Thanks for this info! Very interesting.

Almost 3 years ago, I bought a 15.1mm black tahitian pearl ring with pave diamonds (in white gold) for $1600. I bought the ring from a jewelry shop in Beijing which appeared quite reputable. I really had to negotiate for this price as they were having a hard time letting this ring go for this much. I also purchased a single black tahitian pearl (14.3mm) from them for a couple of hundred dollars (from memory!)..again lots of negotiating (a.k.a. begging and pushing my luck). Both pearls are exceptional in appearance and were graded AAA by the jeweler (please see photos). I guess I have a couple of questions:

1) Did I get a good deal on both items?
2) I have no idea what to do with the single pearl as it's so perfect I feel awful piercing or gluing it...but I am open to suggestions!! Normally, if there is a fault then it's easy to hide it in a ring mount, but I'm truly lost... Please help!!

Thanks all,
Val

[Nathan Reed]

Originally Posted by crystalfly

I bought a 15.1mm black tahitian pearl ring with pave diamonds (in white gold) for $1600.
I also purchased a single black tahitian pearl (14.3mm) from them for a couple of hundred dollars (from memory!).

I'm surprised that you got the ring for that low price at a regular jewelry store. However, if bought online, that is approximately the price you would have paid.(Or a bit less. Maybe $1300) However the loose pearl seems a good deal, depending on how many "hundred dollars" you paid.

P.S. I don't know how much prices have changed in the past three years, so I could be a bit off.

[Hanaleimom]

Hi Crystalfly,
Your pearls are beautiful. Wear them in good health. I can't help you with the pricing but I have a suggestion for the loose pearl. You can purchase an omega chain from Pearl Paradise and request Jennifer to put the pearl on the Venus bale for you. The Venus has gold wire which wraps around the pearl and allows you to show the front and back sides of the pearl without drilling. See this link: http://www.pearlparadise.com/detail.aspx?ID=1861

Jeanpn has 1 of her pearls done the same way here: A Tahitian drop

[PerfectPearls]

Crystalfly, there is another pendant setting that I think would go well with your ring. It is near the bottom of the page and has a gold color pearl in it, but the setting can be ordered without a pearl. Look where it says "pendants and chains". You'd have to check to see if the size is compatible, though.

http://www.pearlparadise.com/clasps_home.html

Thank you kindly all!! Your feedback has been fantastic (and quick!!). I love all the ideas you've given me for the single pearl. Thank you again. I actually make costume jewelry and especially wire-wrap - I have no idea why I kept thinking I needed to wrap diamonds or something expensive around my single pearl to make it look fabulous. Keeping it simple in gold wire is the best thing I can do!! I guess I have to remember the "KISS" rule... Keep It Simple Stupid!!

Cheers.

Crystalfly: Those are big pearls!

Try wrapping the pearl with plastic wrap to keep it from scratching while you work the wire on it. After you're done, it can be pulled out in pieces.

Thanks for the advice on wrapping in plastic... excellent!!

[jshepherd]

Originally Posted by crystalfly

1) Did I get a good deal on both items?

Yes you did! The single pearl was an exceptionally good deal. The price of large Tahitians has gone up so much in the last couple of years, it would be very difficult to get that sort of deal again.

Originally Posted by jshepherd

Yes you did! The single pearl was an exceptionally good deal. The price of large Tahitians has gone up so much in the last couple of years, it would be very difficult to get that sort of deal again.

Good to hear!! I feel so much better justifying my purchases to my husband now!!

On a similar note, I was watching one of the jewelry networks and have purchased the following two items (thankfully there is a no questions asked return policy!) and wanted to get your thoughts on their value:

1) Black Tahitian pearl necklace 10-12mm (18 inches) with white gold clasp - $1500 (they said AAA over the phone)

2) Black Tahitian pearl necklace 11-14mm (18 inches) with white gold clasp - $3300 (AAA grade)

I've asked for an appraisal for both items. I figured from the postings over the last few days, large tahitians are becoming rare and I've always wanted a nice tahitian pearl necklace. So i'm trying to decide between the two. I consider these an investment.

Looking forward to everyone's thoughts. Thanks!!

V

[aggiep]

Originally Posted by crystalfly

Good to hear!! I feel so much better justifying my purchases to my husband now!!

On a similar note, I was watching one of the jewelry networks and have purchased the following two items (thankfully there is a no questions asked return policy!) and wanted to get your thoughts on their value:

1) Black Tahitian pearl necklace 10-12mm (18 inches) with white gold clasp - $1500 (they said AAA over the phone)

2) Black Tahitian pearl necklace 11-14mm (18 inches) with white gold clasp - $3300 (AAA grade)

I've asked for an appraisal for both items. I figured from the postings over the last few days, large tahitians are becoming rare and I've always wanted a nice tahitian pearl necklace. So i'm trying to decide between the two. I consider these an investment.

Looking forward to everyone's thoughts. Thanks!!

V

Glad I'm not the only one who feels this way about jewelry shopping networks.

The Jewelry Channel

Interesting, hope you will be pleased with your purchases. I am not clear who you asked for the appraisal.

Not sure how you feel about the jewelry shopping networks, Aggie?

Glad I'm not the only one who feels this way about jewelry shopping networks

.

[aggiep]

The link below what I said was not positive about the jewelry networks. It is from a thread here on PB. I bought a watch that was supposedly silver and freshwater pearls. When I got it, it was plated plastic with really cheap pearls. I was very underwhelmed. A freind of mine the same time bought a ring. When she got it, she brought it to me. I tested it and it was billed as 18K but I found the readings to come out at 15K. The stone was supposed to be a Tourmaline and it was actually quartz (a green quartz) Both of us ended up sending the items back. It took nearly three months and many emails and calls, followed by my sending a certified letter to get the money back. Nope I was seriously disappointed in the extremely poor and misleading quality of that jewelry shopping network.

Sorry, Aggie, I missed seeing the link----------thanks much for clarifying that-

[PerfectPearls]

I'm afraid I would have to agree that I wouldn't buy anything expensive from a Jewelry Network. I'd have to buy pearls from a very reputable source. Plus I'd want to choose the color of the Tahitian pearls and the overtone. They can vary sooo much in quality and color!

Example: http://www.pearlparadise.com/tahitianpearls.html

[jshepherd]

Originally Posted by crystalfly

On a similar note, I was watching one of the jewelry networks and have purchased the following two items (thankfully there is a no questions asked return policy!) and wanted to get your thoughts on their value:

1) Black Tahitian pearl necklace 10-12mm (18 inches) with white gold clasp - $1500 (they said AAA over the phone)

2) Black Tahitian pearl necklace 11-14mm (18 inches) with white gold clasp - $3300 (AAA grade)

They are supposedly AAA grade??? What is the shape like? If they are claiming the strands are AAA-grade rounds I would prep a return label before they even arrive. It would cost a lot more than that to make either one of them. At those prices I would be shopping there

Which jewelry network?