[jpacella]

So, I received my pearls that i purchased, and like I predicted, despite my efforts in stressing very strong green overtones, the pearls I received were not as vibrant as the ones in the picture. Now, I'm not saying they are not beautiful, they are, but they are not as green as I would expect from looking at the picture.

I don't know the proper protocols for this site, but can I reveal who I bought them from and show pictures of what I got vs. the online picture?

If no one has a problem with it and it doesn't upset anyone, I would like to show the difference to emphasize my point that online is different from reality.

[jshepherd]

Did you send a photo of the exact color you were looking for to the seller? Did the seller match the pearls to the photo?

With Tahitian pearls there is such a range of color (think the Poema system) that it is impossible for colors to be exactly the same every time. Tahitian pearls are notoriously difficult to perfectly match into pairs for earrings for the same reason.

Next we have to think of your comment, "online vs. reality". What you are missing is that your reality may not be the seller's reality. If the seller is shooting the pearls with a full-spectrum diffused light to clearly show the range of colors, this is the seller's reality. The seller is trying to show the pearls in as close to natural light as possible, the best light for pearls, and the only way to show the true colors. If you then open your box of pearls at home in the evening, the pearls are going to look different - you will not see their true colors. Every type of light changes the color and look of the pearls. Their is no universal reality.

Yes, please feel free to post the pictures as well.

[knotty panda]

While Mr. Shepherd kindly provided the explanation of why pearls may not appear in person precisely as pictured, a consumer's dismay at the actual product is not limited to online pearl purchasing. I believe you will have that same problem with any product you purchase online whether it be color, or size or some other point. However, it appears in the pearl industry, customer service goes far beyond the normal online product customer service. They permit lengthy return policies and actually have real people who not only answer phones but also return phone calls and are extremely knowledgeable about the product. Try to work with your vendor. I'm sure you will find them more than accommodating. Am I correct in assuming the reason you did not go to a retailer is they were not able to accommodate you either; be it color, size, or price?

[jshepherd]

I just shot a pic in response to Valeria101's post. I just grabbed a handful of pearls that had a lot of green. This little pile does not come close to covering the full spectrum of the color, but you can see how different each is.

[jpacella]

Originally Posted by jshepherd

Next we have to think of your comment, "online vs. reality". What you are missing is that your reality may not be the seller's reality. If the seller is shooting the pearls with a full-spectrum diffused light to clearly show the range of colors, this is the seller's reality. The seller is trying to show the pearls in as close to natural light as possible, the best light for pearls, and the only way to show the true colors. If you then open your box of pearls at home in the evening, the pearls are going to look different - you will not see their true colors. Every type of light changes the color and look of the pearls. Their is no universal reality.

A very good point and I completely agree with you. In my case I have looked at them in as bright sunlight as possible. Also, I agree that a seller's photographic nuances can bring out subtle colors or more vibrant overtones, but at the end of the day to me, the consumer, I would have expected the colors to be closer.

I know that as a seller one would want to get the best picture possible to sell their product, and if I was getting the exact same pearls as in the picture, I would understand if they didn't appear as vibrant because I would know their potential in certain light. My problem is that when browsing online, I landed on those earrings because in the picture the pearls very very "green". The pearls in the earrings I received are not the same pearls as in the picture. Now I know its impractical and selfish as a consumer to expect an exact pair out of a pool of thousands of tahitians with varying color. However, it sometimes bothers me that a seller could potentially have a lot of 1000 9mm earring tahitian pearls with green overtone, pick out the best two with most vibrant color, take THEIR picture under the best light, and then sell two other earrings from the same lot that may not be as vibrant as the consumer was expecting, because they ARE tahitians and they DO have green overtones. What if they took that picture 2 years ago and those pearls are long and gone? You have to understand how hard it is as an online consumer to put your faith in a stranger to produce something based solely on a picture. Now usually, the compensation comes in the price and selection, but it is still hard when you cant see exactly what you are buying.

I'm not going to lie, I didn't buy the most expensive earrings on the sight, in fact, I bought the second cheapest, but, on the phone I stressed over and over again that after quality I cared very strongly that these pearls have a strong green overtone. When people look at them I wanted them to see green, regardless of light. I explained all of this at the time of purchase and I was told they would do everything they could to help me. Now, I actually believe they DID do everything they could, it just comes down to a case of online vs. reality.

I know there is a full spectrum of color and I expect that the vendor looked for some green ones, but just you pulling out a handful produced multiple pearls with more green than the ones I received. I believe the vendor has tried to help but there could be a million reasons why the pearls they sent me don't live up to the picture, when in all reality I was hoping for them to be BETTER. At the end of the day can I trust any vendor to deliver what I see in these pictures? this is my dilemma.

I am going to try and work with the vendor, I will also try to take a picture tonight. It seems a white background works best, is that correct?

[jpacella]

Also, to reiterate, I still think the earrings are beautiful, and I am not dissatisfied with my product or the vendor, but i thought it was interesting that my suspicions proved true in this case.

[Valeria101]

Oops! That must have been the post asking about body color vs. overtone I've deleted...

Thanks for the reply and the picture. Do you guys sell pearls by the handful too? Wish those lot were on my desk right now.

[knotty panda]

Please don't forget that your computer equipment greatly influences what you see. Their pictures may be true-to-life accurate and they have no control over your equipment. What you are describing is called "bait and switch" and is illegal, at least in this country. Reputable companies who do only show a representative piece state the article as such. I guess my question to you is, are you seeking an opinion as to whether or not what was photographed and what you received are the same thing? If that is the case, perhaps you need to discuss this with the vendor and get their response first before deciding what to do. They deserve the opportunity to respond.

[Slraep]

Originally Posted by jpacella

So, I received my pearls that i purchased, and like I predicted, despite my efforts in stressing very strong green overtones, the pearls I received were not as vibrant as the ones in the picture. Now, I'm not saying they are not beautiful, they are, but they are not as green as I would expect from looking at the picture.

I don't know the proper protocols for this site, but can I reveal who I bought them from and show pictures of what I got vs. the online picture?

If no one has a problem with it and it doesn't upset anyone, I would like to show the difference to emphasize my point that online is different from reality.

Hi jpacella,

Please post both the original pic and the pic of the received earrings. I'm curious to see the difference too and from who you purchased them. I'm sorry the pearls didn't measure up colourwise. I have certainly often seen the very green pearls you are talking about. Possibly a combo of green/teal overtone on top of greenish black body colour, makes them really green. I don't know why you wouldn't be able to get that after speaking to one of the big online vendors here. If a supplier or vendor is not use to handling or seeing lots and lots of Tahitian pearls, then their idea of very green may be more diluted because they have not really seen any very saturated green. At regular jewellery stores around my place, you would be really hard pressed to find Tahitian pearls in even an insipid green. They think that a slight tinge of green is green enough. Also, many people who sell pearls do not understand body colour, overtones and orient very well. So you could be asking them for a certain thing and they could be thinking of something else altogether, even with your picture in hand.

Slraep

[jshepherd]

Please do post the pictures as well. We would like to see.

[jerin]

Hi jpacella,

sorry to hear that the earrings did not match Your imagination of them but I too have bought Tahitian earrings that looked greenish/rose on the picture, i.e. lovely overtones, when I got them, they just look silvery with just a very light tinge of green in the very best lighting (no direct sunlight)and no rose overtone at all! Surface quality excellent, the total grade was AAA.

That just happens, in my case I think it was because I was not prepared to pay what a pair of dark bodycolour with the overtones in green really should cost! When it comes down to it, I as the customer have to decide how much I am prepared to pay - You get what You pay for. And you say that they were the second cheapest ones, so my guess is, for that amount You might have got the best, there was!

If You take a look at the latest pictures of Jeremy, You must know that this quality in Tahitian pearls have their price..and a pair of earrings would cost you at least several hundreds, if that would be enough, which I doubt, but as a consumer one is always a bit overoptimistic, at least that goes for myself .

Please post the photos of the original and what You got. I think it is good, that a customer is brave enough to tell publicly on the forum, that she/he is not satisfied. Very often we don´t dare to say the whole thruth when it comes to purchases..

[knotty panda]

I may be wrong but I think she's saying the picture she purchased from is not the item she received. She received something entirely different. I guess that happens sometimes, but every strand I've purchased looks different when I receive them and I'm certain I received precisely the pictured strand.

[jpacella]

Originally Posted by jerin

when I got them, they just look silvery with just a very light tinge of green in the very best lighting (no direct sunlight)and no rose overtone at all! Surface quality excellent, the total grade was AAA.

That is very similar to what I am seeing. They look silvery with a tinge of green and a tinge of teal depending on how you look at them. Surface quality and total grade are AAA.

I want to reiterate that I received what I ordered and I think they are beautiful. I ordered a pair of diamond solitaire earrings with tahitian pearls. On the phone I stressed that as long as the pearls are AAA, the only thing I really cared about was the strongest green overtone possible.

Again, I don't think this is a "bait and switch" and the earrings do match, I am just surprised that this slight green overtone is what I received after stressing it's importance.

I feel that regardless of price I did buy the pearls, and my main concern is online vs. reality. Can I trust any vendor to deliever what I see in the picture?

I'll post pics shortly

[jpacella]

This is a picture from the vendor:



The remaining three are pictures I took.





Those two I felt were pretty close to what I was seeing in real life. This one I think brings out the colors more.



Keep in mind this is my first time doing this, I don't really even know if I am doing it right. I tried to find a color similar to what I was seeing. I thought it was interesting that some times when I took the picture they came out greener than what I was seeing. Can anyone explain why? Whether the reason is natural or technological, it adds to my argument of online vs. reality.

Anyways, I guess what I'm looking for is whether you think (1) that the picture from the vendor shows pearls with strong green overtones; and (2) whether you think I got what I asked for.

[jshepherd]

What you are seeing is influenced by the light where you are viewing the pearls. Your photo shows that clearly. I think the vendor did a really good job based on your photos. I do not think it adds to your argument "online vs. reality", it just shows you what different realities produce. Your environment tremendously affects what you see.

I am sorry to harp on the online vs. reality thing but it is something that tends to bother me for obvious reasons. A reputable vendor will always produce pieces as close as possible to the exact specifications of the customer. But what about an actually jewelry store? Have you ever wondered why jewelry sparkles so well in the showcase and in the store? It is simple. The lighting is made for jewelry. It is not natural. Once the jewelry leaves the store it will never look the same, unless you walk into another jewelry store. So what about "reality vs. reality"?