Freshwater pearls from Etsy advice

[goobergrapejelly]

Hello, I hope you don't mind me asking for advice when I am new to the Pearl Guide and forums. I currently make costume jewellery which I sell at local craft fairs and have been doing well at, but I would like to expand into sterling silver pearl (hopefully gold too one day) jewellery. I am trying to find a good supplier of pearls and so I would be grateful for your thoughts on this etsy seller's pearls - their feedback looks to be very good.

I particularly like the look of these:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/81824256/genuine-freshwater-coin-pearls-ivory
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79343935/good-quality-loose-pearl-beads-white?ga_search_query=PL3008

I hope that with time (and lots of reading) my knowledge of both pearls and suppliers will get better but perhaps this might be a start?

Many thanks in advance for your help

 

[pattye]

Hello GGJ,

Welcome, The pearls do look decent and the price seems reasonable. You might ask if you will be receiving the actual ones in the photo. Always good to check the return policy, and pay by paypal, in case the goods are not the quality as advertised, you can have some recourse.

 

[pearlescence]

Hi and welcome
Where are you?

 

[pearlsusie]

Etsy pearls

Etsy pearls

Hello, I hope you don't mind me asking for advice when I am new to the Pearl Guide and forums. I currently make costume jewellery which I sell at local craft fairs and have been doing well at, but I would like to expand into sterling silver pearl (hopefully gold too one day) jewellery. I am trying to find a good supplier of pearls and so I would be grateful for your thoughts on this etsy seller's pearls - their feedback looks to be very good.

I particularly like the look of these:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/81824256/genuine-freshwater-coin-pearls-ivory
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79343935/good-quality-loose-pearl-beads-white?ga_search_query=PL3008

I hope that with time (and lots of reading) my knowledge of both pearls and suppliers will get better but perhaps this might be a start?

Many thanks in advance for your help

@goobergrapejelly: I am also sourcing pearls for my custom jewelry making and have just purchased from this vendor (loosepearl) on 11/16. I purchased mainly grade A white and some colored off rounds, not baroque, but I have been thinking of placing an order for those too. I have not yet received their shipment, as they ship mail post and it takes about 2 weeks from China to U.S., which I expected. I can update you when I receive the shipment on whether my expectations were met. The prices at this vendor are quite competitive. Reading the reviews on Etsy, most customers are satisfied with this vendor. There's another Etsy pearl vendor I am also talking with, and they are in Hong Kong, but no order yet. They have a much larger selection of mainly near/off rounds, but some baroque. There are many loose pearl vendors in the U.S.; one I have ordered from, beadsofcambay.com, has a quality selection, especially of coin and baroque, but their prices are high. The quality is consistent with price. I recommend them if you are not price sensitive and want higher quality, and also shipping from the U.S.

Pearl sourcing is unnerving and I wish you the best. Part of the problem is that many vendors do not grade their pearls, or the grading is not calibrated, so expectations of the buyer are not met. This may be less an issue with baroque or coin pearls. With round/near round/off round there is so much variation in nacre, color, shape, blemishes, etc. Don't be shy to send the product back if it doesn't meet your expectations. I started making pieces with C-grade 9-10mm pearls (Tahitian system) and decided that I could not live with the quality, even though the pearl had character. It all depends on what you will tolerate as a designer and what your customer might respond to. Pearls with pits or poor luster don't appeal to many.

-PearlSusie