Pick a Pearl - Enjoy and know

[Hisgirl]

I've done two things over the past twenty years: advised consumers on financial literacy topics and run a pearl business. I DO NOT SELL PEARLS. AGAIN, I NO LONGER SELL PEARLS BUT AM STILL STAYING IN THE LOOP OF EDUCATION. It's with this knowledge, I wanted to share with my fellow disboard friends so when you do go to a pick-a-pearl, you are going in with open eyes and some pearl knowledge. You are buying an experience. A wonderful experience!

I think it' great that you are enjoying this fun process, especially with your children. It's an amazing education for everyone to learn how an oyster and mussel grow nacre over a piece of oyster mantle tissue for a freshwater pearl and a round hard bead for an akoya saltwater pearl. (in cultured pearls, it isn't sand. Cultured just means that humans have helped mother nature by nucleating an oyster or mussel with mantle tissue and/or a bead).

Inside every fine akoya pearl is a hard, perfectly round bead. That is why after years of wear, often the nacre rubs off and you can see a bland bead underneath. (this is why I prefer high end freshwater pearls, but only the top .01% round.)

I've seen pictures of the pearls many folks have gotten at pick a pearl, and the perfectly round ones with the nice luster are bead nucleated pearls. They look very nice. If you happen to get one that is blue, grey, yellow, pink or lavender, know that they are freshwater pearls, which are grown by implanting many pieces of tissue into a mussel, which then causes nacre to grow. Again, if they are colored, they are freshwater, dyed, and not akoya. They may tell you otherwise, but akoya does not make these colors.

For these pick a pearl places, factories in Japan and also mostly in China, hand place those pearls into the mollusks. Then, the shells containing the pearls are dropped into a chemical solution that causes them to close up and stay closed until they are later opened at a pick-a-pearl place. Sometimes freshwater pearls will be placed into akoya pearl oysters. Freshwater pearls are identified by their colors and shape. Freshwater colors are often peach and lavender, blue, gray, black or green, and some of the pearls are slightly egg-shaped.

Again, just be aware that the pearls have indeed been put into these shells, they are not akoya saltwater pearls if they are colored (see above) or off round. This is a fact. You paid for smiles and a wonderful experience. Which is great!

If you do pay to have your pearl set into earrings or a ring and then later the pearl falls out of the setting, go to a craft store and find a two part epoxy. I used a 24 hour drying product. The less drying time expoxies have failed in the past. Mix the epoxy according to direction and using a tiny wire, place a tiny drop on the setting and inside the pearl. Set your pearl onto the setting point and let it sit for 24 hours. Do not get your pearls wet or the settings can loosen.

It does bother me when I see people paying the money they pay for a single pearl as you are paying about 1000+% mark up but again, seeing the joy and fun your kids have is priceless! If you are doing this to put a necklace together (as I have read some say), consider many local internet businesses that have heavy volume and excellent ratings. A beautiful necklace will run you around $100.

To give you some perspective on markup, I made a couple years ago, for my friend, a double strand, opera length 8mm pearl necklace. I paid $50 per stand wholesale (4 X $50) and the necklace appraised for $4900. For earrings, I paid $15 for the 14K gold setting, and about $12 for a pair of akoya 9MM perfectly round pearls. This was my price. I'm just giving you some perspective on markup. As a consumer, you too, can buy pearls this cheap if you know where to look.

Also know that there is not a grading system for pearls the same way diamonds are graded. It is always subjective. One person's AAA grade is another's A grade.

So don't get toooo excited if your pearl is 'appraised' at disney as being worth such and such dollars. Right now you can buy a very nice sized, high grade perfectly round pearl for $10 at many reputable places. That's full retail.

The pearl industry is HIGHLY competitive and prices have fallen tremendously since china began producing pearls. Also, pollution and natural disasters have wrecked havoc on oyster beds in Japan, thus putting more pressure on China to produce akoya-competing pearls.

Enjoy your pearl experience with open eyes and know your pearls! Don't see these places are your pearl source for an investment piece, see it as an awesome entertainment.

(I do hope this piece is read for what it's intended purpose is. Education. I understand why these pick a pearl places are popular. You are buying a great and unique experience. And that is priceless!)

 

[JanaDee]

I've done two things over the past twenty years: advised consumers on financial literacy topics and run a pearl business (no longer selling). It's with this knowledge, I wanted to share with my fellow disboard friends so when you do go to a pick-a-pearl, you are going in with open eyes and some pearl knowledge. You are buying an experience. A wonderful experience!

I think it' great that you are enjoying this fun process, especially with your children. It's an amazing education for everyone to learn how an oyster and mussel grow nacre over a piece of oyster mantle tissue for a freshwater pearl and a round hard bead for an akoya saltwater pearl. (in cultured pearls, it isn't sand. Cultured just means that humans have helped mother nature by nucleating an oyster or mussel with mantle tissue and/or a bead).

Inside every fine akoya pearl is a hard, perfectly round bead. That is why after years of wear, often the nacre rubs off and you can see a bland bead underneath. (this is why I prefer high end freshwater pearls, but only the top .01% round.)

I've seen pictures of the pearls many folks have gotten at pick a pearl, and the perfectly round ones with the nice luster are bead nucleated pearls. They look very nice. If you happen to get one that is blue, grey, yellow, pink or lavender, know that they are freshwater pearls, which are grown by implanting many pieces of tissue into a mussel, which then causes nacre to grow. Again, if they are colored, they are freshwater, dyed, and not akoya. They may tell you otherwise, but akoya does not make these colors.

For these pick a pearl places, factories in Japan and also mostly in China, hand place those pearls into the mollusks. Then, the shells containing the pearls are dropped into a chemical solution that causes them to close up and stay closed until they are later opened at a pick-a-pearl place. Sometimes freshwater pearls will be placed into akoya pearl oysters. Freshwater pearls are identified by their colors and shape. Freshwater colors are often peach and lavender, blue, gray, black or green, and some of the pearls are slightly egg-shaped.

Again, just be aware that the pearls have indeed been put into these shells, they are not akoya saltwater pearls if they are colored (see above) or off round. This is a fact. You paid for smiles and a wonderful experience. Which is great!

If you do pay to have your pearl set into earrings or a ring and then later the pearl falls out of the setting, go to a craft store and find a two part epoxy. I used a 24 hour drying product. The less drying time expoxies have failed in the past. Mix the epoxy according to direction and using a tiny wire, place a tiny drop on the setting and inside the pearl. Set your pearl onto the setting point and let it sit for 24 hours. Do not get your pearls wet or the settings can loosen.

It does bother me when I see people paying the money they pay for a single pearl as you are paying about 1000+% mark up but again, seeing the joy and fun your kids have is priceless! If you are doing this to put a necklace together (as I have read some say), consider many local internet businesses that have heavy volume and excellent ratings. A beautiful necklace will run you around $100.

To give you some perspective on markup, I made a couple years ago, for my friend, a double strand, opera length 8mm pearl necklace. I paid $50 per stand wholesale (4 X $50) and the necklace appraised for $4900. For earrings, I paid $15 for the 14K gold setting, and about $12 for a pair of akoya 9MM perfectly round pearls. This was my price. I'm just giving you some perspective on markup. As a consumer, you too, can buy pearls this cheap if you know where to look.

Also know that there is not a grading system for pearls the same way diamonds are graded. It is always subjective. One person's AAA grade is another's A grade.

So don't get toooo excited if your pearl is 'appraised' at disney as being worth such and such dollars. Right now you can buy a very nice sized, high grade perfectly round pearl for $10 at many reputable places. That's full retail.

The pearl industry is HIGHLY competitive and prices have fallen tremendously since china began producing pearls. Also, pollution and natural disasters have wrecked havoc on oyster beds in Japan, thus putting more pressure on China to produce akoya-competing pearls.

Enjoy your pearl experience with open eyes and know your pearls! Don't see these places are your pearl source for an investment piece, see it as an awesome entertainment.

(I do hope this piece is read for what it's intended purpose is. Education. I understand why these pick a pearl places are popular. You are buying a great and unique experience. And that is priceless!)

Ooook? Sounds more like a solicitation for customers for you than anything else.

 

[Hisgirl]

That's why I said at the top I no longer sell. I just added in capital letters that fact. I am only sharing some interesting pearl information. I love pearls and find them fascinating and everyone I associate with in the pearl industry is highly frustrated at the false information given to consumers at these sites. I think the experience is incredibly fun but I wanted to share some actual fun pearl info. JanaDee, I am not longer selling, and I stated that in my first sentence.

 

[eeyore45]

Thank you, I enjoyed the information!

Because they have "twin" pearls, I often wondered if they (whoever 'they' is) x-rayed the shells, I just felt that the place that sells these pick a pearl experiences know more than it seems... so now I know it is a farm system, that they do indeed know what is going on in the shells - and I think that the colored pearls are the most confusing, but aren't "white" pearls also colored in some instances?

and I know that since China has gotten in to the pearl industry, that the price of pearls is all over the place - but I do agree with you, that you are paying for an "experience" and it is a good souvenir! I also liked that on these boards people have posted where they have gotten settings to put their pearls (The Cinderella Cage is one I am remembering)

 

[Hisgirl]

Akoya, the most round and expensive salt water pearls, under 10mm, are often found in white, off white, ivory, silver looking, soft yellowish. But these are all a version of white. And yes, you are correct! Pearls are bleached. I think the cinderella cage is so cute!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Thank you, good info to know.

 

[ruthies12]

I found your post very informative, thank you!!

 

[Lauren's_Dad]

Going in two weeks and my daughter is excited about picking out the ugliest, hairiest oyster of the bunch and seeing if it has the most beautiful pearl (or twin pearls) inside, based on recommendations on other posts. None of us are terribly concerned about the quality of the pearl. Thanks Hisgirl for the information.

 

[wdwrich]

Ooook? Sounds more like a solicitation for customers for you than anything else.

Really? I read the entire post and didn't get that impression at all. It was actually very informative.

 

[Hisgirl]

Haha, if I were in the hide-the-pearl factory, I would choose the ugliest, bumpiest oyster for the nicest pearl!

 

[bababear_50]

Thanks for taking the time to share this information,I found it to be very informative.
Hugs Mel

 

[larryz]

Very informative -- thanks for sharing!

 

[ricosuave]

So it really doesn't matter if you pick the ugliest oyster at all since they place the pearls in there. My kids are doing pick a pearl this year and are super excited!

 

[Hisgirl]

Honestly, who knows. There are just many workers in factories in China and Japan opening shells, placing in various pearls and dipping them in a solution to be sent off to consumers. They are most likely working fast and grabbing shells without a thought in the world but there might be that smiling worker thinking, "I'll choose the ugliest shell for this beautiful pearl!".

All mollusk shells are pretty bumpy and ugly. I suppose it's a crap shoot either way. Have fun with your little ones doing this!

 

[KaptainK]

This was very informative and made me feel sad for the mollusks. I was going to try it on our last trip but it was raining too hard to walk over there. I don't think I do it after reading this.

 

[DisneyTasha]

This actually made me feel better about the process. I have never eaten lobster, because I can't stand to look at a living creature and say, in effect, "ok, kill THAT ONE!"

I felt the same about the oysters, but now I feel better. If I'm reading this right, these are just really empty shells. The mollusk inside has already been harvested, probably for a food source, and the shell repurposed for this. Is that correct? If so, I'm actually much relieved to hear this, as I think my kids will really enjoy this experience.

I always consider something like this as an experience, not an investment. When the Gulf Coast first put in casinos, we would go spend the day and $20. I didn't look at it as an investment, just as a great entertainment for a day, feeding nickels into a slot machine, walking around and enjoying the view, just BEING there. I see this as the same thing. It's a great experience that is fun for those involved, and you get a cute souvenir to take home. We will likely buy our "containers" for the pearls before we go, as my daughter will want a non-princess piece of jewelry, and my son wants something plain (a small jar?) to display his in. His thought is that when he gets older, he'll have it set nice and use it to propose! LOL

Thanks again for the information. I think it's always a good idea to know as much as you can about whatever it is you're thinking of doing.

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.disboards.com/threads/pick-a-pearl-and-kill-an-oyster.1619447

 

[Hisgirl]

Well, regarding what you said about harvesting the meat for food, in the pearl industry that isn't the case. These aren't 'eating' oysters. Some types of mollusks can be nucleated more than once...some, only once.

The fact is, the shells you see at pick a pearl in Epcot and in DTD are already dead, as they have been soaked in a chemical to close the shell back shut to hide the implanted pearl. You aren't the one killing it, but you are supporting an industry that does kill them.

If that bothers you...then I guess you don't eat any foods that contain gelatin, such as gummy bears, or marshmallows or...use worcestershire, as it contains anchovies. There are animal products all over the place. It's tough to live and let live. I respect anyone who live a vegan lifestyle but it's not something I choose to do.

I guess in a sense pearls are a bit like furs. A living thing died to give us fashion. Doesn't sound so luxurious when I put it that way.