Jade Troth is back

I'm still baffled how Gemporia can sell "Natural Cultured" Pearls. The title itself is a contradiction.

If they're cultured, it means an irritant has been put inside the Oyster by human intervention. Therefore, it cannot be natural.

A Natural pearl would be one that has formed without any human intervention whatsoever.

Jojo1 said:

Cheaper freshwater that take less time to grow and have no place as luxury items. They probably didn’t take the same production hit that sea pearls did during Covid. Gemporia are flogging them as a gap filler at high prices.

They will have big trouble with Akoya which are sea/ considered luxury. Vietnam produces a significant proportion of those now as there is a disease impacting production in Japan, and apparently the nuclear reactor leak post earthquake/tsunami a few years back had an impact on production.

I want far less Dave and his Jade, more Toby and more consistency.

I use Kimbie to pad out my jewelry orders with cheap wax melts etc so the box isn’t so small as to get lost/ squashed. I don’t mind their stuff. Probably Tesco grade. Lighter fragrance compared to high end. The shows are draining though. 1hour on candles is too much, especially when they go for the same price.

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I didn't realise Fukushima had an impact on those, not really knowing 'where' in Japan they originate. And have to ask a silly question. Are you Australian Australian or English Australian? As you seem to be knowledgeable about 'English' things, like Tesco

Ant7t said:

I didn't realise Fukushima had an impact on those, not really knowing 'where' in Japan they originate. And have to ask a silly question. Are you Australian Australian or English Australian? As you seem to be knowledgeable about 'English' things, like Tesco

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I spent a month or so in UK when I was younger.

Jojo1 said:

I did notice, particularly as CB doesn’t dabble in freshwater. Wonder if he will ever be back.

They have 8-10mm remnants of South Sea stock online which is priced well, but light on gold or in sterling silver.

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For me, pearls is a good example of why you really have to do your research before buying from Gemporia/Gem Collector. They are no longer "the home of affordable gemstones". When Charlie was associated with Gemporia, you wouldn't see a freshwater pearl in the building. Now they're just like any other place - except with absolutely bonkers prices.

3 years ago I bought some 10mm - 11mm pendants because they were nice size, interesting designs and there was a time when you could get them for a good price. They were worth buying for the future present drawer. These three examples in 9K gold (images attached) cost me £89 - £149. Now they want £99 or £149 for an 8mm misshaped pearl in a tiny glued in pin bail.

They have an Akoya ombre baroque 18.5" strand online at the moment - in a sale! - at £800 (last image). I bought a 34" similar 3 years ago for £150.

Don't give me any BS about "grass grows so must our prices". As you can tell, I love pearls (not the output being churned out by huge factory farmed freshwater molluscs or the Edison method) so the price hike plus crash in quality since Charlie stopped is most obvious to me in this area.

I also find it interesting that the won’t let Jeff present pink diamonds, Zambian emeralds or Jadeshite without Dave thieving oxygen in the same room. But Sarah Wait is doing it in her second hour of re-employment with Gemporia. Sad thing Gemporia don’t realise is that Jeff can outsell most presenters, especially the expensive things.

Jojo1 said:

I also find it interesting that the won’t let Jeff present pink diamonds, Zambian emeralds or Jadeshite without Dave thieving oxygen in the same room. But Sarah Wait is doing it in her second hour of re-employment with Gemporia. Sad thing Gemporia don’t realise is that Jeff can outsell most presenters, especially the expensive things.

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I am more inclined to watch when the 3 stooges are missing from the presentations. I like Jeff, my favourite presenter.

Anna said:

I am more inclined to watch when the 3 stooges are missing from the presentations.

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I don't mind Toby - at least he has a personality about him, and he's the least shystery of the three.

Dave bores me to tears - and I wouldn't trust a word that comes out of his mouth.

As for Jake - he's like a second hand car salesman. I find it staggering that Steve Bennett thought that Jake is MD material and the solution to the problems.

Dave and Jake are the biggest part of the problem in my opinion - not the solution.

Having the channel on in the background on silent, coz I'm doing other things, just before 4pm. After 4 pm, I glance at the TV, see DT and 'Burmese' on the screen behind him. Now, I'm not 100% certain, but could that be Jade by any chance? And, he's got the next hour too, with diamonds. Another 'happy' educated evening for his fans: yes?

Ant7t said:

Having the channel on in the background on silent, coz I'm doing other things, just before 4pm. After 4 pm, I glance at the TV, see DT and 'Burmese' on the screen behind him. Now, I'm not 100% certain, but could that be Jade by any chance? And, he's got the next hour too, with diamonds. Another 'happy' educated evening for his fans: yes?

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And it had pearls earlier on

I hardly watch in the day anymore as we've been told to go back in the office full time (boo, hiss). I've been home today though and every time I switch on, there he is! I've not even seen Primal on for ages either, just seems like wall to wall Troth, or if he happens not to be on, there's a notice (and a clock of course) telling you how many minutes to wait until he's back. They have to be losing customers carrying on like this

Brighthunter said:

I've been home today though and every time I switch on, there he is!

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He's not actually been home - he's been doing the same speech for the past 3 months, 2 weeks and 5 days. Hence why he has a beard. He came on clean shaven.

Halley's Comet has been around twice during his latest presentation. He's currently got a 60 second clock on screen counting down until the third appearance......

Brighthunter said:

I hardly watch in the day anymore as we've been told to go back in the office full time (boo, hiss). I've been home today though and every time I switch on, there he is! I've not even seen Primal on for ages either, just seems like wall to wall Troth, or if he happens not to be on, there's a notice (and a clock of course) telling you how many minutes to wait until he's back. They have to be losing customers carrying on like this

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You would think!

Brighthunter said:

They have to be losing customers carrying on like this

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Losing customers is probably a slight understatement.

For some unknown reason I always thought the Primal range was actually called Primeval!