The wife wants a pearl necklace but I am finding that the market is very confusing. Some sites say that the only real pearl necklaces come from estate sales or the rare necklace from the persian gulf. That said, what high quality alternatives are there? Are cultured pearls the way to go? How do you tell a quality cultured or real pearl from a nasty imitation? :/ Thoughts please!
Both companies are world renowned. I know because I do work for both. http://www.paspaley.com/eboutique/?gclid=CI6foM3y78ECFZSWvQodGYAAlw http://broomestaircasedesigns.com.au/ Pearls cultured in Broome are stunning. ......... Best in the world.
i inherited a pile of real vintage pearl necklaces (my great aunt was an air hostess and flew all over Asia in the 60s). They are really beautiful, I have no idea what they are worth but they seem to take on an organic lustre you don't get in new cultured pearls. she has a 50 year old set of smallish mikimodo pearls, always wondered what they are worth.
If you are in melbourne I may be able to help I wholesale Tahitian and South sea pearls white and golden
you need to educate yourself on pearls.... apart from a few excellent aussie companies, most if not all other dealers treat their pearls with ethanol which enhances lustre. this is not disclosed at all. that is how you can get south sea pearls are the most ridiculous fresh water prices. i buy all my pearls from a farm based in indo, using australian pinctata maxima oysters and supply to mikimoto. they are supurb, but be aware that prices are going up. i personally picked up a 15.7mm perfect a grade pearl, white with pink lustre.... perfection. price went up 20% in only six weeks due to the japs buying up all stock! you need to know that the best pearls are not here, but in europe and japan as we simply wont fork out the money for them. so, if you want paspaley without the price, then contact me as my supplier uses the exact same oyster. shiny
A place in Sydney called Australian opal cutters do good pearls, they are pretty much all cultured now from little plastic beads, but they are still real. And worth the money too, amazing