Daisys and Diamonds
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2019
- Messages
- 9,635
seriously I would be way too chicken
And because I have exactly no chill.
I opened it in the car. Don’t worry I’m parked
So first world problem: there’s not room in my jewelry box to store this strand since it’s so wide.
Suggestions for storage?
Front runner is to get a velvet lined treasure chest
Hello @MakingTheGrade! I just want to kindly thank you for sharing, posting, and educating us on your beautiful ombré necklace. It really is amazing quality and gorgeous on you!
I never knew about ‘high end gem quality pearls’ unless you post and @yssie too! It really opened my eyes and helped me understand the difference between so so pearls and wowee stop and stare pearls!
Best,
C4C
I do not wish to hijack MTG's thread or the excitement on the new piece. However, I think/hope it will be useful to provide some information about dealing with "direct to consumer" wholesalers, in addition to what MTG already mentioned.
The company mentioned is certainly not the only one who has opened their doors to social media and selling to a wider base of customers. As I am sure you may imagine, many already-pandemic-struggling vendors trying to make a living across the world are none too happy about being essentially totally removed from the supply chain by Instagram wholesale. I also understand end consumers want to find the best deal possible, be it for experimental projects, spontaneous buys, or just because of the deal seeking experience.
So, with that in mind, I want to leave some advice and information for PS'ers and anyone who may come across and be really enticed by the prospect of getting a more "direct deal." (In addition to what has already been mentioned of course).
- In pearls, the quality range is not very tight. If you think retail pearl grading needs some work, this is a whole 'nother ballgame. These companies are very used to selling thousands of pearls in single orders, and they will not want sit and meticulously sort or match for you - that is part of the service of retail markup. There is no "AA" "AAA" to even assist. Don't be surprised if things aren't up to a "PS standard." As vendors we account for some less useful throwaway in an order because there's enough to cover it. But if you're not buying in quantity enough that this is a negligible issue, just be careful. This is complicated stuff, and if you do not know pricing well, you may not get as good of a deal as you think by the time you account for findings, labor, etc. Think of this like buying uncerted diamonds. Sometimes there's not lots of visual difference between F/VVS2 superideal and J/VS2 excellent, but there's a dollar difference. Wholesalers won't help you with this.
- Similar to point 1, it is very likely anything you ask about you will be told is "best quality" - there are about 5-6 levels of "best quality" that any given wholesaler might use. You'll ask for the best, the wholesaler swears up and down it's the best, and it may well be high quality, but PSers have some exacting standards and this is something I am keenly aware of
- Customs, when done legally, can be very hefty. If customs are not done legally, customs and border can legally destroy the goods. They probably won't do that, but it has happened to me once before. Please, before you consider spending lots of money with a direct company, keep in mind that if something goes wrong and your items have issues with them, you are largely SOL. If the Loch Ness monster eats the boat the pearls get shipped on, we as vendors have insurance to cover that-- you as consumer may not. I say that not to alarm any of you lovely PS'ers but to simply warn that any of these wholesale companies will not be helpful in the event of an issue.
- Please, from the bottom of my heart, genuinely kindly asked, if you're considering purchasing from any wholesale company that allows direct to consumer, do not ask your favorite diamond/pearl/colored stone vendor to give their opinion on your considered purchase. If you choose to bypass retail pricing, you also choose to bypass retail service - which legitimately is the most fun part on this side of the sale. If you ask for help evaluating a wholesale purchase, we cannot help you. Not because we do not love you, because we do, but because there is a point at which we (collective, any vendor we) want to make sales too- because we have spent a lot of our own time and money to train and understand what it is our standards are, and using those standards to choose what we consider best for customers. We have a passion for gems and jewels too, but we are also trying to live off of them. So please do ask us about our stuff, but don't ask for help with not our stuff, especially if you're buying wholesale. This is a big issue that happens with pearls and I firmly believe PS'ers are wonderful people who don't mean any malice by it, but it can sting dishearteningly when we get messages (and we all get them) that essentially say "I am going to completely cut you out of the supply chain but expect your expert eye anyway"
- Finally, PriceScope pearls are a warped place in that every trusted vendor ever mentioned often here is dealing to you all in the top 1% - some of the pearls are in top .5%, some in top .01%, some in .00001% - but all of us in the top 1%. There really are a lot of scary-bad pearls out there. You will find lots of stuff out there, from excellent to bad to downright should be compacted into dust (like industrial diamonds). I don't want to sound like a broken record, but know that cheap does not necessarily mean "good deal."
OK-- hopefully, none of this comes off as bitter or mean in the slightest. Definitely not meant that way whatsoever. I just want folks on PS to walk into these situations as informed as possible.
All the best to y'all, and happy + informed deal hunting
Andrew Moline
PS- Back to regularly scheduled programming of MTG's exciting new piece.
Oh no!
)
Year, your right i shouldn't sleep in them but im used to having earings in 24 7 (well until a few years back when i got slack) and its a pain putting them back in again
Its all studs im having the problem with
I have a real variety of backs but i like those flat plastic ones the best
My ears sit really flat against my head, even now just watching telly i can feel them rub
Maybe im just don't used to studs
Ive never really warm them, so i guess im not used to them
im now thinking about my 3 pairs of diamond studs i bought down the mall jewler pre- PS (everything with me is pre-PS
They arnt PS standard but they still cost me a pretty penny and i want to wear them
i have 3 pair, tiny, small and medium for each side, (plus some saphire & diamond ones i havn't looked at for ages and im hoping aganist hope they are not studs)
Im kinda glad those dyed green f/w pearls from my dear elderly late FIL are on hooks
they are so easy to get in and are so light i don't even feel them? not that its the weight that is the issue
Ahh. I understand!
And maybe dixavle
A local jeweller should be able to shave the posts down a bit, so they’re shorter.
Then, if you wear larger plastic or silicone backs, the edge of the stud doesn’t have to protrude beyond the end of the back. So what’s touching the side of your head behind your ear is rounded silicone not pointy metal.
Silicone Earring Backs,Clear Rubber Earring Backs,Earring Safety Back Stopper Clutch Ear Locking with Pad (Pack of 100) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YRL5Y7J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_038360PWR5MBFH7A9P08
Pic from the listing -
Might help - can’t hurt, anyway?
I bought this to keep the ombré strand in. Looks great but it’s too thin and the necklace is too bulky so I can’t close it. Whoops haha.
I bought this to keep the ombré strand in. Looks great but it’s too thin and the necklace is too bulky so I can’t close it. Whoops haha.
Yeah I was thinking just half ombré. Light on one side and dark on the other.
I liked the sizes of this one but I think it’s too subtle a gradient?
