Freshwater or something from Mars?

[zoi101]

Hello pearl aficionados

I have a "cultured" pearl conundrum.. These must be freshwater? color treated and Nucleated? Or..........? Please fill in the blank

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390225700576&_trksid=p2759.l1259

Muchas Gracias Amigos

 

[Nerida]

Colour treated nucleated freshwater. Not very goods ones, either...

 

[zoi101]

Thank you Nerida They left out the word "freshwater" but it seemed the only possibility.. although I was leaning toward some type of bondo sea shell concoction

Have a nice day

 

[GemGeek]

Wow, a $56,000 retail value! Someone should report them to eBay just for that claim. I agree with Nerida - It's a piece of doo doo.

 

[zoi101]

Thanks Gem Geek Leaving tomorrow for Vancouver and on to Alaska.. Vancouver has a nice sized China town.. Any use keeping my eyes peeled for pearl trinkets?? ;-)

 

[pattye]

Always an excellent idea!

 

[Caitlin]

The winning bid was $81, so the bidders seemed to know what it was worth...
I found the Chinatown in SF, at least, had very expensive pearls. 10X more than the gem show. Though you might have fun looking. Try the local bead stores, too.

 

[la_corsetiere]

The winning bid was $81, so the bidders seemed to know what it was worth...
I found the Chinatown in SF, at least, had very expensive pearls. 10X more than the gem show. Though you might have fun looking. Try the local bead stores, too.

It's important to know that in many of SF Chinatown shops, you can bargain. You don't necessarily expect that in brick-and-mortar shops, I know... Definitely helps to know what things are worth!

I don't know if the same holds true in other cities.

Sheri

 

[danachit]

Yikes. I followed the link and my virus detector splashed up a big warning, "MALWARE DETECTED! WARNING!" So I didn't go look.... scary!

 

[Caitlin]

You followed the eBay Link?

 

[pattye]

Well, I just tried the link, and it went through just fine, to the sold item. Not sure what might have happened, Dana, but I agree, when in doubt, don't!

 

[zoi101]

Back from the Vancouver Chinatown... Caitlin was right.. Prices were SO-SO high for so-so pearls.. The bummer is that while I was visiting the Alaskan Wilderness, the gem and jewelry show was in Chicago.. my current home base.. :-( WHAT??
I will wait for the December show to roll through again....
Hope you guys were having fun pearl-jamming, I have to see what I missed in the forum... yum ;-)

 

[KatiePearl]

It's important to know that in many of SF Chinatown shops, you can bargain. You don't necessarily expect that in brick-and-mortar shops, I know... Definitely helps to know what things are worth!

I don't know if the same holds true in other cities.

Sheri

Yup. I bargained the heck out of the diamond/pearl earrings I bought in Chinatown, SF. I know I went down at least half- I think more. I paid, what I think, was fair and gave them a profit. I bargain everywhere! Bad habit gained from lots of military deployments

I've found most B&M stores are willing to bargain. Shoot, I even bargain on Ebay and Etsy even if it doesn't say I can. I just e-mail the people with the buy-it-now or listed price and ask very nicely if they'd be willing be sell for X (fair price). I am rarely turned down.