Need advice on online vendors to purchase earrings/pendant from

[ShadowWizard]

Hi,
I am looking to buy a set of tahitian pearl earrings/pendant for my wife. Since I have never bought high quality pearl before, I would appreciate an advice on which places to avoid buying from and where to go.
Specifically, I like the hanging type of earring with 14k/18K gold. Found coupe of examples. The best one look-wise is at premiumpearl.com - item # 2577, matching pendant is item # 2162. However, after reading some posts here about that company I am too worried to buy from them. If anyone seen similar style earrings/pendant from other sites, I would appreciate the information.
I found some items on ebay (TADragon) and at Pearl Outlet (item # TPBSWIZ), but the number of reviews is limited and I do not know how I can be sure I will indeed be getting AAA quality pearls.
Thanks,
SW.

[Marianne]

Hi Shadow,
I know nothing about premiumpearl and would certainly stay away from ebay with the exception of 2 or 3 sellers. Pearl Paradise, Pearls of Joy and Pearl Outlet are all vendors who belong to Pearl Guide. They have very high quality pearls at very reasonable prices and will give you honest advice and personalized service.
Welcome to Pearl Guide and you have a very lucky wife!
Marianne

[Caitlin]

Hi SW
I agree with Marianne. If you saw something you really liked at TPO, go for it. They are reliable and have a range of quality that is fairly described and priced. We also have purveyors of unusual and rare pearls.

I say you have the weekend to make your final choice, so take a look at the different kinds of pearls, esp. akoya pearls, gem grade freshwater pearls, perhaps a dusky Tahitian pearl or a spectacular South Seas pearl.

I checked out the ebay guy. His stuff is commercial grade typical Chinese factory-made pearl stuff. In other words, not worth the money.

[brightyellow]

Hi,
1. I am lucky owner of earring/pendant Tahitian pearl set. I think it is a most wearable jewelry I ever own. Definitely worth every penny been spent. It’s go perfect from day in an office to a night party, from fancy restaurant to outdoor picnic. Hope your wife will adore her set too.
2. I am also I very happy customer of PearlParadise.com. I made few purchases from them. Pearls quality is great (I mean: you are pay for perfect, you get perfect). Customer service outstanding. (My last purchase was pain in an a.. for them. Because I had a vision of how it suppose to look like, but wasn’t able to describe it clear enough. So they photograph and send me pictures of what they think may be a good choice for me. Tooke two weeks until we found what I want… And I do love the result!) I highly recommend this company.

[ShadowWizard]

Thank you everyone for comments and advice.
Looked at the other two sites recommended. What is puzzling is that most earrings sold there are just simple studs - a pearl with a clasp/stud, but nothing else. I am puzzled by why they are so simple - very few designs with fancy/elaborate shapes in gold/diamonds? Do people prefer simple stud earrings or they are just much easier to make?

[brightyellow]

Sure it depends by personal taste.
In my opinion the FINE, BIG PEARL so beautiful and so complicated by it selves – it doesn’t need anything (extra gold and diamonds) to enhance it appearance. “Less is more” in this case.

[pattye]

Many vendors will have a large selection of karat gold and diamond earring findings available by special order. That way the pearls can be matched for the color and size to the particular earrings and diamond weight a person wants. You can imagine that to stock a large variety in 14k and 18k gold with diamonds could tie up a lot of capital. Many women like the idea of having a customized piece of jewelry!