What do I think about these 13-15 mm FW?

[KarinK]

Hi All,

I am very new in the world of pearls. All I have as of right now is a pair of lovely pearl studs that I almost forgot was given to me 25 years ago. So I am looking and planning and gaining knowledge.

Due to my interest in gems I attended a professionel jewelry fair resently and was smitten by all the pearls I saw. One of the dealers there, a company based in Germany and run by Chinese, has a website that I have spent some time on. They have some 13-15 mm freshwater pearls that fascinate me due to their size but I can't make up my mind what I really think about them. So I was hoping that some of the knowledgable members of this forum would comment.

The price for one strand is €118 (incl. sales tax), app. $95:
http://www.chq-gmbh.de/onlineshop/Fr...NNHQ--431.html
http://www.chq-gmbh.de/onlineshop/Fr...NNHQ--432.html
http://www.chq-gmbh.de/onlineshop/Fr...NNHQ--430.html

- Karin

[Caitlin]

Those are priced well for the quality and size, IMO I have never seen so many necklaces that size in one place before, even at the big gem shows over here. It almost rekindles my "klonk" fever! (klonks = huge round pearls)

[pattye]

Agree with Caitlin, the price looks great for the size.

What is their return policy, if you order but don't "bond" with the pearls?

If they are showing a stock photo, rather than the actual strand you will receive, the ones you get may be slightly less round and have a few more blemishes than the one shown.

Did you actually see some of their pearls at the show? Rare to find such large ones, and so many!

[KarinK]

Checking the return policy is a great idea because they do use stock photos. I would hate ot be stuck with two strand of very large dull paper looking balls.

I have asked quite a few questions by email already and the dealer does answer but not impressively fast.

They had a really large booth at the fair, very expensive, like a complete store. I did look around but unfortunately it wasn't until I got home that I realized that all the pearls at the fair had gotten to me - and that was when I also found Pearl-Guide.

Ok, part of the reason for that was also that a part-time jeweler as ignorant as me sold me a strand of "black Tahitian pearls" for $50. He was not trying to cheat me but had surely been taken for a ride himself. None of us knew better then but we do now :-) The main attraction of that piece was a beautiful piece of polished amber so I was ok with the dyed freshwater pearls.

- Karin

[pattye]

Karin,

What a cool gem fair to go to! Any idea what the following strands on the website go for? They look very high end.
http://www.chq-gmbh.de/onlineshop/To...5915--349.html

The good thing about your new dyed freshwater pearls is that they likely are all nacre, and the amber pendant sounds fab!

[KarinK]

Hi Pattye,

I just logged in and checked and - UPS - they are high-end! €780!

It was pretty easy to get a log-in from them. I just quoted my VAT number. They have yet to answer me about shipping costs and how round the strands I am looking at actually are. If they are serious dealers they should be able to provide that info IMO.

- Karin

[pattye]

Karen,

You are smart to ask lots of questions. Thanks for checking on the cost, too!

If the quality on the high end strands is as good as they say, although certainly expensive, they are a pretty fair price.

Like you, I also am fond of the very large pearls, and most pearls of that size (13-15mm) are slightly egg shape and off round, but look round to the eye when made up in a necklace.

Do let us know if you decide to go with the pearls and how you like them!

[KarinK]

Hi Pattye,

They do say on their main website that their speciality is freshwater pearls from 1 mm to 19 mm (!).

One of my first questions was if the colours were natural because their pink and lilac colours look quite a bit different from others I have seen in the meantime. But they did say so. Maybe they just sort them differently.

- Karin

UPS! Need to add 19% sales tax to the price I just gave you!

[KarinK]

OMG, did you see these purple ones: http://www.chq-gmbh.de/onlineshop/Fr...C-HH--266.html...

Same price as the others. I just wrote and asked if the colour is natural - just in case. Argh, so many beauties!

- Karin

[pattye]

IMHO, there seem to be more intense colors and deeper shades available in the smaller pearls, and as the size increases to around 11mm and above, colors become lighter and softer. Just my observations, though-----------

Yes, I looked at quite a number of their strands, totally drool overs!

[pattye]

They have great quality photos on their website, contributing heavily to pearl lust!

[Caitlin]

IMHO, there seem to be more intense colors and deeper shades available in the smaller pearls, and as the size increases to around 11mm and above, colors become lighter and softer. Just my observations, though-----------

Yes, I looked at quite a number of their strands, totally drool overs!

I was just going to write that. I am going smaller nowadays to get the best shapes and colors. And because nice klonks are hard to find.

[KarinK]

I just wanted to add that I got most of my questions answered today. The shipping is reasonable, at least within the EU, and there are 14 days to return after you recieve the pearls. They said they could not give me measurements but referred me to the pictures. And the darker purple are natural.

Huge sigh! I want it all. There is no way I can decide just yet...

- Karin

[lisa c]

Whoa, baby! Those high end pearls are eye-popping!

I think all of the first three would be improved if they were longer necklaces, and had smaller pearls at the crest of the shoulder area. IMHO, pearls that large at the shoulder have to rest on the perfect rack - no rounded, or less than absolutely straight spine will be flattered by that size pearl.

Other than that, oh boy, are you going to have fun gazing at them when they come home...

[KarinK]

Good point, Lisa. There may only just be a few pearls with the really large size on a string and since I want 30'', I should be able to position the pearls in a slightly graduated way. We'll see...

Because I can't keep my hands off the really large white ones. I actually prefer that they seem to be slightly irregular (plus it is what I can afford ).

Since I am ordering from the wholeseller anyway I have decided to try one of the cheap strands as well to see what they look like (http://www.chq-gmbh.de/onlineshop/Fr...-MYN--359.html) at $10.

I'll let you know what I think when I get them and post some IRL pictures.

- Karin