Help Appreciated With Evaluating Item

[khanzy]

Hi everyone,

I have had a Tahitian pendant purchase in mind for some time but I don't really have any experience or expectations of price or quality with Tahitians. I really like the color and shape of this particular pearl, but with the abundance of baroque Tahitians I wonder if I should wait and look around some more before making any kind of decision. (Factoring in that it would probably be hard for me to actually shop for a pendant as opposed to someone with the opportunity to pick through an inventory of baroques in person.)

I need a cool-off period after the freshwater purchases. With this pendant I really like the ratios the setting and "head, neck, body" (for some reason I think of these shapes this way..like little snowmen...lol) come out to be as well as the overall plump teardrop.

Are the surface specks in the photos more likely to be dust or actual surface blemishes? What is the indentation in the second image (is it the nucleus?) Is this a very commonly found shape (not baroque, more specifically, a teardrop with mostly round body and single circle that runs smoothly to the tip)? Should I look around more?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SPECTACULAR...S_Fine_Necklaces_Pendants&hash=item1e823adabd

I really appreciate your help!

KZY

 

[KarinK]

Always happy to help

Druzy Design always comes recommended on this forum and if it's that kind of look you are after I'm sure it's a good choice. It looks like a lovely pearl with good luster and hardly any blemishes. The indentation is, as far as I know, just a peak into other layers of nacre.

If you are looking for something a little more formal I suggest you check out http://www.tahitianpearls.biz. And I believe Jeremy just bought a bunch of Tahitians.

- Karin

 

[khanzy]

Thank you for the help, Karin. I am looking for a more everyday pendant and the setting fits that, not to mention the pearl.
The color is described as "Black W/ Rainbow Peacock Overglow"; does that mean it will be much darker in person than on the photographs?
There is no grade provided, are baroques usually not graded (I thought the do for luster and surface quality) and where would this pearl be on the 'usual' spectrum?

Thank you,
Khanin

 

[KarinK]

Hi Khanin,

Pearls never have just one colour - especially not the darker ones. In some light it might well look black and then at dusk all the colours pop. That's why we are often a bit disappointed at first when we compare Tahitians in real life as compared to the glamour shots we bought them from.

I don't know a whole lot about the usual standards. Since it's just one pearl, personally I would look at the images and decide if the blemishes are such that I can live with them. That being said I think this particular pearl looks very 'clean'.

- Karin

 

[khanzy]

Karin, thank you for clarifying. I guess I can only learn to judge pictures vs real life from experience. I want to wait for some others to chime in on the matter before I take a leap of faith
I also realized why I was so drawn to the form...with the beading the pearl resembles (at least to me it does) the egg of the Chinese liver fluke, Clonorchis sinensis, complete with operculum and abopercular knob, but squashed in length! I am such a parasite geek...

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Those specks look like dust to me. Consider how enlarged the photo is and you'll realize they are very tiny specks. Static electricity attracts dust, all the more if you wipe the pearl before photographing.

I agree with KarinK-- the light box brings out colors more. The pearl will not look that colorful under normal lighting conditions, although in diffuse lighting it will seem somewhat more colorful.

If the flaw bothers you, you can always turn the pearl such that the flaw doesn't show when it is worn.

As to shape, there is a lot of variation in shapes from what I've seen. I tend to buy what really grabs me, when I see it. Only you know if this pearl grabs you that way, or whether you prefer to wait for another to come along.

 

[thoseriches]

That picture is very magnified and the pendant is tiny, smaller than the tip of a finger, just over 1 cm.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

The little dimple flaw at the neck is only about 1.2 mm x 1mm (calculated using a ratio). That is quite small, if you think about it.

 

[pattye]

Khanzy,

In my opinion this is a versatile and pretty pendant. Druzy does know their pearls and has a return policy. I wouldn't call this a tiny pendant, but yes, the photos are magnified. At times I still use a ruler and draw out sizes. The luster seems very good with pretty overtones. If the unique proportions especially appeal to you, why not?

 

[Lindaphillipsbong]

Hello Khanzy:
Pearl Dreams is right, the pearl will not look quite that colourful in real life. (But it will probably still be lovely.)
That ebay seller is respected and trustworthy, I believe.
There is a forum posting here on PG showing vendor photos compared to the photos taken by the purchasers (of the same strand). It is a nice way to get a feel for the ways pearls can be enhanced in ideal lighting conditions, versus regular photos by rookie photographers. (In "Show us Your Pearls" as "Show us Your Tahitians".)
Have fun with your first Tahitian purchase.
Linda.

 

[khanzy]

It's been done! I appreciate the advice that everyone took the time to give. This will be my everyday pendant, so happy~

Khanin

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Congratulations!

Please post comparison shots after you receive it-- your own photos vs. an official photo. We can all learn from these. If you take a photo of the same side of the pearl/same angle, it will be a better comparison, since colors vary depending on what part you are looking at.

Preferably, upload photos right to P-G by attaching them (you just have to click on Go Advanced and Manage Attachments, then you can upload right from your computer.) That way the photos will be a permanent part of the P-G site. In many older threads on P-G, the photos are missing/deleted due to their expiring on the hosting site.

 

[khanzy]

Thank you~
Absolutely! I have a lot of fun with taking photos, especially pearls. Comparison photos are what I find I am always looking for to help with purchasing decisions so it will be good to contribute. Good photography pointers; I saved the vendor photos on my computer back when I first saw the pendant so I can definitely do that. I just noticed that my original ebay link has changed so with these photos the thread will make more sense to new viewers.

 

[LitGeek]

It's been done! I appreciate the advice that everyone took the time to give. This will be my everyday pendant, so happy~

Khanin

What a lovely pendant! Looking forward to the photos!

 

[GemGeek]

I have made many purchases with Carolyn and I have never regretted any of them. She goes out of here way to show the jewelry in different views. Many times it was the shot including her fingers or hand that helped me to get the proper scale. Enjoy!

 

[maiakity]

Oh that does appear to be a lovely pearl! I have bought from Druzy Design several times, and have always been happy with my purchases, she ships super fast too! Please post your own pics when you receive it! Tahitians are kind of like potato chips...you can't seem to have just one...

 

[khanzy]

It's here!

It's here!

I received my little Tahitian pendant today! It is absolutely lovely and I am very happy. The pearl looks vibrant with strong purple and green, I can also see some blue near the tip. It is very clean with excellent luster, and clearly packaged with care! I am so satisfied with this purchase, thanks to solid PG recommendations for a dedicated seller, Druzy Design.
I will take comparison shots later in the week, but here are two quick shots taken indoors with medium sunlight. The pearl is darker than photographs but the colors still pop like crazy. I put it on a thin temporary gold chain but I am thinking this pearl needs something thicker to balance out the setting. Suggestions are appreciated! Thinking of a leather cord for now...

 

[pattye]

Khanzy, what a beauty! Look at that pop of color!! Happy for your successful purchase! A leather cord would work fine. Sometimes I just add multiple chains (in different patterns) of the same length that are already in my jewelry box.

 

[LitGeek]

Wow khanzy your new Tahitian is gorgeous! I like Pattye's suggestion for multiple chains

 

[BAS]

That is one beautiful pearl. Where it in good health and enjoy.