[pernula]

I don't know whether this is buyer's remorse/envy/greedy or what, it seems like other people's exotics are generally prettier than mine , especially when Jeremy declared his favorites or posted a new special creation. I do really appreciate the honest opinions. When I took pictures my pearls just didn't come out as nice....
I realize the entire exotics crop/batch was hand-selected by Jeremy or Mia, but I can't stop wondering whether mine is left-over stuff after the cream of the crop was concentrated in a few necklaces. I keep thinking I should return one or two necklaces (I bought three, partly counting on at least one would be checked out first by somebody else and turned out I got all three) and try to get something "better." Please tell me I am being stupid/silly/greedy or thinking too much or ???

Thank you for your advice,
Pernula

[Karl]

Pernula:

I think that your're being silly, but personal preferences can mean a lot. However, If you really want to get rid of one ( or more ), I'll be glad to take them off of your hands.

[Pearl_dreams]

Hi Pernula,

I don't recall seeing your photos, so I don't know what your strands look like. I think there was a significant variability in colors of the pearls of different sizes and shapes-- that is what made them so fascinating! The smallest seemed the most metallic, but that same metallic quality can confuse the color one perceives.

I also think it is statistically improbable that all the worst pearls (if there is such a thing as 'worst' when discussing rare exotic pearls!) could be concentrated in your 3 strands.

Before these exotics, I had never taken photos of pearls before. Not only do the pearls' colors change under different lighting when seen with the naked eye, but they change again under the same lighting when photographed. Also, the camera seems to enhance the colors, and my 18% gray card comes out blueish when photographed, even when I select the best lighting option on the camera. Maddening!

Today I started working on turning my 7.5-8.5mm ovals into a bracelet, but it's dark and rainy, and I don't trust the fluorescent lighting to show their color correctly, so I'm putting off the job until we have a sunny day. The color variation in that strand is very, very subtle. In the photo I took, though, you'd never guess that. My photo makes the colors leap out.

In short-- I'll bet your pearls look more or less like everyone else's pearls of the same shape and size. You just don't realize it because all you can see is our very imperfect photos.

Wear them, accept them, love them. Or, take the best of the three strands and make one new strand and wear that one.

[barbie biggs]

Completely awesome, clasp and all!

[barbie biggs]

Dear Pernula:
Between writing my last thought and pushing the button, three new threads came out!
Which exotic pearls did you get?
Have you tried taking them outside just before twilight?
Have you considered that Jeremy practically 'gives' these specials to us for much less than we could ever buy anywhere else?
I also purchased three which I hope to make a triple out of. A small oval, and two meduim ovals held together with a diamond celtic knot. I'm Irish don't ya know.

I don't think you're silly at all, and, have you considered that, affection for the Pearl Paradise 'family' aside, possession of one of Jeremy's specials might be worth something in 50 years. I mean think about it, even Mikimoto was unknown once. How many people know about Jeremy now compared to 10 years ago? Okay, that's enough materialism for today.

Nobody will think less of you if you send them back. There will be more specials in the future, no doubt.

barbie

P.S. I think part of the point of photographing the pearls, besides sharing, is that the camera 'sees' things we mortals have difficulty picking up. If you keep your pearls beside you long enough you will see its character in various lights.

[Caitlin]

Hi Pernula
You are definitely thinking too much.

That said, if you are thinking of returning one or two. Send me pictures or put up Jeremy's pictures- I'd be interested in buying it/them. This thread is so long and has so many posters, I've lost track, if I ever knew, which ones you got.

These neckaces are a rare treat and I did not get enough of them.

[pernula]

Originally Posted by barbie biggs

Have you considered that Jeremy practically 'gives' these specials to us for much less than we could ever buy anywhere else?

I feel like being chided. I do realize Jeremy is being very nice and generous to us, that's why I might return an exotic so that somebody else could have it if I were not 100 % in love with it. I have bought about 15 items from PP for personal use or gifts, I love their pearls!

I can't figure out how to attach pictures!!! The one I am thinking of returning is this: http://www.pearlparadise.com/detail.aspx?ID=2073. It is pretty and it has one truly silver pearl, the rest is peach or peach with silver overtone. The second necklace I bought is 9-10 mm round exotics. It looks nice in diffuse lighting but does not shimmer as much as the small rounds. Mia is helping me make a Y necklace out of my favorite (7 mm round) now. I am 100 % keeping that--no way I would return it!

Cheers,
Pernula

[boo]

I'm with Caitlin - I would definitely have liked to have gotten more of the exotics (in fact, I was nagging poor Jeremy about when we would see more of them within hours of receiving my pearls!). I really wish I had some of the tiny rounds, and some of the ovals - I already know just what I would do with them. I tried to strike a balance between greed and altruism with my order. I do think we tend to have a "grass is greener" mentality when we see other folks' pearls. I would love to have more of the blues and purples, as well as more of the metallic looking pearls. Having said that, my pearls are *amazing* and I am one of only a handful of folks to possess such beauties. No one else I know (personally) has pearls like these and I feel like Cinderella to have lucked into them.

Even though I didn't get the most exceptional strands that were available, I have pearls that are lovely and unusual and special and I get warm fuzzies when I look at them. If your pearls don't do that for you, go ahead and return them.

[Caitlin]

The one I am thinking of returning is this: http://www.pearlparadise.com/detail.aspx?ID=2073.

I'll take it. PM me your address and I'll send you the money (cashiers check)plus Priority mail fee.

That is if you don't change your mind and decide to keep it. I can handle it if you do.

[Pearl_dreams]

((boo)) Feel better!

[airdancer]

Originally Posted by pernula

. I keep thinking I should return one or two necklaces (I bought three, partly counting on at least one would be checked out first by somebody else and turned out I got all three) and try to get something "better." Please tell me I am being stupid/silly/greedy or thinking too much or ???
Thank you for your advice,
Pernula

Me me me me want exotic! Am I too late? Will take it! (Have PMed you)

[pernula]

Thanks everyone for your advice. Very well said Pearl Dreams and Boo. I think I will keep it. Better to use my energy to enjoy the pearls than to waste my brain thinking too much!

Boo: I hope you get well soon!

I did not reply to the PMs of offers. Sorry, even if I had decided not to keep it, I don't think it would be right to sell anything I got from Jeremy's private offer.

Airdancer: Jeremy mentioned in another thread that they have a few exotics for private offer list members who missed out. You should PM or email him.

Cheers,
Pernula

[jerin]

Hi Pernula,

I am glad you decided to keep the strands even if I feel a bit sorry for the members, who gladly would haven taken them off your hands.

Originally the 9-10 mm strand would have been one of those, I would have liked but they were sold out and the larger ones I could not afford. Generally it seems to be so that smaller pearls have the more metallic luster than larger pearls - still - to get a 9-10 mm in Exotics is quite something and I think with time you will agree.

It is very strange with the Exotics: I restrung one of my strands and had it on a stand beside the window: it looked quite bleak (meaning pale, very light), the pearls looked almost uniformly ligthsilver upon a bodycolour that could be described being somewhere between pink or very light peach. Later I had it in my wall cupboard (I did not want the pearls standing in the bright sunlight) and all of a sudden every single pearl showed a different kind of colour - now they really did look like candy in green, silver, pink and goldpeach - it looked amazing. The green drop was bodycolour green with gold tints on it - very pretty! Once I took it out it became the same uniform colour as above!

Think what your huge pearls must look like, if you put them in a cupboard the same way: if you have seen their beauty once, you never will part with them again, I assure You.

And remember - the difference between multi-coloured and exotics is that the first ones can be quite intensly in their colours whereas the Exotics have the more pale but metallic look to them!

I checked but couldn´t find any photos. Perhaps you can get some help with the posting from Caitlin. I sure would like to see the huge pearls and what they look like!

[Hanaleimom]

Mia is helping me make a Y necklace out of my favorite (7 mm round) now. I am 100 % keeping that--no way I would return it!

Cheers,
Pernula[/quote]

Hi Pernula,
Is the Y necklace a full strand like the jewelofthelotus pictures? Are you having anything else knotted with the pearls? All the Y full strand necklace I have seen need beads in between the pearls in order to allow larger space to close the clasp. I am thinking of having a strand done a similar way, but I don't want beads in between. I am just curious about your design and hope to find a way to resolve my issue.

Thanks,
Cathy

[raj]

to echo other PGer's comments, I think that the exotics are at their best in indirect light...I've finally been able to take a couple of decent photos of my 7-8mm strands...
as an example of the impact of lighting, one photo was taken in direct sunlight, the other with a mylar screen to diffuse the light...