[jshepherd]

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.

1. The picture from the vendor (who I am going to now assume is The Pearl Outlet) shows pictuers with a dark green bodycolor.
2. From your photos, yes I think you did.

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.

This must be related to the light you are using to view the pearls with. I see nothing 'silvery' about them.

[jpacella]

Thank you, it makes me feel better that you think the picture matched reality. Like I said before, I was never disappointed with them, I just thought it was interesting that after asking that question at the forum about online vs reality I experienced it to some extent. I have no problems with the Pearl Outlet and I think the earrings are gorgeous. However, though I clearly recognize and understand your expertise in this field, to me with possibly an un-trained eye, they still look less vibrant than the picture. Granted, I am looking at them in real life. I have tried to portray it with my digital camera, but even that produced many pictures that I felt were not true to life. I think this has been a very interesting excercise.

I definitly agree with you that there are many different realities. The reality vs. reality argument is valid as well. However, at a lot of jewelry stores, they will let you take it outside and look at it before you buy it. It leads me to believe that the only way to truly compare them would be having the vendor take a picture in the same setting, which would be unreasonable.

This whole online vs. reality thing has left me wondering if this is the best I am ever going to get? I never had any doubt in the Pearl Outlet's ability to produce what I asked for, but after seeing the picture and seeing the pearls in real life, I still feel there was a significant difference. when I got them I did a simple test, I showed them to my colleague and asked what color hey thought they were, he answered "greyish...no...maybe greenish?"

I guess I had it in my head that when I opened the box it would be like BAM! those are some green pearls. It makes we wonder, are all pearls going to look dull indoors? am I going to have to be outside on a sunny day to see strong green overtones in any pearl? Should I just say "to hell with it" and go to Tahiti myself? I think these questions are all valid as a consumer who will probably buy many pearls over the course of my lifetime.

Again, I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes and I respect all that you do in the business. Because of places like PP and the Pearl Outlet I was able to get high quality pearls I could not have otherwise afforded. I am thankful for that, but I think this excercise has shown me alot for the future.

[Valeria101]

Originally Posted by jpacella

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?

I have not found an explanation for exactly this phenomenon, but there is lots of very interesting research material about what exactly colors pearls. Apparently, most of the 'colors' we see are optical effects not actual colors: definitely the greens and blues and purples overtones of Tahitian pearls, but also the more 'solid' looking cream and peach and golden. Quite amazing, really. Along these lines, I would expect that there is some nice explanation about how an electronic camera sees the diffraction and interference colors in pearls. So far, I'd bet that the 'monocular' view of the camera has something to do with that. It plays tricks with gem photography too, and mocks opals which do have some properties in common with pearls...

Anyway. I think I understand your frustration with the pearls. Those are dark bodied with green overtone in your pictures. And there's obviously some difference between the seller's pictures and yours... The seller's picture looks more like a 'cartoon' of a pearl - exaggerated. Now, I'm not revolting against this, because many seller's photos of pearls also look cartoonish. No idea why the style endures, but it certainly does. In time, I've just gotten used with it: I know what the 'usual' pearls look like, what to expect... and try not to care as much about the silly pictures.

Now, when it comes to exceptional pearls, imperfect pictures are sheer frustration! All I can do, is try to read between the lines, imagine what might have gone wrong with the photo... Did you see THIS THREAD about blue pearls?

Around here (and not only) pearls of any kind with unusual or unusually intense colors are called 'fancy colored'... sometimes the difference between these specimens and the 'norm' is staggering! Now.. I want to see some of those blue pearls up close! I wish they are like the picture ... but what do I know? I've never seen any that blue. I have seen a couple with green, aqua and pink overtones of similar intensity. So I can dream of blue ones to match

Now, I think you could choose to chase some illusive greener pearls. It may help to see a couple of different qualities up close and personal to know what to expect and what to ask for. Not hard if you live next to some well stocked jewelery shops and have time on your hands. Difficult otherwise.

Oops for the long post! You can hate the seller and the pearls. But it is fun to learn about pearls... especially if that doesn't have to be a 'crush course' before a meaningful purchase. Perhaps even this seller can help now that you two have some common language about pearl color based on the 'sample' that is already in your hands. The settings look nice - nicer then the picture let them appear; quite subtle...

My 2c.

[boo]

Another possible consideration (that has been alluded to) is the local environment of the pearls - i.e., what you wear them with. I know that my silvery-blue pearls will look more silvery when I wear them with greys and blacks and more bluish when I wear them with blues - a combination perhaps of both the reflective properties of the pearls and a trick of the brain.

I sympathize with you. I have a necklace with dark green Tahitian pearls that I wanted to get earrings to go with. I ended up trying a number of different places (which all had decent return policies and were told up front about what I was trying to accomplish) before I found a pair that worked to my satisfaction. There are just so many different shades and nuances to the colors that a simple phrase like "dark green" is not quite sufficient, despite the best attempts by the vendors.

Regardless, they are very pretty pearls!

[Slraep]

Originally Posted by jpacella

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.

Hi jpacella,

I think the earrings look fine. They are not the vivid green I think you mean but, nonetheless, they are very fine. I actually like the lighter body coloured greens more than the very dark because the pearl looks bigger(an illusion) and the silvery overtone(you can have multiple overtones) is more flattering to most women's complexions than just the light-absorbing deep black/green body colour. If you got them from The Pearl Outlet, I think you did far better with them than you would have with any other smaller retailer. I believe they have lots of stock to choose from.

I'm also thinking that the vivid pearls you have in your mind's eye probably have a gold overtone instead of silver. So if you have a deep greenish black body colour, plus green/teal (and often pink) overtones, and on top of that the pearl has yet another gold overtone(giving it yet more yellow), you have yourself a really, really vivid green. Those pearls are quite expensive.

About two weeks ago, someone brought me two really awful and very dark bodied Tahitians they wanted to have earrings made with. I hated their insipid look. But, lo and behold, when I photographed them for the client, they came out looking like the most fabulous peacocks!! I use a full spectrum diffused light source just like Jeremy mentioned. You would never have thought it was the same pearls!

Slraep

[Sueki]

Hello jpacella,
I am finding this thread fascinating, so thanks for posting it.
Much depends upon the light I feel. So many times I have received pearls and been disappointed, on the point of returning them. But I've learnt to hold for a couple of days, as different light changes everything.
These pearls arrived and I was very disappointed. They arrived on a wet, grey gloomy day, and looked "dead".
I e-mailed the vendor and asked if I may return them.
However, the next day was bright and sunny, and the pearls had come to life - rich colours and full of life. And this was indoors, too, in fact I haven't taken them outside yet.
Had to re-e-mail the vendor asking if I could please keep them as they are glorious.
And, surprisingly, they are just as good in electric light, too, which I hadn't realised the day they arrived.
And I think Slraep is right in that a gold tone seems to produce a greener hue.

[Raisondetre]

I think the vendor pic and your photographs are a good match. Those earrings seem to be more of a dark silver/grey with greenish hues rather than full-blown green altogether. I wouldn't be disappointed.

For better pics I think you can use either macro or portrait (what I use), and photograph them in diffuse sunlight, not direct. I just open my blinds partially in morning light.