I'm going to be a bit of a contrarian here - I've watched Paspaley's marketing campaign over the last 15 years. It has been one of the most intense PR campaigns I have ever witnessed.
Their jewellery designs aren't actually outstanding IMO.
Interestingly, they have clearly invested a LOT of money in their google rankings - any searches for Paspaley plus "overpriced" come up with zero results, which is pretty much impossible that that's a reality online. I don't know enough about pearls to know whether an objective assessment would find their prices to be appropriate - but I do know that a superlative marketing campaign will overwhelm reality every time, and demonstrates that they are quite allergic to the possibility of negative commentary. I don't think a company that's totally confident of its actually quality - as opposed to brand appeal - would need to be quite so controlling of conversations.
If someone can mount a rational case that Paspaley would be as highly regarded without a ten-year marketing blitz, please argue their case with me! I think many of their designs that contain very few pearls and lots of worked metal, seem incredibly expensive - e.g. $11,000 for a white gold bracelet with four (admittedly superb!) pearls.
I quite agree with you. I see no percentage in some of the ways the Paspaleys do things, like their large ships and fleet are just too Texas for me. And don't tell me it is sustainable. Paspaley is a huge edifice with a grandiose turn. I am quite aware that anything bought from them has a huge inflated price. They want the Arab trade and the Texas trade, and they are welcome to it.
In this day and age, there is room for the small Pearl Farmer to market direct to the public, to use human labor and sustainable practices. I think the Paspaleys are an era in pearls, but they will not last, as is.
I for one, given the choice would do it R&B's way. Or buy Kamoka and/or Cortez Pearls. The same quality pearl would be less at R&B's, but come with an authentic experience. The Paspaley experience is sheer fantasy- beyond what it needs to be. But it is not just Disney, where you know it is fantasy; with the Paspaley marketing, you are lead to believe that fantasy is reality. If you get caught in their fantasy, you really do pay far too much for the pearls!!! Too me, that is like a bad hangover, or buyers maximum remorse to wake up from that fantasy and realize you were had by your own snobbery or other such frivolous "needs"!
Only insecure people need to have the Paspaley brand of pearl. Or any highly touted brand, lke Mikimoto. If you go that way, it is about the brand. But if you realize it is about the pearl, and not the brand, your eyes can open to a whole new world of supreme quality that needs no brand.
