"Genuine Japanese Kasumi Pearls"

[pattye]

And another exchange~


to Rita

Someone else posted a link to your listing on pearl-guide.com forum, where I am a senior member. People post photos and links almost daily asking about pearls, even dealers who want to know more about the pearls they are selling when it isn't their specialty.

It was my choice to contact you, as I didn't feel you were purposely being misleading. Pearls are interesting and complex and certainly can be confusing. I have been selling pearls since the mid 90's and educating myself about them.

I appreciate your honesty, Rita.

And Rita's reply:

Thanks Pattye.
Now I know where to go with my pearl questions...which is often.
I’m sure I’ve had some very good pearls since I’m lucky enough to buy
some fine estate jewelry but I don’t usually check them out except for
the clasp and rubbing it on my tooth. Hardly the pearl scientist here.
There’s too much to learn and not enough time.
Regards,
Rita

 

[GemGeek]

Thanks, Pattye!

 

[CathyKeshi]

Well, that's a surprising and refreshing response, Pattye ... good work

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Lots of errors in those listings.

Look at this pending sale of pearls listed as Tahitians when they are clearly dyed freshwaters:
http://www.rubylane.com/item/600588-257-2066/Scrumptious-Colors-x21-LARGE-PLUMP-15

 

[Katbran]

Lavender pink salt water pearls...lol.... Not much truth to her listings is there ? Hard to know if it's ignorance or just plain dishonest advertising.

 

[KarinK]

I hope we will be able to welcome Rita here.

What I always feel apprehensive about is a seller who apparently is giving away a major profit - e.g. the qoute at the start of this thread about the pearls being an old purchase and profit already having been made.

As for baroque blue akoyas in the 50'ies, I have a dear friend who introduced me to the blue akoyas. Her strand could well be from the 50'ies. Her uncles were jewelers so it may not have been a common thing to see.

- Karin

 

[Sueki]

Hi, Sueki.

If you refer to the Exquisite Japanese Blue Akoya Cultured Pearls Grapes & Leaves Sterling Bracelet, c. 1950's ! , the pearl shape and body color seem consistent with baroque akoya, but a few of those pearls (10+mm) seem too large for what is normally available.

While I like the setting, I wonder if baroque akoyas were in the market during the Fifties. Didn't Mikimoto and other pearl distributors of that period only sell perfectly round white pearls? I think this bracelet is of more recent vintage.

Yes, cyndaco, I am of the same mind; both those items in my "curious" post I am highly dubious about.
I immediately recognised the "pink saltwater pearls" for what they are (thanks to pattye for confirming) and the akoyas - I have always been uynder the impression that these blue akoyas are a fairly recent introduction to the pearl scene as, previously, akoyas were bleached white before coming to market; or so I thought.
And thanks for the welcome Marianne.

 

[jshepherd]

Kudos Pattye!

I checked out about half the seller's auctions and I see dyed freshwater passed off as Tahitians, dyed freshwater passed off as natural color akoya, dyed freshwater passed off as true kasumi … there is nothing accidental there. I don't frequent Ruby Lane that often, but is it as bad as eBay with all the pearl fraud, or is this seller an isolated case?

 

[JerseyPearl]

Pattye, thank you for posting your pearl truth questions...to those of us who are novice pearlies, it is very helpful to understand exactly what qualities to look for, and red flags to identify when buying pearls on line. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I thought she said these had been moved to her "back shop"? They are the first listing that comes up when I click to see her 140 items.

http://www.rubylane.com/item/600588-257-1965/AMAZING-LARGE-23-7mm-14mm-Genuine

I see this sort of thing on eBay-- not that long ago I saw a ring advertised as watermelon tourmaline when it was clearly ametrine. I messaged the seller, who thanked me and said he would fix it right away. There were no changes ever made in the listing, however, and it finally sold. Hopefully the buyer recognized the stone as ametrine and bought it as such.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Siz...D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Personally I think most of these sellers are just dishonest, rather than ignorant.

 

[pattye]

Pearl Dreams, That was the other seller, Rita, who changed her listing.

Mary's Timeless Treasures has many listings with blatant errors in identification, in addition to the story about the pearls being bought as part of a large auction lot and produced before 1990, as Jeremy says, all freshwater pearls, many dyed, in sizes and shapes that would have been grown well after that date.

Karin, Your point is certainly valid.

"What I always feel apprehensive about is a seller who apparently is giving away a major profit - e.g. the quote at the start of this thread about the pearls being an old purchase and profit already having been made."

I don't shop at Ruby Lane, so don't review listings there very often.

 

[pattye]

Vintage Blue Akoya Pearls from Japan

Vintage Blue Akoya Pearls from Japan

This is when I wish I knew something about vintage jewelry. (Is vintage considered 20 years old or more?)

My feeling is there was a limited number of natural blue akoya sold in the 60's, perhaps 50's too and perhaps later. Karin says she knows of a strand that could be from that period. A few years ago one of my customers showed me a pendant she received from her husband in the 60's, purchased in Japan. It was a gorgeous akoya drop of bright blue with intense rose overtones. Unfortunately, no camera along that day.

The idea that Mikimoto's trademarks were often obscured and removed was discredited, as I recall. Please comment if you have info about this.

In the early days of this forum there was a woman who posted about her Mikimoto blue pearl necklace~I'll see if I can find it and link here. At the time we weren't aware of blue akoya pearls and her photos were not capturing the color well at all. But in hindsight, perhaps this necklace was natural color blue akoyas. This story stuck with me because there was no happy ending.

 

[CathyKeshi]

I will say again ... and again ... and again how incredibly lucky and grateful I am to all the people here who are so willing to share their knowledge ... THANK YOU ALL.

 

[pattye]

Sarah, do you know if Pacific Pearls ever carried natural blue akoyas back in the days?

 

[Cees]

I am sure I never would buy anything from RubyLane.

 

[MSC]

That poop colored cheapo strand made me gag.

Hi Wendy and Pattye,
Thanks for the welcome !
And I'm so glad I'm not losing it.... What a downright dishonest seller. Mind you, I've been looking more closely at a lot of pearls for sale lately and it seems that this is a fairly typical example of a good many pearl sellers these days. Pattye, what about this one then:

http://www.rubylane.com/item/338449-RL2780/Estate-Tahitian-Pearl-Necklace-2-Strand

 

[amti]

I'm bringing this thread back to life because it is so educational and also a little disheartening to see how dishonest sellers are, intentionally or just playing dumb. If you're going to label a piece of jewelry, shouldn't you at least be certain you have the right name? And I have to say sadly, most of the items in the links were sold. Some poor unsuspecting soul purchased an overpriced, misstated item that was, well, for the most part, not a good example of a beautiful pearl, imho. If I can say so boldly, I don't know if it is the photography, but I don't recall ever seeing so many ugly pearls in one location.