SS photo problems

[Katbran]

I am trying to get some photos posted of some strands I'm considering..so hopefully this will work..I always find it so difficult lol

So, help me please as I don't have much of a clue as what I'm looking at.. obviously none are expensive but I'd like to try for the best of the lot. The big SS are the most expensive - of the two remaining one of the SS is cheaper than the other. The Tahitians 11-13mm (wrong spot but figured may as well keep the task in one area) are all same price less than 300..but which three look the best to you guys or they all pretty much the same (how they look to me ... ) Thanks for looking, I value your opinions.

ok now that I've seen the post..decided I needed more info in it:
the bottom right strand is the cheapest of the SS 11-14mm (when viewed in windowed mode) the one on the left with the little tag on it is 13-16.5mmI downsized the photos..maybe should have posted the big ones. All SS are under 1,000 - cheap one is under 700..

 

[R&B]

Great prices Katbran, go for it.

The Tahitians are a good price, but the vendor is making more than 100% on what he'd have paid.

You'll have some fun with them anyway.

Enjoy yourself.

 

[Amanda]

For the Tahitians, 300 whats? American / Aussie dollars, Euros, ??

 

[Katbran]

Sorry, its in USD

 

[Katbran]

Thanks Rusty, do those SS look ok ? I don't know much about them tbh - I sent a pm

 

[Adeline Leigh]

Ooh you've caught the high-end bug haven't you, Kat? Lovely, good luck on them.

 

[jshepherd]

11-13 mm under $300? It's not possible to see the quality from the photo, but there is no chance the vendor is making 100% more than he paid unless those are smuggled strands.

 

[pattye]

That's the only strand of drop SS I've ever seen with such long tails! Luster looks good! I'd love to see larger photos if possible, thanks!

 

[R&B]

Gidday All

With the Big baroques, check the boulbus end all around as that tends to be the thinnest area of Nacre on that type of pearl.

If they've been tumbled if wallnut oil or such, they may appear O.K in a photo and surprise you in the wrong way when studied in your hand.

 

[Hanaleimom]

1) Tahitians - I am not a fan of tight circle pearls unless they are extremely colorful. I prefer soft circle pearls (circles are on less than 1/3 of pearl surface). Are there are lots of spots/pits on all strands? Do you like lighter or silvery ones? or darker ones? The second strand counting from the inside has less circle, but is silvery green. The others are darker, have lots more circle, but not colorful, so you can't see the reflection on the pearls. The less circle, the better you can see reflection on pearls. For the price I think it's not too bad, but again they are not colorful and luster seems ok.

2) White SS - are there 3 strands? The top left seems to have darker background compare to the bottom 2, maybe a factor of photoshopping or lighting. To me that makes it hard to examine top left strand. For example, I can't tell if the luster, does it have grayish overtone or really silvery white like the other two. Top left strand has less circle, which I prefer. If it has same luster and overtone compared to the other two, then I'd pick the top left. Second choice is bottom right...more circle, can't see much reflection compared to smoother surface pearls. Not a fan of the bottom left one...some pearls look like there are warts on them.

 

[Katbran]

11-13 mm under $300? It's not possible to see the quality from the photo, but there is no chance the vendor is making 100% more than he paid unless those are smuggled strands.

Well I have never bought pearls like this from a photo before...should they supply some sort of certificate with the pearls? I mean how do you know that they are not smuggled?

What I'm wondering is whether or not its standard business practice to provide some proof of provinence for Tahitians or the SS for that matter. Pardon my ignorance

 

[Katbran]

Hopefully these are larger photos of the two silvery-white smaller strands... I'm a bit wary of the larger ones now I think.

Hmm, different photos but they still look the same Sorry Pattye ! But thank's for the comments, very helpful.

Cathy - thanks for those comments. I agree with you on the Tahitians and was thinking of maybe just getting the lighter ones with the few circles and maybe one other and see how they are when they get here. Don't want to waste too much money if they are really ordinary. Maybe even just one..I'll see what their shipping is like.
And your comments on the white ones - the two smaller ones they picked out of a group of 6 as they were the more silvery white-so hopefully they are very similar. I had same thoughts on the bigger ones...wasn't sure about the 'warts' . In fact now that you've said that I think if I bought them that's what I'd be thinking every time I looked at them LOL

Rusty, thanks again for your most helpful comments! I'll have to ask em about any treatments and see if they own up...I certainly learned something with the Walnut Oil info! And the remark about the larger pearls and the potential for thin nacre at the chubby end. I'll know now to look for that when I am looking at strands.

And last but never least Adeline - I've always had that bug..I'm just starting to act on it !

Again, thanks to all for your help.

 

[Adeline Leigh]

Whatever your choice, Kat, please do a show-and-tell when it arrives. IMO, circled and round pearls can't hold a candle to a well-matched freeform baroque strand. That's probably just kooky me.

 

[Alex]

Hi Kat (you might be known as High-end Kat from now on )

I like 'H H J H' the best - the strand looks nicely balanced - but can't really say more from the photo

Have fun !

 

[Katbran]

I agree Adeline - but lets face it, sometimes you just get what you get lol Those were the only baroque ones they sent a photo of and I'm assuming the cut off was what I am willing to pay. And as I haven't ordered from them before I am sort of testing the waters by keeping the price down.

Hey Alex, LOL My husband would be thrilled to hear that my nickname will be "high-end" I'm sure that's the LAST thing he'd want as it certainly implies that his nickname will soon be "big spender" ! This isn't exactly where he thought this hobby was heading LOL And I agree, always glad to hear that those whose taste I respect have chosen the same one, that HHJH is the best of the lot. Too bad about the 'warts' on the other one, cause that's what I was hoping for...as I said before if I bought that one now I'd have to nickname it 'warthog' ... cause that's what I'd think everytime I looked at it.

Thanks again guys, wish I could get the photo larger. I did copy the one from my email which was huge. Oh well.

Now I just need to get a USD account set up in Australia..my USA bank charges too much for wire transfers...I can transfer it free from here.

 

[Hanaleimom]

Hey Alex, LOL My husband would be thrilled to hear that my nickname will be "high-end" I'm sure that's the LAST thing he'd want as it certainly implies that his nickname will soon be "big spender" ! This isn't exactly where he thought this hobby was heading LOL

When I think high-end, I think refined taste, and also high maintenance.

 

[Katbran]

LOL That might be pretty close !

 

[Hanaleimom]

Can you wait until Mother's Day? If there is a coupon code from PP, some WSS baroque strand will be about $810 with 10% off.

 

[waimeamomi]

I'd ask for close ups on the Tahitians.

 

[Katbran]

Thanks "momi' - good advice - I am getting bit indifferent to them the more I look at them. I might ask them to send some photos of some slightly more expensive ones and see how much it improves.