Where to buy rare/unusual pearls

[Cuon]

I’m a collector of rare, unusual, or simply interesting colored gemstones and pearls. I want to round out my hoard collection with some more pearl specimens, however the difficulty I have discovered is that the pearl trade is as much, if not more inundated with fakes, stimulants, or straight up misidentified specimens than the colored gemstone trade to the point that finding specimens in my usual manner is not working.
As a result I am now here, asking for advice from some of the experts.

Currently I’m actively hunting for a kasumi (preferably undrilled, not a strand), pinctata mazatlania, Mississippi and Scottish river pearls, quahog; really just anything strange and unusual.

Thank you all in advance!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

You might have a look at Kari pearls for the quahog and any other natural pearls:

Kari Pearls: Natural Pearls - A Trusted Resource

A trusted source for natural pearls, natural pearl jewelry and all things related...jewelry, information, images, pearl button jewelry, ecards, and videos.

www.karipearls.com

 

[Marianne]

Sarah at Kojima Pearl Company (https://kojimapearl.com)
can help you with all things Japan Kasumi.

 

[Amoreperla]

Honestly I would love to find pinctata mazatlania pearls as well but I found nothing . Maybe Cortez pearls would know more about them.

 

[Cuon]

You might have a look at Kari pearls for the quahog and any other natural pearls:

Kari Pearls: Natural Pearls - A Trusted Resource

A trusted source for natural pearls, natural pearl jewelry and all things related...jewelry, information, images, pearl button jewelry, ecards, and videos.

www.karipearls.com

Sarah at Kojima Pearl Company (https://kojimapearl.com)
can help you with all things Japan Kasumi.

These are just what I was looking for, thank you! I sort of assumed that Kojima only deals in finished jewelry but I suppose there’s no harm in asking.

 

[Cuon]

Honestly I would love to find pinctata mazatlania pearls as well but I found nothing . Maybe Cortez pearls would know more about them.

I found a place, on etsy and their own website, called Aloha Pearls Hawaii that seems to sell strands of them, but I’m not familiar enough with naturals to feel comfortable making the jump just yet with an unfamiliar/unvetted company.

Their “gemstones” for sale are also… worse than poor. So I doubt their trustworthiness. However I’ve seen many a reputable gem dealer screw up pearls to an astonishing degree, so I suppose it could be forgivable if their pearls are what they say they are.

 

[Marianne]

These are just what I was looking for, thank you! I sort of assumed that Kojima only deals in finished jewelry but I suppose there’s no harm in asking.

These are just what I was looking for, thank you! I sort of assumed that Kojima only deals in finished jewelry but I suppose there’s no harm in asking.

 

[Marianne]

Kojima Pearl Company sells individual Japan Kasumi pearls. It's definitely worth checking out!

 

[Cuon]

Kojima Pearl Company sells individual Japan Kasumi pearls. It's definitely worth checking out!

I had no idea! Are they actually listed on their website somewhere (and I couldn’t find them) or would it be a private contact sort of thing?

 

[s3rndpt]

I had no idea! Are they actually listed on their website somewhere (and I couldn’t find them) or would it be a private contact sort of thing?

Please forgive me for jumping in, but I was drooling on some of Kojima's pearls yesterday, including their current Kasumi listings (Japan Kasumi Pearls (https://kojimapearl.com/collections/japan-kasumi-pearls-1) ). Also, definitely check out their loose pearls tab if you haven't yet, which has a lot of really interesting and unique pearls.

 

[Mary-Contrary]

If you want to shop in person, I highly recommend the Tucson Gem Show. Ive bought several interesting natural pearls over the years (mostly American but I also have a matched set of wild-found Tahitian pearls), you never know what vendors might have. Kojima even has a booth!

 

[Cuon]

Please forgive me for jumping in, but I was drooling on some of Kojima's pearls yesterday, including their current Kasumi listings (Japan Kasumi Pearls (https://kojimapearl.com/collections/japan-kasumi-pearls-1) ). Also, definitely check out their loose pearls tab if you haven't yet, which has a lot of really interesting and unique pearls.

They’re spectacular, aren’t they? If I had a few thousand to spare I’d get their Forever Beyond the Mist necklace in a heartbeat. Their spondlyus princeps and pteria sterna pearls are fascinating.

 

[Cuon]

If you want to shop in person, I highly recommend the Tucson Gem Show. Ive bought several interesting natural pearls over the years (mostly American but I also have a matched set of wild-found Tahitian pearls), you never know what vendors might have. Kojima even has a booth!

I definitely want to go someday! At the moment my boss/mentor has banned me from Tucson for my own sake until I complete my gemology degree (I’ll probably ban myself until I complete the pearls as one course, too.)

 

[Cuon]

I’M BACK!
I have found an interesting specimen from a reliable seller, a 15mm natural Pteria Sterna cluster pearl. I’m on a bit of a tight budget at the moment, and was wondering if anyone would be willing to tell me an approximate worth? The seller is asking $600, and I don’t know enough about these guys to know if that’s a rip-off or not.

 

[pattye]

I enjoy seeing photos of rare pearls like this; no idea of value. We recommend you look for comps online, but I suppose it will be difficult to find any.

 

[Cuon]

I enjoy seeing photos of rare pearls like this; no idea of value. We recommend you look for comps online, but I suppose, but it will be difficult to find any.

Comparing it to the only other listing I can find (sold or otherwise) it seems fair. Pearls are so much more complicated than colored stones!

 

[BWeaves]

What a gorgeous cluster of grapes. I'm imagining a leafy setting.

 

[Cuon]

Unfortunately I ended up not going through with it, just because gold prices are so high and it would be a very long time until I could get it set. If anyone is interested, the specimen is still available through The Pearl Collector.

 

[pattye]

Unfortunately I ended up not going through with it, just because gold prices are so high and it would be a very long time until I could get it set. If anyone is interested, the specimen is still available through The Pearl Collector.

Yes, The Pearl Collector is a very reliable source. Also a good site to see rare pearls photographed well.