I have ordered from a couple of Ebay dealers...one was nice but the other was yuch!  Does anyone know any reliable pearl dealers who have beautiful product and good prices??  I love pearls.  Thanks so much.

PS  Please do not tell me Fire MT or any other such companies...I don't really find those prices competitive.  Thanks again

Leda

No " Fire MT or any other such companies..."?  So I guess I should not mention reputable on line or catalog places like my own Rings & Things, or Jewelweaver or Joseph P Strachura Co or Wondersource or earthstone.com, all of whom carry pearls?

Or suggest that you visit one of my trunk shows so you can hand select pearls from a selection far wider than what is in our catalog? Or Americanpearl.com or orientalpearl.net?

If we can't suggest any of the regular established companies then we are left with the not always available or reliable e-bay sellers and you already are doing that. 

Guess I better get off my ....

Thank you Russ for ALL THOSE references.  I would love to come to a trunk show.  When are you around the Northeast area?

You are right I would much rather buy from someone who has a long standing reputation for good product.  thanks again   leda

I have to second R&T trunk shows, they have really good prices (everything except bali and a few other things at a Rings N Things trunk show is 50% off and and additional 15% off that!)  I've gotten some really nice one-of-a kind bead strands at the trunk show.  I get most of my pearls at G&L shows (Gem & Lapidary show, GW&L.com has the schedule by state).  You have to have a wholesale license for G&L but you can sometimes get real bargains there - I got 8mm pearls for $4/strand last year (most of the chinese dealers will bargain if you're buying quantity).  I got 10 strands for $40!  I used them for a wedding party and they went over great.  You can get just about anything at a G&L show.  I agree, don't bother with FM, their pearl prices are way out there!  Treasureislandpearls.com has some really good pearls, depends what you're willing to pay.  They also have nice semiprecious.

Good luck!

Angela

 Thanks, Angela, for the kind words.
Not everything we have is as competitively priced as the gemstone and pearl stands. A lot of the current Bali stock was purchased at the highest silver this year. <sigh> But it IS really from Bali. Our Indian and Israeli silver is all labeled  with country of origin so you can tell them apart.

We were in Rochester NY today, Leda. We'll be in Boston Saturday, followed by New Haven, down to NJ, Philidelphia, etc. The list is at http://www.rings-things.com/Show/interactivemap/show_list.htm . See my sig for other show links.

Sorry about my "attitude" on the first reply to your post. I guess I felt you lumped ALL established places in with FMG. I understand now that you just wanted places better than FMG. And there are plenty. As Angela suggests many of us have particular specialties. None of us are best in everything.

Thank you all.  No problem Russ...I am new at this and I do know FM is really inflated.  I appreciate all the sources and will be seeing you at one of you Trunk Shows.  I am really looking forward to it.  Russ I have read your comments and know you you to be an extreemly fair minded and even more so a very helpful and supportive person.  I appreciate all your advice...here and in the other threads.  Much thanks everyone!  leda

 You are very welcome, Leda.