Paspaley Pearls - Gem Shopping Network

[pkinnew]

I was channel surfing while cooking this weekend and saw they had Paspaley pearls on the Gem Shopping Network. From what I understand GSN sells some high end items (ok, all ends lol) and these pearls for sale were gorgeous. It seemed unusual to me to see these on a TV shopping show but maybe this is a new market for them?

 

[jshepherd]

That seems very strange. Are you certain the pearls were described as Paspaley? Paspaley doesn't allow their name to be used (unless something as changed).

 

[pkinnew]

Hi Jeremy. It seemed strange to me too. They used the Paspaley name, talked about the farm and an owner (and I apologize for not remembering the name). I was tempted to buy them just to verify the source.

 

[pattye]

Paspaley does sell some of their pearls through Stuller; perhaps they are expanding their market for lower grades?

 

[jshepherd]

I asked P. Bracher about Stuller and the name back in 2009 when I signed their terms of trade in order to buy and resell their pearls. Stuller was also selling South Seas and calling them Paspaley Pearls back then. I just did a search in my email and still have his response.

We no longer have authorised Paspaley retailers or wholesalers in the USA. Paspaley branded products are available only from our own retail stores which are located in Australia, Hong Kong and Dubai.

I don't know how or why they still offer Paspaley because if I remember correctly, they had a relationship prior to Paspaley revoking authorized use of their brand.

Anyone doing business with them now has to sign an agreement that they are buying pearls from their wholesale department, which is Australian Pearl Centre based in Hong Kong.

 

[jshepherd]

I also found this:

Only strands that carry our trademark and accompanied by our certificate of guarantee are "Paspaley" brand strands. This policy also applies to loose pearls and pairs. Our wholesale business sells pearls on behalf of other producers so there is no guarantee that pearls purchased from us on a wholesale basis are from Paspaley owned pearl farms.

 

[pkinnew]

I suspect they only sell these on weekends so I'll tune in then.

 

[Katbran]

I had wondered about the Stuller Paspaley pearls as well..it is interesting based on what you have posted that they re still selling them as Paspaley. I am surprised at the wholesale side of it .. I was under the impression that you were buying Australian pearls when you bought a lot from their auction.

 

[jshepherd]

I had wondered about the Stuller Paspaley pearls as well..it is interesting based on what you have posted that they re still selling them as Paspaley. I am surprised at the wholesale side of it .. I was under the impression that you were buying Australian pearls when you bought a lot from their auction.

You would be buying Australian pearls and almost certainly pearls from their own farms. They own most of them now. They just want to protect their brand.

 

[pattye]

Gave Stuller a quick call this am. Seems they are selling out their remaining stock of Paspaley pearls. A Certificate of Authenticity comes with them. FYI, Pearl Paradise prices and photos are soooo much better! We are spoiled!!

 

[jshepherd]

That's an easy way to sort it out, lol.

The strange thing is that I distinctly remember hearing the same thing in 2009. That's six years. It just doesn't seem possible they've been sitting on that much inventory for that long ...

 

[Katbran]

Thanks Jeremy.. I thought they must all be from Australia as you pointed out they own all the big farms now. It was this sentence "Our wholesale business sells pearls on behalf of other producers so there is no guarantee that pearls purchased from us on a wholesale basis are from Paspaley owned pearl farms." that made me wonder.

 

[Jacques]

Yes but the pearls bought through them would surely be Australian S.S, even if some happened to come from another, let's say smaller, Australian producer.

 

[GemGeek]

I purchased white south sea pearls from Stuller (years ago) and they came with a Paspaley box and certificate - just like the ones I received from the Paspaley store in Darwin, Australia.

 

[pkinnew]

I heard that they're having pearl specials tonight at 7 pm and Sunday night so if I can I'll tune in to see if they're still offering them and what they say about them.

 

[pkinnew]

Big ticket items - Paspaleys for $1.2 million!!!!

For $79k!

 

[Tucs]

??!! What are they selling, Queen Elizabeth's pearls?!