T
TheOyster'sAutobiography
Guest
http://cgi.ebay.com/MAGICAL-SO-RARE...912920186QQcategoryZ52583QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I'm curious to hear....
I'm curious to hear....
What does anyone think of these 'natural' pearls?
Caitlin
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2004
- Messages
- 8,502
Here are some of my thoughts on this auction:
The seller must be in the business to make money. A double natural strand for sale is a rare event. The top auction houses in the world would sell it at best prices. If it is as claimed, it is worth promoting. It is worth getting it into a catalog. Why wasn’t this done? That is where the big, legitimate money would be.
If this necklace is truly “natural” pearls, a sterling silver clasp devalues it. It should be gold or platinum and would certainly be worth the investment.
They do not look like freshwater pearls so what kind are they?
If these pearls are truly “natural”, then there should be some kind of story, history, or provenance. When and how did they appear to this seller and how does the seller know they are “natural”? Even if the story is that the seller found them in a second hand store in a faux pearl basket, as happened in the case of some quahog pearls a few years ago, there need to be a good story. If there were a good story, the seller would be using it to up the bids!
Even more important than a history, if they are natural they should have some kind of proof, like x-rays and an evaluation by a lab. The expense, like the expense of a good clasp, is worth it because the return will be huge.
The seller says they can “guarantee” that the pearls are natural. What does that mean? Why not present the proof in the auction? Any kind of proof would send the bids through the ceiling.
The seller must be in the business to make money. A double natural strand for sale is a rare event. The top auction houses in the world would sell it at best prices. If it is as claimed, it is worth promoting. It is worth getting it into a catalog. Why wasn’t this done? That is where the big, legitimate money would be.
If this necklace is truly “natural” pearls, a sterling silver clasp devalues it. It should be gold or platinum and would certainly be worth the investment.
They do not look like freshwater pearls so what kind are they?
If these pearls are truly “natural”, then there should be some kind of story, history, or provenance. When and how did they appear to this seller and how does the seller know they are “natural”? Even if the story is that the seller found them in a second hand store in a faux pearl basket, as happened in the case of some quahog pearls a few years ago, there need to be a good story. If there were a good story, the seller would be using it to up the bids!
Even more important than a history, if they are natural they should have some kind of proof, like x-rays and an evaluation by a lab. The expense, like the expense of a good clasp, is worth it because the return will be huge.
The seller says they can “guarantee” that the pearls are natural. What does that mean? Why not present the proof in the auction? Any kind of proof would send the bids through the ceiling.
Pearls_by_Angela_Carol
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2005
- Messages
- 80
Interesting to read the "fine, fine, fine" print for the return policy:
"RETURNS CAN ONLY MADE IF THE ITEM HAS BEEN TOTALLY MISREPRESENTED AND OUR RETURN POLICY IS FOLLOWED."
"ONLY AFTER NOTIFICATION AND OUR AGREEMENT YOU MAY RETURN THE ITEM.IT MUST BE DONE WITHIN TWO BUSINESS DAYS OF RECEIPT."
Considering that there is no telephone number to contact this "company" the only method of contact would be through eBay contact forms. This pretty much rules out the possibility of getting the pearls tested.
My advice - run away...
"RETURNS CAN ONLY MADE IF THE ITEM HAS BEEN TOTALLY MISREPRESENTED AND OUR RETURN POLICY IS FOLLOWED."
"ONLY AFTER NOTIFICATION AND OUR AGREEMENT YOU MAY RETURN THE ITEM.IT MUST BE DONE WITHIN TWO BUSINESS DAYS OF RECEIPT."
Considering that there is no telephone number to contact this "company" the only method of contact would be through eBay contact forms. This pretty much rules out the possibility of getting the pearls tested.
My advice - run away...
well I would say that a "2-day return policy" would certainly be a red flag for any product. I am actually surprised there has even been this much discussion on what is an obvious scam. I mean $810 for a triple strand of natural pearls????
T
The Pearl Outlet
Guest
I'd say the seller is reputable, though I wouldn't buy these as natural pearls without conclusive lab documentation. Carefully consider Zeide's comments above. I'd have to agree with him completely.
A few reasons why I believe this seller to be reputable:
1.) Good feedback from other reputable buyers.
2.) Feedback isn't artificially inflated.
3.) Only 1 negative and that left by a bad seller, not a buyer.
4.) Other auction items appear to be honestly represented.
Also note that the reserve has not been met at $810 and that this is a two-strand necklace.
This isn't necessarily a scam, and is worth considering.
A few reasons why I believe this seller to be reputable:
1.) Good feedback from other reputable buyers.
2.) Feedback isn't artificially inflated.
3.) Only 1 negative and that left by a bad seller, not a buyer.
4.) Other auction items appear to be honestly represented.
Also note that the reserve has not been met at $810 and that this is a two-strand necklace.
This isn't necessarily a scam, and is worth considering.
S
Satine De La Courcel
Guest
If you are unsure I would walk away...... follow your gut instict..... they could be reputable or not.. Just MHO
AShby
AShby
P
purepearls
Guest
There are just too many unknowns in this scenario. I think it is highly risky to buy a necklace for that much sight unseen without being able to return them. The return policy is way too short and I think that based on what everyone has tried to figure out by looking at the pictures, there is just no way to know that they are truly natural pearls. I personally wouldn't take the risk!
Caitlin
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2004
- Messages
- 8,502
Vistorian "natural" pearls
Vistorian "natural" pearls
Caveat: This post is not by an expert, it is practice, so shoot me down!
This item was relisted. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8915230065 No takers
If you check the link in the first post in this thread above, you will see that the final bid on the old auction was almost $1,300 and the reserve was not met. I do agree they should bring more than that. If they were genuine naturals, they should bring 10 times that, but who is looking for genuine natural pearls on eBay?!!!!
I do really love the color and dignity of this necklace. Nevertheless, the clasp doesn't really look Victorian. I can buy a similar clasp several places online and in the local bead stores. I have an almost identical clasp on a strand at the moment- - for about $12.99 retail. Actually mine isn't as good quality-
If these pearls were really round in the photos, It would be harder to dispute their natural-ness- especially with that color. However, as Zeide points out, these pearls have a high percent of slightly drop shapes. These drops- which are all equally round with an added dollop of nacre that makes the drop shape have a round, measured sameness, a repetitive rhythm, that speaks of a bead inside. They actually look like row houses in their sameness of profile, in other words- manufactured.
And, there is not a single pearl that is "off" round in any other way. There are none that would fit a slightly squished round shape Not a single flat facet, or any of the other slightly off round shapes I see in my own small collection of slightly off-round natural pearls. Here are some pix of them: https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/showthread.php?t=465
This necklace was not first class in shape when its pearls were first chosen, (first class would be really round looking pearls) so my deduction is that if there had been other slightly off shapes, they would be represented as well. The fact that that they are all off in the same way, makes me think that that was the off shape they had- and, it is one that isn’t real common in naturals, but very common in off shaped nucleated pearls.
I still think seller has it in the wrong auction for the pearls. It is the right auction for the clasp.
Since I like to practice taking pix-Here is hugely enlarged photo of my clasp
Vistorian "natural" pearls
Caveat: This post is not by an expert, it is practice, so shoot me down!
This item was relisted. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8915230065 No takers
If you check the link in the first post in this thread above, you will see that the final bid on the old auction was almost $1,300 and the reserve was not met. I do agree they should bring more than that. If they were genuine naturals, they should bring 10 times that, but who is looking for genuine natural pearls on eBay?!!!!
I do really love the color and dignity of this necklace. Nevertheless, the clasp doesn't really look Victorian. I can buy a similar clasp several places online and in the local bead stores. I have an almost identical clasp on a strand at the moment- - for about $12.99 retail. Actually mine isn't as good quality-
If these pearls were really round in the photos, It would be harder to dispute their natural-ness- especially with that color. However, as Zeide points out, these pearls have a high percent of slightly drop shapes. These drops- which are all equally round with an added dollop of nacre that makes the drop shape have a round, measured sameness, a repetitive rhythm, that speaks of a bead inside. They actually look like row houses in their sameness of profile, in other words- manufactured.
And, there is not a single pearl that is "off" round in any other way. There are none that would fit a slightly squished round shape Not a single flat facet, or any of the other slightly off round shapes I see in my own small collection of slightly off-round natural pearls. Here are some pix of them: https://www.pearl-guide.com/forum/showthread.php?t=465
This necklace was not first class in shape when its pearls were first chosen, (first class would be really round looking pearls) so my deduction is that if there had been other slightly off shapes, they would be represented as well. The fact that that they are all off in the same way, makes me think that that was the off shape they had- and, it is one that isn’t real common in naturals, but very common in off shaped nucleated pearls.
I still think seller has it in the wrong auction for the pearls. It is the right auction for the clasp.
Since I like to practice taking pix-Here is hugely enlarged photo of my clasp
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S
Satine De La Courcel
Guest
I agree with Caitlyn and Zeide, I feel it may be a case of the seller not really knowing pearls or what they have in hand..... who really knows its hard to tell with e-bay.... I would just walk away and seek out an alternative! if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is!
Cheers
Ash
Cheers
Ash
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