Pearls for a girl living in European Union

[InLoveWithPearls]

Hi,

this is my first post here, but I have read a lot on the forum in the last few days and learned a lot, especially about web sites which one should avoid.

I live in Sweden, Europe. I'm a pearl lover, but have earlier not really had the economic possibilities to indulge myself with the quantities nor quality I dream of. (Such as a 16 inch chocker of big South Sea pearls... *still dreaming*)

Anyhow, at the moment I?m looking to treat myself with a new pair of pearl earrings, a dangle model, something like this:

http://www.americanpearl.com/nojaakcupeea.html

(Rather without the diamonds, but you get the idea.)

Than it suddenly strikes me: I will have to pay import taxes on this purchase. But I really haven?t found anything I like in the stores here, nor any European web sites that seem to have such good quality of pearls as the American sites.

Can you advise me what to do? Are there any European web sites you could recommend?

And thank you for all the wisdom you already have shared with you.

 

[jshepherd]

For South Sea pearls, I would recommend Edelkontor.de.

http://edelkontor.de/schmuck-ohrringe-1.html

http://edelkontor.de/perlenohrringe-mit-diamanten-1.html

http://edelkontor.de/gold-ohrringe-1.html

 

[KarinK]

Hi from Denmark,

You can also try Wendy ( a poster here) at pearlescence.co.uk. You might also want to just add the VAT and duty to the pricetag. You might still save quite a bit compared to Sweden.

- Karin

 

[pearlescence]

Thank you for the recommend KarinK. Just to make clear since any sale would be within the EU there would be no more taxes due, no VAT or duty payable from either the site which Jeremy recommended or from Pearlescence

(Nor shipping either from us at any rate since we don't add that at checkout - I find that such an irritating practice from websites)

 

[jshepherd]

I don't see South Sea on your Website Wendy? Do you carry South Sea earrings?

 

[pearlescence]

yes - just a few. http://www.pearlescence.co.uk/index.php/cPath/193_126_183

 

[jshepherd]

Oh nice. I didn't see that before.

 

[pearlescence]

I attempted the simplification of the index on the website...instead I have made some stuff secret....Better have another plan (ooooopsi)

 

[jshepherd]

LOL I should have been able to dig a little better.

 

[pearlescence]

NOt at all. It should be more simple
If you can't find your way around a pearl website to some pearls then there is something wrong somewhere!
What to call those pearls collectively...I think 'more expensive pearls' wouldn't attract much of a click through rate....

 

[jshepherd]

... hero images with page-central navigation would fix the issue of expandable left-side navigation. Then you wouldn't have to worry about what to call them.

 

[pearlescence]

Hero who with what?
I'll talk to the techs!
(But I have written that down)

 

[InLoveWithPearls]

Thank you all so very much! It’s hard to navigate in the internet sea of pearls on one’s own.

Jeremy, those first earrings you linked to are _beautiful_. And approx. twice my budget this time. Hmmm maybe it’s better to save some more money.... will have to ponder on that one a little longer!

Karin, I guess you have some experience with importing from the States? First I thought the customs wouldn’t add more than 20 %, but it seems rather to be around 35 %. What is your experience?

(I checked it here: Tullverket/The Customs had a nice little form, where Swedes can calculate how much they can expect to pay when purchasing online from outside EU, http://www.tullverket.se/innehallao...denformular.4.3cf19d0112524cb00188000173.html
)

So I’ll probably have to keep it European...

Wendy, is it so that all products at your website are unique? (Since the qty = 1 on most products?) Does that mean you undertake custom requests as well?

 

[pearlescence]

Hi, Yes. I don't carry a huge stock of South Sea pearls, so each one is unique. But certainly, yes, I can do a custom request.
It's always hard to work out in advance just what sort of pearl in what sort of setting someone will want!

 

[Adeline Leigh]

SS dangles, oh wow, I like you already. Please do tell us what you have chosen at the end of the day.

I LURVE drops and dangles, anyone will tell you that.

I spied some lovely ones at Wendy's (UK) the last I was there:

http://www.pearlescence.co.uk/index.php/cPath/193_126_183

Have fun selecting!

 

[KarinK]

Karin, I guess you have some experience with importing from the States? First I thought the customs wouldn?t add more than 20 %, but it seems rather to be around 35 %. What is your experience?

Hi,

I've sent you a private message as we are getting into some very local Scandinavian stuff As you are new to the forum you may not have noticed the '1' on the Notification tag (top right corner of your screen).

- Karin

 

[InLoveWithPearls]

Hi,

I've sent you a private message as we are getting into some very local Scandinavian stuff As you are new to the forum you may not have noticed the '1' on the Notification tag (top right corner of your screen).

- Karin

I haven?t been in for a few days. But now I have seen it! Thanks, Karin!

When I started out I thought I knew what I wanted. But now I?m getting more and more irresolute: do I get a set of nice freshwater dangles, which I can wear more or less every day (or at least as an alternative to my pearl studs, which I already have ), or should I really indulge myself and buy a pair of SS dangles? I know my self, I?m too cautious to enjoy them that often... and the budget would be a bit stretched.

So I decided not to do anything for a few days and think it throw a little more. At the moment I?m back to thinking that I should start with a pair of FW and wait a few years before I upgrade

Or...! Akoya? Well, probably not. I already have a string of FW pearls, so maybe it would be too much of a clash too have Akoya in dangles when I wear them together? Or maybe nobody would notice beside me...? Even though there is of course no guarantee that my FW-string and future FW-dangle will match perfectly...

You can almost see smoke coming out of me ears from all the hard thinking going on inside there!

 

[pearlescence]

Why not get some reasonable freshwater dangles, to see how much you do wear this style, before going for expensive south sea pearls? They don't have to match the necklace perfectly or at all. In fact I think a matched necklace and earrings can be too matchy-matchy..why not earrings and bracelet as a lighter summer look...or earrings and a station necklace - again a lighter look for summer

 

[Caitlin]

I am smiling at all that smoke! Have fun choosing! We all be delighted to help!

 

[dkan 168]

I live in the UK, and quality jewellery is very expensive. I buy pearls from the likes of PP and TPO, and they still cost less even after paying import duties when compared with what I can get from the shops in the UK.

This applies to diamond jewellery too, not just pearls.

DK