Jade Troth is back

[TheManWithNoName]

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.

 

[Ant7t]

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.

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

 

[Jojo1]

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

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

 

[AndyW]

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.

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.