pick a pearl setting

[Sandy321]

so sad about rude Mary!

I love my SS setting I got in Japan/Epcot!! DH got it for me - it was our 25th wedding anniversary - I wanted silver - and when I wear it - I am remided of the WHOLE trip - it wasnt about the money - it is about the memories!!

Also - I never realized but often the "white" gold has to be "redipped"!

give me Sterling Silver any day!

 

[mistee]

what did this mary look like? i had a bad experience there also w/ a moody worker. she drilled my pearl w/o asking so i then had to get it set!

 

[CruznLexi]

On our trip I looked at Typhone Lagoon and then later in the day at Epcot. It seemed that the one at TL had no personalty so we went with Epcot. We did it late at night and it was crowded. The girl in front of me picked twins I was worried it would not fit into my carriage. I could not tell how good my oyster was as the water was murky. I picked a white pearl that is 7 1/2 they even beat the drums! Also was on Disney Magic and no pearl cages.

 

[That'sNotVeryMagical]

And let me also clearly state that while the DTD folks were quite snooty in their comments about the women working in Japan ("oh they just bring those girls from Japan for 6 months and they don't know what they're doing. We've been in business for over 80 years"), the folks in Japan NEVER said anything rude about the Hawaiin pearl people but rather politely said they could not set the pearls and they were very sorry about that.

That would have made me so angry. First of all, many of those girls are college students; no one expects them to be master jewelers or whatever the DTD people think they should be (does experience really matter anyway)?

And secondly, I would have said "wow, you've been working here for 80 years?!"

 

[dolphingirl47]

I have already posted about the Pick A Pearl at Seaworld. When I got back from the cruise, I went to Epcot and got my pearl. I got a 7.5 pure white pearl that I put somewhere so safe that I still have not found it again.

I was a little disappointed that I only got white pearls and towards the end of the vacation I went back to Epcot and picked another two oysters. I got, you guessed it, pure white pearls. One was 7 and the other oyster contained twins of 6.5 each. I was really pleased with this. I had the twins turned into simple stud earrings and the single pearl I had set in a dolphin cellphone charm.

Corinna

 

[Dcvintage]

luvmyfam444 that's terrible! I would complain, that company is located in Hawaii too and they always try to convince you to buy expensive stuff but they aren't supposed to get nasty about it, they have a website http://www.pearl-factory.com/ see if you can email them on the customer service section. And thanks for the warning! I am not sure but I know I have read complaints about the DTD pearl factory somewhere, maybe Yelp.com. I always go to Japan but the pearl factory has an octopus setting I really want, so now I plan to go to the pearl factory outside the beach club near Epcot so I don't run into that Mary, she sounds very cranky. I'm printing out a picture of the setting and making sure they have it first before I pick a pearl, if they don't I'll pass. I'm still going to Japan though saved up a good amount of spending money and don't want to miss it

 

[mchelle77]

I just got back on Wednesday and did the Pick a Pearl in Japan in Epcot. What's funny is that we went to DTD on our first day (Monday) and I saw the "Mary" lady at that location. She had a FACE on her.

The next day (Tuesday) we were in Epcot so I did it then. I LOVED it! I was sure I'd get a ring but when I saw all of the settings I realized I'd be knocking that all over the place (like I do with my engagement ring - at least that's insured and can be fixed easily and freely! ) I ended up getting a pendant that I LOVE. I actually like it more than I did any of the ring settings, so I'm very happy.

I can't remember what I paid for it, but the total (for the pearl and the pendant) was about $50.

 

[wdwmickey]

mchelle77--DD and I both chose this necklace Glad you're enjoying it.

 

[lubbylu]

Just wondering if anyone that's visited recently can remember if the octopus setting like the one on the Pearl Factory website was available at Epcot?

Sort of a 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea/Little Mermaid/Pirates of the Carribean theme... ooh with a black pearl even more fun!

We're going in 2 weeks and having lunch at Teppan Edo one day so I'm definately planning on doing this before lunch and picking it up afterwards

 

[Princess Bling]

My DD and I did this in October and we loved it. We went to the Japan Pavillion. Everyone there is so nice and the selection and prices are much better than the Pearl Factory in Downtown Disney. We both got 7mm pinkish white pearls. I will post pics later.

 

[Princess Bling]

lubbylu, the Japan Pavillion has a different selection than the Pearl Factory. I think they are two different companies, but not sure. I did not see an octopus setting when I was there.

 

[mskayjay]

Pearl Factory in DownTown Disney is not affiliated with the folks at Japan at all. You are absolutely correct.

 

[robert88]

Wow, those prices really add up!

Haha, like this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY7oV6RegxE! Maybe when I start coughing up money I'll consider it!

 

[Princess Bling]

Robert88, the prices may be a little high but considering they have many choices that are sterling silver helps keep the budget down. Hope this helps.

 

[mskayjay]

Pearl Factory has very few pieces in silver. Anyone else who has been there please pipe in on this but from what we personally were offered, there were plain studs to mount your pearls on as earrings and one very basic quarter basket that would go over the top of the pearl so it could hang on a chain. That was it.

At the Japan pavillion, almost half of the settings are moderately or even cheaply priced silver and the other half is gold. You can choose which way to go.

The other difference about the two places is that Pearl factory tells you a "value" of your pearl based strictly on the size. In Japan they will tell you no value because just as a diamond needs to be evaluated for imperfections, etc. so too do pearls need to be evaluated and valued. If you believe you are getting a pearl worth hundreds of dollars for every $17 oyster you open.....why would Pearl Factory give them to you for that price? Seriously. You may in fact get one that is exceptional but without a professional looking at it there is no way to tell. They all look the same to me so I don't care about the value of mine though I sure do love my blue/silver one! I asked in Japan if they knew when they looked at the pearls if they were of exceptional grade or not and each time I asked the answer was "no, there is a special person who does that" and it makes sense. Just like a diamond grader does with those items.

 

[Princess Bling]

I do agree that the Pearl Factory had very limited choices in silver. On the other hand the Japan Pavillion had many choices. If anyone is debating doing this or not, I would say go for it. I love my necklace and every time I wear it I think of Disney and good times. I would go to the Japan Pavillion, the people there are much nicer.

 

[squirrel]

My niece and I did the pick a pearl in Epcot. My niece picked a white/cream pearl that was 7 1/2 mm. I got twins-6 1/2 and 6 3/4mm also white/cream.

I had bought the Cinderella Cage before leaving for WDW and remembered to pack them and bring them with us to Epcot. I put the larger of the twins in my cage and my niece's just fit in her cage.

 

[robynchic]

I am thinking of bringing my own setting for when I pick my pearl. Will they use my setting (I didn't know if you must purchase one from them for it to be set).

I have been looking at settings. How exactly do they do the setting? Is it glued, do they drill, etc.

Don't pick a setting ahead of time. I had picked out a setting in their display case before getting my pearl, and when I saw the size of the pearl, it would have looked horrendous in the setting I had chosen (the pearl was too big). So I picked another setting (a horseshoe) and it's gorgeous. I get so many compliments on it!

 

[CruznLexi]

I did the PAP in Jpan in Oct. I had seen the booth at Typhoon lagon and it just was like something that could be in a mall. The one in Epcot had the more Dsiney feel. We did it around 9pm at night so they were getting close to closing. It was packed but only another girl and I were picking. It was a great experience. I paid for my pearl and then got to pick one. I had bought the cindy carriage on line before the trip and was hoping my pearl would fit. The girl in front of me had picked twins. I pickd not the biggest but it was pretty ugly. And it was 7 1/2 it was just a little bit pink. They did have some nice settings but all I wanted this trip was the pearl to go in the cindy cage. They did have some cages but I did not buy any. No mickey themed. Later in the week we were to eat at Chef's to see Remi so we stoped by this was about noon and hardly anyone here. if you don't want to be rushed this is the time to go.

We went on the magic that Saturday and there are NO cages on the ship. There is the oyster in can with the pearl. It was either $29.95 or $19.95.
Lexi

 

[Princess Bling]

I would love to see pics of everyone's pearls. I am still trying to figure out how to post mine on here.