Who prices these things?

Pure Pearls monthly sale on equivalent coin pearl earrings is $95.

Gumps is San Francisco's premier snob store, but the quality chain department stores are almost as bad.
 
Should I understand that customers are very wealthy there .. or only crazy sellers as often,
please help me to understand (do I set up a subsidiary there :D)
 
Many of the elites in SF have multi-generational relationships with Gumps. They wouldn't dream of looking elsewhere unless Gumps didn't have it or couldn't get it.
 
I'm sure the prices are high but it seems they aren't providing any sizes for the pearls so it makes it difficult to compare them to anything. Am I missing sizes somewhere on the website? How can you compare prices without sizes?

The pearls in the necklace look like they could be bead nucleated so they could be quite large.
DFrey
 
You are looking at top retail prices. We get spoiled, real spoiled with the online prices, and great quality from "our gang." It was surprising to me there was basically no explanation of the item at all! Quite sure that's a bead nucleated strand, large pearls for sure, there were only 25.

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time
 
Huh. I had never heard of Gumps. I received a catalog from them today and while I was poking around in it, I almost passed out at their pearl prices. And I bet if I were to call them up and ask them to choose a strand just for me based on my specific criteria and preferences, they would think I was crazy. Yes...we are spoiled. Happily, happily spoiled. They did have the most adorable Limoges box I've ever seen, though! If I could only convince myself that it's alright to spend that kind of money on a little piece of decoration...
 
Those pearl necklaces and earrings aren't meant to be compared. Rather, someone with an account has their personal buyer or secretary get the catalog and call them and asks what would be good for some friend's or relative's special day. They will get detailed and gracious service similar to that which is seen here. They also have more stuff than is seen in the catalog.
 
$1900 for 9K gold? I feel sorry for anyone that doesn't know enough to know that is beyond high retail. It's in fantasyland! ;)
 
Just what I thought. Have you seen their golden South Sea earrings for 2,790 AUD? The pearls don?t look like golden ones, such a bleak colour! They look almost white compared to the goldsetting.
 
The reality is that a price is only what someone is prepared to pay for an item. It is not necessarily the same as value or worth.
 
The strand from Gumps in post #1 is definitely bead nucleated, otherwise referred to as fireballs or Ikecho. At the AGTA Tucson gem show this past February, top quality strands, 12mm-14mm, were selling wholesale for $2,000 - $2,500. Thus a retail price of $4,800 is to be expected.


Gail


Edit: I should point out that last year, the same quality strands were selling wholesale for $1,800.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
A very wealthy man once advised me: "There are wealthy people who won't buy things if they are too inexpensive. They feel that paying a lot for things enhances others' perceptions of them." It's the "street cred.":rolleyes:

Marc
http://flyrodjewelry.com/home.html
 
Last edited:
Crazy expensive prices, huh? I really like the look of those tahitians on the silk slide though (haven't seen that before). Anyone know anything about that? They must still be knotted between each pearl, no? If I were to pay nine grand for something like that, I don't think I'd feel very comfortable having them be able to be slid right off the cord! The holes must be drilled pretty large too I assume?

- Jodie -

(EDIT: I'm talking about the tahitian pearls on silk slider cord on the Gumps site)
 
Last edited:
Cannot know how those pearls are strung, but I have similar endings on a couple of random bead necklaces: I used ending beads with only one of the holes enlarged. The cord ends in a loop that is threaded through by a second normal beading thread that goes through the strand. My beads are way heavier and larger then pearls though, so threading through one more time is not a problem. I like the type of cord closure for tight choker strands of largish beads (that keep changing configuration).

It looks like the ending pearls in the Gumps picture are fitted with some metal caps around the holes that accommodate the silk cord. Maybe they've done something similar, after all....
 
Those tahitians on the cord are lined with precious metal. Very expensive, but very beautiful. I had a friend bring me the full page photo in their print catalog to see if I could do something like that for her. :( Nope!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

CortezPearls
Is the Pearl I found in my Clam/Oyster/Mussel Valuable?
Replies
0
Views
7K
CortezPearls
CortezPearls
R
My First Pearls (Not From Wal-Mart!)
2 3
Replies
52
Views
17K
lisa c
lisa c
GemGeek
Justin Hunter and the Rare Fiji Pearl
Replies
0
Views
12K
GemGeek
GemGeek
L
Help please! Buying pearl pendant for mom, mikimoto or pearlparadise?
Replies
11
Views
6K
Diane
D
PG Editor
Tears of Mermaids by Stephen G. Bloom
Replies
0
Views
4K
PG Editor
PG Editor
Back
Top