Pearl Paradise
Diamonds may be a girls best friend, but pearls are a close second. So if you’re looking to find that perfect gift for a special lady (Mom, wife, girlfriend) on a limited budget, check out Pearl Paradise. The prices in general are quite reasonable(for pearls that is), but you can’t beat the ones listed under the fresh water category. Well it’s just a thought.
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July 4, 2004 at 10:23 pm
Me
Is this ‘Maggie’ for real or just a joke? I have done about 5 minutes of online research and have found that she is completely full of shit…does not know what she is talking about. I checked her last post and every part of her ‘factual’ info was wrong. I guess that is free speech for ya!
June 30, 2004 at 1:32 pm
What
Is the problem here???
June 29, 2004 at 5:30 pm
Maggie
I have just received my akoya pearl necklace from ‘Pure Pearls’… Pearl Paradise is its distributor, thus I will comment on my AA+ 18 in akoya strand. The strand shows high luster and minimal flaws. The pearls are all nicely matched with each other. The strand was fairly round, but not completely spherical. (Keep in mind that there are only about 1-3% completely spherical cultured pearls around.) For the price I paid (under $500) it was a worthwhile purchase. Customer service was excellent and shipping was fast. I highly recommend Pure Pearls as your online pearl store.
June 28, 2004 at 11:40 am
KC
Here is what you need to know about freshwater pearls!:
Pearl Types : Black Tahitian – Freshwater – Imitation Pearls
Tahitian Black Pearls
Tahitian or black pearls are produced by the black-lipped oyster in French Polynesia. Natural black Tahitian pearls are extremely rare. The black-lipped oyster was nearly harvested to extinction in the early 1900s because of demand for the Mother of Pearl from its shell. Pearl farmers have successfully rescued the oyster, and it is now raised in sea farms in the Tuamoto and Gambier islands in French Polynesia. The shape, color, and luster of Black Tahitian pearls are natural. Most Black Tahitian pearls are not truly black. Colors can be light silver, gray, yellow bronze, green with pink overtone, and peacock with a natural prism of colors showing across the surface of the pearl. The pearls range in size from about 8mm to about 25mm — the largest black pearl ever found — although Black Tahitian pearls 12mm in diameter or larger are rare. These pearls can sometimes be very large because black-lipped oysters can grow to be as large as 12 inches across and weigh 10 pounds.
Freshwater Pearls
Freshwater pearls can be found in bays and rivers throughout the world. They are cultivated from freshwater mollusks in China, Japan and the United States. Sometimes less lustrous than saltwater pearls, their unique shapes and colors and attractive prices have made them popular.
Imitation Pearls
Imitation pearls are manufactured and have no real jewel value. They are sold under many names. The words fashion, faux, simulated, organic, man-made, Mallorca, and other regional names are all terms that are currently applied to manufactured pearls. These terms can be misleading. An experienced jeweler can often distinguish between natural, cultured and imitation pearls by examining the drill hole. An easy way to tell the difference is the “tooth” test. A strand of imitation pearls slowly rubbed across your teeth will feel smooth. Natural or cultured pearls will feel a little gritty. This “grittiness” is from the crystalline structure of nacre. Better imitation pearls are made from beads of glass, ceramic, shell, or plastic coated with a varnish made of lacquer and ground fish scales to simulate the iridescence and color of a pearl. Pearl Paradise does not sell imitation pearls.
Copyright Pearl Paradise.com 1996-2003. All Rights Reserved. No duplication of any material in this site is permitted without permission from Pearl Paradise.
June 22, 2004 at 6:19 am
Siri
My husband bought me two strands of South Sea pearls for Christmas. They are gorgeous! I got them appraised, and they are worth FAR more than what my husband paid for them. He is happy, and I am over the moon… To put it this way, I am buying more!
Thank you, Pearl Paradise/Jeremy Sheperd!!!
June 15, 2004 at 7:27 pm
Maggie
I would also like to add that I was able to return the freshwater strand and was able to get a complete refund… as per their guarantee.
June 15, 2004 at 7:25 pm
Maggie
I would like to retract my previous post because what I said may have been misleading. It is true that I purchased a ‘freshwater strand set’ and not a ‘akoya set.’ I am well aware of the fact that freshwater strands are not completely round like akoyas are. However on the website it clearly describes the freshwater strand as “nearly completely round” when in reality, it wasn’t close to being spherical. The earrings were semi spherical button shaped. As it was graded AA+ I expected few blemishes, but not as many as I got. This may be considered as good quality freshwater pearls, but didn’t match up with my interpretation of the description. Thus I was unsatisfied with the purchase.
you may go to their website and read their description: http://www.pearlparadise.com/item.html?UCIDs=674104%7C676739&PRID=406598
I am going to take another leap of faith and purchase a strand of akoyas… As it hasn’t arrived yet, I have no comment on the quality of akoya pearls that PP sells. When I receive them in the mail, I’ll comment on their quality.
June 13, 2004 at 8:16 pm
Megumi
I agree with Mike. My pearls are absolutely beautiful. I also asked my jeweler about the pearl paradise valuation and they stated that it was done professionally and was completey accurate. They also told me that I received an incredible deal. I am a very happy customer as is my sister and mother. It appears as though they have some really nasty competition though!
June 8, 2004 at 12:11 pm
Mike
I just purchased 2 strands from PearlParadise and received those appraisals as well. I took them to my jeweler and was told that the appraisals were exactly what the pearls were worth. I also printed out this page to show him what was said as I was worried. He told me that the disclaimer on the appraisal was legally REQUIRED, and that they were completely acceptable.
As for the AA+ not round pearls, he said that ‘Maggie’ must have bought freshwater pearls as mine were even better than the appraisal, and freshwater pearls are NEVER perfectly round.
Just to let you know there are some of us who think Pearl Paradise is one of the best sites on the net and life-ling customers!
May 19, 2004 at 9:17 pm
Maggie
I agree with Fred..
“Pearl Paradise’ valuation are bogus. Supposed “Gem Quality” pearls were full of flaws. Good luck. I just bought a strand and it is graded as AA+… even though the pearls are semi-round at most. The pearl earrings aren’t even round at all! You can tell when you look at them from the side angle. There are flaws on the surface that is well visable to the naked eye. On the web site is said they were “nearly completely round” Hah! What a joke!
May 15, 2004 at 11:14 pm
Fred
Pearl Paradise’ valuation are bogus. Read the disclaimer on the appraisal. I had mine appraised and the jeweler informed me that I paid high retail. Supposed “Gem Quality” pearls were full of flaws. Then PP made it almost impossible for me to return them by changing their return policy. Pay a few bucks to have a real appraisal done, and you’ll find out their claim is bogus. You’ll probably want to send yours back when you find out what they’re really worth. Good luck.
June 8, 2003 at 3:19 am
Janet
Thank you Ursula!!!
I visited Pearl Paradise and bought a strand of pearls. My jeweler cannot believe what I paid! I cannot believe I was SAVING UP to buy pearls!!!
June 2, 2003 at 10:46 am
brixton
I totally agree about pearls. My husband bought me a string for Christmas after I wore my grandma’s at our August wedding and commented that I would love to have my own some day. There’s just something so…timeless, I guess, about a string of pearls.
June 2, 2003 at 12:20 am
Ursula
Because I don’t wear the ones I own enough to justify another…
June 1, 2003 at 10:37 pm
james_jackson
Why not, girl? You only live once!
June 1, 2003 at 6:54 pm
Ursula
Yeah, I think the black pearls are quite cute. Over here trying to resist temptation from buying a string for myself.
June 1, 2003 at 12:08 pm
james_jackson
I’ve always thought black pearls were really pretty. Besides, with cubic zirconias (or however you spell it) looking more and more real these days if you really want to make an impression you’ve got to find something unusual.