Amazing pearl prices

So, my question is, how are prices like this even *possible*? This is
well below any wholesale I've ever seen on these pearls, and these are
definitely not crap. Wassup with that?

http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2....&PROD_ID=38998
--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay

Kalera Stratton wrote:
So, my question is, how are prices like this even *possible*? This is

well below any wholesale I've ever seen on these pearls, and these
are
definitely not crap. Wassup with that?

http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2....&PROD_ID=38998
--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay

I think Overstock buys things in different ways. For example, end of
season items; for mechanical things, factory refurbished; items made by
a well know manufacturer as a special for a store under a different
label; and other creative ways to buy a very low costs. If you look at
all the Akoya pearls, the original price and discount % vary. I've
purchased things from Overstock and been satisfied, but never jewelry.
Usually unused but not in demand CDs and classic VHS films. Smart
Bargains is similar. Of course, I don't know the true story of those
particular pearls.
Happy Holidays,
Lilyflower

several of the buyers comments include mentions of visible blemishes -
so these are probably C or B+ grade Akoya pearls.....

Akoya - being Japanese - are farmed pearls.. and they do churn out a LOT of
them.
I saw a documentary on them once.... they create TONS of pearls....
some are, of course "better" grades than others. The longer they are in the
pearl oyster - the thicker the nacre.
Some of the pearls are nothing more than a very thin coat over a glass center.
I also noted someone commented that they were "very heavy" - which means more
glass than nacre....

Cheryl
DRAGON BEADS
Flameworked beads and glass
http://www.dragonbeads.com/

IThe mark up on pearls is astronomical - it's practically criminal. I worked
in the biz and can confirm Cheryl's comments. There are very few 'natural'
pearls on the market, that is, a pearl that has been retreived from a wild
oyster as opposed to one that is farmed. So, yes, pearls are produced by the
ton and and the market controlled to keep prices high. In terms of gemstone
production, however, I prefer pearls to gems that are mined in India or
other places where health and safety standards are non-existant. At least
workers aren't getting silicosis from breathing in ground gem dust.

I looked at the gemstone strands at BABE. You know, I found most of them
dull and badly cut. Compared to good quality crystal and glass beads most
of the gemstone strands were lack-lustre. When I see all those tables laden
with all those strands it makes me sad - what is being done to the
environment in order to mine these low grade stones?

--
Marisa (AU/NZ)
www.galleryvittoria.com
"She who dies with the biggest stash, wins."

several of the buyers comments include mentions of visible blemishes -
so these are probably C or B+ grade Akoya pearls.....

Akoya - being Japanese - are farmed pearls.. and they do churn out a LOT of
them.
I saw a documentary on them once.... they create TONS of pearls....
some are, of course "better" grades than others. The longer they are in the
pearl oyster - the thicker the nacre.
Some of the pearls are nothing more than a very thin coat over a glass center.
I also noted someone commented that they were "very heavy" - which means more
glass than nacre....

Cheryl
DRAGON BEADS
Flameworked beads and glass
http://www.dragonbeads.com/

Exactly my feelings. I pretty much no longer buy gemstones (ethical
concerns, and karma).

Sooz

~~~In terms of gemstone
production, however, I prefer pearls to gems that are mined in India or
other places where health and safety standards are non-existant. At
least
workers aren't getting silicosis from breathing in ground gem dust.


I looked at the gemstone strands at BABE. You know, I found most of
them
dull and badly cut. Compared to good quality crystal and glass beads
most
of the gemstone strands were lack-lustre. When I see all those tables
laden
with all those strands it makes me sad - what is being done to the
environment in order to mine these low grade stones?~~~

I went to an Inter Gem show a few months ago. I was amazed at the low prices
dealers had on fresh water pearls. There were even some stick pearls at $5.00
to $7.00 a strand. While not the best quality, for that price, you could pick
out the good ones. I've seen similar stick pearls selling at bead stores for
$3.00 a pearl.
There are also really low prices right now on that faceted Chinese glass
which they started off selling as "quartz." It must be on its way out since
the strands are half price. I actually like some of those colors and Saks was
selling necklaces made with it and real gemstones for tremendously high prices
when I was there before Christmas. The aqua and cherry glass are among my
guilty pleasures.
Patti

Thanks for all the responses, guys. I guess why I was wondering is
because, although these aren't fantastic pearls, they are Akoyas,
(making it easy to compare prices) and some of them are A grade (they'll
tell you if you call them, what the grade is). Compared to other
reasonable sources of Akoya seawater A-grade pearls, these are very very
cheap, and I was trying to figure out how that was working out. (I'm
looking specifically at the sal****er cultured pearls, not the
freshwater ones, which are also a very good price per strand for the
quality... I have some.)

I am fairly pearl-savvy, and no matter how I look at it, these are way
below normal wholesale. I don't have any qualms at all about buying
cultured pearls, BTW... anymore than I have about eating oysters.

--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay

I would say go for it Kalera. In addition to South Sea pearls, I stocked
Akoyas in the store I managed and I know what the wholesale price is, at
least in Australia. These are priced well below what I bought them it at,
factoring in the exchange rate. They are a good buy as long as they are of
the quality advertised.

Thanks for all the responses, guys. I guess why I was wondering is
because, although these aren't fantastic pearls, they are Akoyas,
(making it easy to compare prices) and some of them are A grade (they'll
tell you if you call them, what the grade is). Compared to other
reasonable sources of Akoya seawater A-grade pearls, these are very very
cheap, and I was trying to figure out how that was working out. (I'm
looking specifically at the sal****er cultured pearls, not the
freshwater ones, which are also a very good price per strand for the
quality... I have some.)

I am fairly pearl-savvy, and no matter how I look at it, these are way
below normal wholesale. I don't have any qualms at all about buying
cultured pearls, BTW... anymore than I have about eating oysters.

Marisa Cappetta wrote:
I would say go for it Kalera. In addition to South Sea pearls, I stocked
Akoyas in the store I managed and I know what the wholesale price is, at
least in Australia. These are priced well below what I bought them it at,
factoring in the exchange rate. They are a good buy as long as they are of
the quality advertised.

I went for it.

I'll let you know how they are, when they arrive.

--
-Kalera
http://www.beadwife.com
http://www.snipurl.com/kebay

Kalera wrote:

I am fairly pearl-savvy, and no matter how I look at it, these are way
below normal wholesale. I don't have any qualms at all about buying
cultured pearls, BTW... anymore than I have about eating oysters.

I'd rather just buy the pearls and let someone else do the oyster eating!

Now, mussels from Ireland, there's a different story!

-Su

--
Tillerman eBay shop: http://stores.ebay.com/thetillermanbeads
Tillerman website: http://www.tillerman.co.uk