Pacific Pearls International-Australia

[pearlescence]

You missed pearl factory/processor from that list (between farm and wholesaler)

[perlinda]

Yes! Thank you for mentioning that, Wendy

[blustilang]

Thanks to all who have contributed so much to this thread and my pearl education!

I had a very pleasant and informative conversation with PP yesterday and the SS studs are on the way to me now! The PP representative who answered the phone was extremely knowledgeable and helpful (a young fellow named Jeremy, iirc ).

Anyway, I'm very excited about receiving these earrings-- the 40th wedding anniversary present for my dear wife. I would love to post some photos of them next week (I'm pretty good with the Nikon D80 and have read the threads about how to photo pearls and post them). I supposed the "Show Us your Pearls" forum would be the most appropiate place for that? or, should I simply add to this thread with the pics? Oh, I almost forgot, there is more to the story here which has to do with my original inquiry re Pacific Pearls International! More on that also next week.
Sincere thanks to all for the great help here,
Tom

[pattye]

Tom, We love a good pearly story with a happy ending! Looking forward to the pics, and Congratulations on your 40th Anniversary! This thread should be fine for the photos, that way the whole story will be here in its entirety.

[blustilang]

I went ahead and ordered from PPI (not to be confused with PP in CA.) with a refund guarantee as well as eBay's buyer protection. The pearls arrived in a timely enough fashion and, in fact, were post marked Sydney, Australia.

The listing description was as follows:
Australian South Sea pearl earrings- 10.8mm-11mm (actual size was 10.7 and that's stretching it a tad!)
AAA quality
Luster- Very High
Surface-Very Clean
Nacre-Very Thick
Color-Natural White

I don't think the item matches the desription. You opinions please!!

My apologies for the pics. My macro function has a problem, but they are in natural, indirect light, no flash.







CFW's or real SS's??

Thanks very much, folks.

[Caitlin]

PPI is off my list!

They do not look like the size you ordered, but hard to tell without a coin or something. The Chinese allow smaller pearl sizes, ie a 11mm could be a 10.2 -almost a size smaller. That is typical as it is legal there.

They have a lot of tiny marks for a AAA, but I am not sure what the SS AAA standard is. My guess is they barely qualify for AAA and maybe not at all.

Also, even if you can't get a closeup, you can crop the original to include just the pearls and they will show up here as much larger than those photos.

If they don't look like SS to you, even if they are, send them back! You are the one who will see them most, while being worn! You do not want to have a regret every time you look at them!

[blustilang]

Caitlin, thanks very much. These are definitely going to be returned.
About 3 hrs after I posted these pics, the UPS man showed up with my 11.5mm, SS earrings from Pearl Paradise, CA. In one word....they are STUNNING and exceed my expectations in every way.
I'll get pics up of them later, the light is gone now for me.
T

Here are the cropped pics of the PPI "pearls"

[Caitlin]

Thanks for the cropped photos. They are very educational for future readers! The contrast of these with those will be even more so.

AND, I am so glad you are pleased with PP's pearls!!!

[blustilang]

I was going to get these pics of the Pearl Paradise earrings up yesterday, but just ran out of time.
Described to me by telephone as "light silver overtones with slightest hint of rose", AAA, 11.5mm. I think that is a "spot on" description! In fact, I fail to see why these don't meet the criteria of "GEM GRADE".







You may see some jewlery box "fuzz" on them, but that's it! What do you folks think? Did I do good or what?!

Kind regards,
Tom

[pattye]

Breathtakingly good! Congrats, Tom!! Excellent photos also!

[Alex]

Hi Tom, yep, you did good, and congrats on your 40th !!!!

PP is a totally honest opp.

the reason your pearls look like gem grade is probably because PP do the right thing and grade their pearls before they are drilled and set, and not after - see the PP grading guidlines on SSP below

Gem Grade
Gem Grade Flawless pearl with excellent luster
Pearl exhibits no inclusions or imperfections prior to setting or drilling

AAA
Flawless on at least 90% of pearl’s surface
Only 10% of pearl’s surface may exhibit slight, concentrated imperfections
Only a single deep inclusion allowable
Pearl should drill or set clean to virtually clean
Luster very high to excellent*

*South Sea pearls are known for their warm, satiny luster which does not typically exhibit the same reflective qualities of other cultured pearls.

your picis are brilliant by the way

hope your wife loves them, and wears them often

[lisa c]

Excellent! Great choice, great photos!

[newberry]

Oh boy those pearls are stunning. Your wife is a very lucky lady.

[perlinda]

Late to this conversation, but that "AAA" from PPI is bad.... I've checked PPI on ebay before, and their prices are quite high, so I'm surprised their quality is actually sub-par. Moreover, the last pic shows they're kinda creamy so they look FWP-ish to me. I uploaded pic on my album on FWP vs SSP.

PP's pearls however, are stunning. That's how AAA should look like, congratulation on a good buy and your lucky wife too