"Tahitian Pearls" seller found on TradeTang

[pearlescence]

I agree, absurdly cheap. If they were the right prices for those pearls then we are doing our buying all wrong somewhere along the line!
I reckon that some of them aren't even real pearls - the big round ones are most likely shell fakes

[Caitlin]

I understand how the poster would feel stupid. I have too, on more than one occasion! I do not buy or sell pearls as a rule. I am a perpetual pearl scholar as are many of us here.

But we really don't know what he has without a photo. I am thinking of some Tahitians Jose sold for less than $300. They were small and circled, but the variety of colors in the strands was astounding, so it is possible to have some Tahitians for that price. However they would be 'faulty' Tahitians such as heavily circled and with incomplete colors or just very silver gray, without overtones.

However, I do know there are virtually no Tahitians going through China before going out to the world. The Chinese could not buy them any cheaper than anyone else, so they would automatically be more money than the pearls Jose gets directly from Tahiti.

What the Chinese do do is sell larger freshwater pearls that have been dyed to look like Tahitians. I know. I have several strands from Gem Shows. I paid $10.00 for my first such strand of 12mm in 2005 at the gem show in Tucson, where I live. The way you can tell they are freshwaters is by the price. My last such strand cost about $250.00 for pearls around 12-13mm and it was large off round dyed freshwaters dyed with wonderful Aubergine overtones. These are pretty pearls and most people assume they are Tahitians. They are actually larger than many Tahitians, but they are off round, though most do not notice that, either.

If the pearls are the size, claimed, they are about the right price for freshwaters that size, at today's prices.

[pearlescence]

I'v e got some strands like that Caitlin. IN fact I was knotting one up yesterday for the website. I sat there thinking how like perfect peacocks they were...green with a purple/aubergine eye from any direction. (no pic as yet)
Which leads me to another thought. With such great look alikes of tahitians and white south seas in freshwaters, (and I'm sure goldens either about or imminent) where will that leave the more expensive industries. While some will always want the real thing, when the freshwater version looks and feels the same and costs a tenth, how many will vote with their wallet.
It is happening with akoya as quality of freshwaters comes up to them for a fraction of the price...

[Caitlin]

I remember post I made years ago about how Freshwaters can mimic about any other kind of Pearl! And they can fool all but the experts. Whenever in doubt, guess freshwater. You will only be wrong less than half of the time.

[Pearl Dreams]

I bought a strand of large, dyed freshwaters that resembled baroque Tahitians at a gem show. I knew what they were and liked them enough to buy them, but the seller (Chinese) was insisting they were abalone pearls! At another gem show I attended, certain Chinese sellers were insisting their freshies were Akoyas. The truth does not seem to matter to some, if they can just sell the pearls.

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

She also informs me that the entire pearl industry is being over-produced and that it is increasingly difficult to make a living by retailing pearls alone.

China produces tons of freshwater pearls annually, as opposed to kilograms from saltwater producers in other parts of the world.

Tahiti has strict laws governing pearl farming. Pearls must have a minimum requirement for nacre thickness and must meet substantial legal prerequitistes for tenure, environment, marketing and export. Genuine Tahitain pearls retailing for $5-10 each, is absolutely impossible.

The lack of ethical trade laws in China makes it a breeding ground for misdeeds of epidemic proportion and we've seen numerous attempts at value-added schemes including co-option, misrepresentation, copyright infringement, bogus histories and outright fraud.

I don't wish to sound overly questioning of your expertise, but after having been made to feel downright stupid by some of your replies I have to ask if there is at least one of you who does NOT sell pearls for a living.

You asked an honest question and got an honest answer. Nobody enjoys informing anyone that they have been misled. For retailers, it would be a fool's errand to come to this forum and expect to pull the wool over the eyes of the many experts here. Many have tried and many have failed.

I work with natural pearls every day. I am also developing new proprietary techniques for pearl culture here in Canada and base my work upon honesty, integrity, sound environmentalism and transparency. I'd never consider such a huge undertaking at my own expense, if the market couldn't accomodate it.

[jshepherd]

I might also add that while China does produces tons of CFWP annually, production has dropped significantly over the past five years. This is also the case for Tahitian pearls and akoya pearls, and many in Australia intentionally scaled back SSP production as demand during the recession dropped. China has all but ceased producing akoya pearls and they were once a major producer. Prices fell so low in the Tahitian pearl market that they became unsustainable for a huge number of pearl producers and many went out of business.

[lisa c]

I'm not a merchant.

One of the best things to take from PG is a change in attitude. The good feeling that comes from thinking you bought something dirt cheap (but is a lie) morphs into getting a great feeling from knowing you spent more than dirt but it's a terrific deal on the real thing.

Not being snarky or criticizing here, the rush from the 'Gamble' is SUPER powerful, and the pleasure from a 'Sure Thing' Win is somewhat less. Research has shown that the chemicals generated by risk were more important than the outcome of the gamble.

That means that winning doesn't feel better than taking the risk, and 'losing' chemicals dont feel as punishing as the risk feels good.That's where changing your thinking about your Win is so important.

[Amanda]

Genuine Tahitain pearls retailing for $5-10 each, is absolutely impossible.

That's a bit sweeping, isn't it?

there are Kosher retailers people on here like, who sell Tahitian pearls for that range, sometimes.

For example:

http://www.tahitianpearls.biz/tahiti...klace_tnmb.htm

http://www.tahitianpearls.biz/tahiti...klace_tnze.htm

http://www.tahitianpearls.biz/tahiti...klace_tnmj.htm

[Caitlin]

Yes. I should have said TahhitianPearls.biz. instead of Jose. He does sell at the lowest prices for some unusual pearls. If those same pearls went to China first, they would cost more than Jose's pearls do. One thing, Jose's listed price is for 16". If you want 18", it's more. Also his pearls like that are small, ringed, and unusual colors, just as I said in post #17. I happen to want one of those necklaces like that- if I were ever to want to buy more pearls. I love those ones with 2 colors on the pearl!

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

That's a bit sweeping, isn't it?

Perhaps, but I think we can agree it's not the norm for the Tahitian industry on the whole.

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

And of course with my apology to Jose, for the oversight.

[Caitlin]

Jose is the one to compare prices with, when you are shopping for Tahitians. He just has such a large variety compared to most sellers.

[Hanaleimom]

I don't wish to sound overly questioning of your expertise, but after having been made to feel downright stupid by some of your replies I have to ask if there is at least one of you who does NOT sell pearls for a living.

I don't buy or sell for a living.

That's a bit sweeping, isn't it?

there are Kosher retailers people on here like, who sell Tahitian pearls for that range, sometimes.

For example:

http://www.tahitianpearls.biz/tahiti...klace_tnmb.htm

http://www.tahitianpearls.biz/tahiti...klace_tnze.htm

http://www.tahitianpearls.biz/tahiti...klace_tnmj.htm

The top 2 don't have vibrant, most sought after colors. The 3rd's color is much nicer. I don't feel like the last 3 pearls on each end at the clasp are well matched though, MHO. With the last picture shown in full I counted 37 pearls which makes that almost $10/pearl. These are circle pearls with more than 1/3 of the surface cover with grooves. We know that circle pearls are the least expensive, with round being the most expensive. OP's "round" strand comes out to $6/pearl, even cheaper than Jose's merchandise. Keep in mind only one pearl per oyster when it comes to Tahitian grafting. Rate of success and having round, flawless pearls are much less than freshwater pearls where you can get several pearls from each mussel. Pearl farmers have to feed their families. They wouldn't be farming if they sell round pearls for less than $6 each.

[Pearl Dreams]

....China has all but ceased producing akoya pearls and they were once a major producer....

This statement has been going around in my mind. I don't recall having read why this is so, why China is not producing many Akoyas anymore. Has the reason been posted elsewhere and I missed it?