I have a special order from a regular customer who wants a pearl
necklace made for an engagement gift, black pearls about 9-10 mm,
full rounds. Normally I buy a fair number of half drilled pearls at
trade shows but usually just pick them by eye when I see the color
and luster I want. But there isn’t a trade show before he wants
this, nor do I usually buy ones of the quality he wants.
Without being able to hand pick them, what is a trustworthy source
of really fine black pearls? I showed him a page from the Rio
catalog of ones in that size in a dark lustrous blue-purple color
which sell for $175 a 16" strand wholesale, and he said those looked
good (Quote: “Those or better”, to be exact). I used the Rio catalog
because I needed something to show him to be sure of what he wanted:
nothing I had on hand was that good or the right color. I don’t
think of Rio as a pearl specialist, but maybe they ARE good.
Or can I get a better quality elsewhere at about the same cost or a
little more? I need to finish and deliver the necklace in about a
month.
Without being able to hand pick them, what is a trustworthy source
of really fine black pearls?
Ok first of all are you talking about natural color black pearls?
Because if you are, a 16" strand of natural color black pearls in
9-10 mm for $175 are either dyed (most likely) or junk. Fine South
Sea natural color black pearls in 9-10 mm round are going to go for
multi thousands per strand. Really fine South Seas will cost you
upwards of $3000-$4000 for true rounds, 9-10 mm in a good color and
luster. I can give you sources for either medium or super fine ones
if you want to contact me off list. I sell fine to superior quality
strands of black pearls regularly so this is one topic I am well
versed in. Anything under $1000 will be either dyed or really,
really low quality.
Daniel R. Spirer, G.G.
Daniel R. Spirer Jewelers, LLC
1780 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambrige, MA 02140
Sounds like the Black Pearls you are looking at from Rio are dyed. A
great source for Genuine Tahitian Black Pearls would be A.S.B.A.
Dangler, DSL, Tara, China Pearl, just to name a few. You can also
check with Jewelers Cirular Keystone, or A.G.T.A. for many other
sources. A good strand of 9-10mm Gen. Tahitian Black Pearls will
cost a GREAT deal morethan a $175.00–more like $1250.00 to $2500.00
You might try Joseph Stachura, stachurawholesalegemstones.com They
have quite a range of pearls. Not home to check my catalog right now,
but you can call them. No affiliation, just a satisfied customer.
I believe Mary at Joseph P. Stachura Co is the most knowledgeable
pearl expert in the country. Several of my friends buy from her. She
has taught classes on selecting and caring for pearls at MetalWerx
in MA. She helped me select pearls for my daughter- in-law.