|
What should I pay for pearls?
Pearls are timeless and heirloom-quality jewelry that never goes out of style. They are the most versatile piece of jewelry you'll ever own. Pearls, such as pearl rings, shouldn't cost a fortune, if you know how to avoid The 7 Middlemen-Mark-Up. We recommend you budget as much as you can afford for these priceless luxuries.
Why are your pearls so much less than anywhere else?
Our Pearl Jewelry and Pearl Rings are directly imported from our Source in the Philippines, avoiding the “7-Middle-Men-Mark-Up” common with most jewelers. The Pearls with a Purpose Foundation was created to benefit the families in Asia who design and make our beautiful jewelry. We focus on People…Not Profits.
Aren't all Pearls supposed to be round?
Shape is an important characteristic of a pearl, however, not all pearls are round. The most common forms are round, off-round “three-quarter round”, teardrop, and baroque shaped pearls and most of these can be found in pearl rings. Baroque pearls come in symmetrical or asymmetrical types.
Why are there rings/lines in the pearls?
A pearl, such as those found in Pearl Rings, is created naturally. Nacre is secreted and coats the irritant in successive layers. The best way to imagine this is using the example of a stack of pancakes. As you pour the syrup over the pancakes it coats down the layers in uneven folds. Obviously the more perfectly an irritant is coated, the more valuable the pearl. The lines actually prove that the pearl, found in pearl rings, is a GENUINE naturally made gem and make each pearl unique and beautiful in its' own way.
What are Luster and Orient?
Luster glows from within the pearl resulting from outside light reflection. Greater luster is a function of higher pearl reflective qualities. Luster has a loose range from poor, fair, medium, high, very high, or exceptionally high. Orient is another characteristic that deals with light. It results from the nacre layers as they align in near perfection stacked upon them. This prismatic effect is known as orient.
What determines the size of pearls?
Size is a contributing factor to the pearl's price. A pearl's size is determined by the layering of nacre. The layering occurs naturally and consistently over time. Therefore, the longer an oyster is left alone, the larger the pearl becomes. The average time span for an 8mm sized pearl is 4-6 years. This is a very lengthy amount of time to go without being able to harvest the oyster. Nacre thickness creates the luminous beauty. Low-quality pearl farmers try to cheat Mother Nature by implanting a larger nucleus to get a larger pearl, however, the nacre isn't as thick and may result in cracks or poor coloration. We only work with fine pearls that have thick, natural nacre layers. |
|
What makes the pearls different colors?
There are several different oysters that will actually ‘breed' specific colors. For instance, the Akoya Oyster (Pinctada Fukata) will only create 2-10mm white pearls, while the Black-Lipped Pearl oyster creates 8.5-18mm black pearls. There are also varying shades of black, such as blue, green, violet and the rare peacock that are created by this oyster as well. The Golden-Lipped oyster creates the most treasured of all pearl colors, a brilliant golden bronze. There is a Pinctada Maxima that only creates pearls sizing 16-18mm. In the Saltwater pearls, the Black is the rarest of colors, in the Freshwater, it is the Bronze. Because of its' rarity, we are only able to offer the Bronze pearl once every two years, sometime between July and September.
How do I know what quality I have?
Unfortunately the industry doesn't regulate the quality, however most legitimate jewelers have adopted a Triple Alphabet Grading System, or TAGS. We apply TAGS to all our pearls and pearl rings and only work with pearls that are A Quality or better. Pearl pieces should be well matched with like quality being fashioned in the same piece.
Will I save money by buying a set?
We at My Princess Pearls would like to offer all our customers a continuous ‘sale', therefore, whenever a Necklace, Earring and Bracelet set is purchased, we will discount the combined total by $5.
Is there a guarantee on the pearl products, such as pearl rings?
We guarantee you'll love your jewelry, or we will offer you an exchange for a piece of equal or lesser value for up to 6 months after you purchase it. Our pearls are guaranteed against defects in materials and workmanship for 90 days. Many times the only reason we receive a return is if a clasp change is needed because of joint or hand mobility problems. Prior to purchase we ensure the right clasp is selected for your needs.
What is a Mikimoto Pearl?
Kokichi Mikimoto is the man who first invented and discovered cultured Saltwater pearls. Raised in Japan, he is well known for his discovery and initiative in creating perfectly round, nearly unblemished beautiful Pearls in Ago Bay. These Pearls usually retail for $2,500-$10,000 depending on the item. My Princess Pearls has access to a source in Japan that enables us to offer Mikimoto type pearls at a fraction of the cost. (Average pricing $300 for 18” Knotted White Strand w/14k Security Clasp).
Do my pearls have to be knotted?
The traditional look of a Knotted Pearl Necklace is what some people have in mind when the term ‘pearl necklace' is mentioned. Because of the unique variety and styling that pearls are available in today, knotting is not nearly as standard as in the past. We recommend knotting any traditional round necklace, but the other pearl shapes and styles (Button, Potato, Rice and Biwa) actually look better unknotted. For this reason, most of our necklaces come without knots, but are available knotted by special order. Knotting is a very difficult and time-consuming skill and therefore an additional $15 charge is placed on each necklace ordered. We do have several necklaces that come knotted every two or four or five pearls, please ask your Distributor for details. Knotting your pearls really only serves one purpose; it keeps your pearls from flying everywhere should the necklace be yanked on by a child.
How can I become a Distributor?
Because My Princess Pearls is a Wholesaler, becoming a Distributor is a financially rewarding experience for everyone. Becoming a Distributor is a very simple process. Visit our Distributor Page for an application or ask your personal Distributor.
What is an ‘Illusion or Cable' Necklace?
These necklaces have been nicknamed anything from ‘Floater, Cable, Net, or Rope'. Illusion seems to fit the best because once it is around your neck, there truly is an ‘illusion' of pearls floating around your neck! The cable necklace is so-called because we have placed a 1mm crimp on either side of the pearl in order to keep it in place while the tigertail wire (cable) is used as spacing between the pearls.
Can I get a different clasp?
We offer our necklaces in a Antiqued Push Clasp or Lobster Clasp. These clasps may be changed out at any time for an $8 fee to cover the cost of supply. Please note however that the clasps currently in use are the ones we found to be the best for that particular jewelry item.
How quickly will I receive my jewelry?
We stock most of our white pearls year round, and will ship your order within 48 hours of purchase. It is our goal to have your jewelry to you as soon as possible; however, our source is halfway across the world, and there could be some time delay, which is why we always project 3-4 weeks for our rare pieces. Due to the fluctuation of the pearl season, sometimes an item may go ‘back-ordered' even after the order is placed. If this occurs, the customer will be notified by the Distributor or a Customer Care Specialist. Communication is the key to success in any business!
Do all necklaces come in different colors?
We currently offer each of our necklaces in White (WH) *Pink (PI) Peach (PE) Black (BK) and *Peacock (PK) Grey (GR) and *Bronze (BR). (*Dependent on seasonal availability)
Why might it take 3-4 weeks for delivery?
We are not kidding when we say that the jewelry comes from Asia! And that is halfway across the world! We have quite a bit of stock on hand, but in many instances, items need to be ordered, created and shipped. The 3-4 week delivery time allows us to guarantee the arrival of your jewelry to you within a logical time frame should the item not be in stock.
What if I have sensitive ears?
Our earring posts are 100% hypo-allergenic. We offer both 10k gold and gold plated as well as Sterling Silver.
How do I care for my pearls?
Pearls are one of the simplest gems to care for. All of our items are delivered with
a Genuine Pearl Care card that will explain this. The main thing to remember is
the Last thing on, First thing off rule. Put the pearls on AFTER doing hairspray, perfume and make-up and take them off BEFORE going to bed/jumping in the shower each night.
Do my strands need to be re-strung? How often?
Pearls worn frequently (more than 3 times a week) should be re-strung about once a year or so. If they are worn more on an informal basis, re-stringing should occur every 3-5 years. See your distributor for re-stringing needs and options. My Princess Pearls offers re-stringing on our own products as well as jewelry from other suppliers. Price varies depending on length of jewelry piece and complexity. |
View Cart | My Account
