Recent content by jshepherd

Yes - freshwater!

SSEF is the gold standard for pearl testing in Europe, and the lab used in the natural pearl trade over GIA. https://www.ssef.ch/

I don't know this company and haven't seen any reviews for them on this forum or elsewhere, so I can't speak to their pearls or their customer service. I'd disregard the part about having their own freshwater pearl farm, etc. It's the processing that matters in Zhejiang, not the farming. Very...

So glad it arrived safely! I saw the image of the freshwater and thought "that doesn't make sense," so I checked your order. These are our AA+ freshwater strands, not our freshadama strands :)

It might be natural. I have a similar-looking natural strand. Some pearls might be cultured, but I think it's worth having a lab take examine it.

Yes, the teachable platform switched payment systems so it reset all the codes. We are working to get the originals reinstated, but in the meantime, enroll with the discount code PP10951. The entire course is new if you haven't logged in yet this year.

I agree. Those look like dyed, beaded freshwater.

It's good to see you here again! Can you believe we're still talking about pearls?! :ROFLMAO:

Superhero of pearls ... I guess I've got the Halloween costume sorted out :ROFLMAO: And yes, as BWeaves and Pearl Dreams pointed out, 100% certain. They are dyed Chinese freshwater pearls.

It's easy to obsess over black pearls. They're might favorite for the color range. The image you attached aren't Fiji pearls, though. They're dyed Chinese freshwater. I'd pass on that strand.

The 9th Japan Pearl Fair is coming up November 9–11, 2026, in Kobe. More than 100 Japanese pearl businesses are expected to exhibit, with akoya, Tahitian, and South Sea pearls represented. For anyone in the trade who will be in Japan this November, it’s worth having on the calendar. 9th JAPAN...

Love this!

It's a strand of Chinese freshwater pearls. It appears to be a mix of long and short potato shapes. It's not tremendously valuable, but it's a tissue-graft freshwater and there aren't many farmers growing them anymore. It isn't an antique. It's probably no more than 20 years old. The clasp is...

Ah, that wouldn't matter! We are just closed on weekends and holidays. So if someone sends an email on Friday night, the the team would normally respond on Monday morning. Monday was Labor Day, so they did on Tuesday morning.

I'm sorry to hear! I just checked into this to see what could have happened. We were closed for the holiday yesterday, so that's why the Friday message wasn't responded to until today. My apologies!