dyed black, I might just as well have kept them although even if they had been AAA quality they were still $100 too high, but for A quality freshwater dyed black I paid at least four times too much (any of the vendors would likely make that 10 times too much, but I don't buy wholesale nor direct).

Now Jeremy is tempting me with Freshadama blacks.... That's exciting and I don't even entertain the thought that 20 kilos are ruined. More likely they will be striking and he'll have a rush on black pearls. As I said, those that I returned were very attractive, about the only thing they had in common with genuine Tahitians was they weren't white. I think the dyed pearls have their own charm and shouldn't be compared to Tahitian.

[Rosomane]

I just received this today; makes me feel like I absolutely did the right thing giving him negative feedback (SHEESH):

Hi, just for your info, I just got back from the jewerly store with my south sea pearls that I bought from him and I got ripped off too, they are not South seas worth 3900.00 like he said, I am going to return mine too, he is really ripping off everyone, wow, just for your info. another ebayer unhappy.

[Caitlin]

For some reason I have not been getting notified of posts and missed this one. I am really looking forward to seeing the high quality dyed CFWP! Let us know ASAP!