We randomly purchased
a famous brand
bracelet from a local jewelry store licensed to sell this Famous
Brand on September 16, 2000. We sent the bracelet to EGL
USA in New York, a well recognized jewelry testing laboratory,
for an independent appraisal of the Famous Brand bracelet value
and nacre thickness. We also sent a number of Pearl Oasis necklaces
to EGL USA for verification of our value and quality.
Here are the
results of this Famous Brand bracelet test. Quite frankly,
the results of the test surprised both EGL and us.
The Famous Brand bracelet only appraised for
the purchased price and the nacre thickness
was in a range (.25mm to .3mm) considered thin. The
Pearl Oasis AA+ and AAA pearl necklaces that we sent to EGL USA
at the same time all appraised for at
least twice our selling price, and had nacre thickness
substantially greater (.35mm, .4mm and thicker) than the Famous
Brand bracelet. Nacre thickness is a strong indicator of akoya
pearl quality. The thicker the nacre, the better the quality of
the pearl. Below you can read the details of the EGL USA testing, see
the actual EGL appraisal for the Famous Brand bracelet and
the EGL appraisals of the Pearl Oasis necklaces,
and our
actual selling price for the tested Pearl Oasis necklaces .
Pearl Oasis now offers the widest size range of Hanadama Grade cultured
pearl necklaces of any on-line retailer. Hanadama grade is the
highest quality grade and is certified by the Pearl Science Laboratory,
recognized third party authority on pearl quality. That Famous
Brand even characterizes its pearls as hanadama, but offers
no third party certificate to prove it. See
our full collection of Hanadama Grade pearl necklaces along with
the actual certificate from the Japan Pearl Science Laboratory
for each necklace.
The Details of Our Test
During September 2000, we shopped in the Washington, DC USA
area for a Famous Brand pearl bracelet to compare with our pearl
jewelry. We visited Bloomingdales in Tyson's Corners Mall,
Bailey, Banks & Biddle
in Pentagon City Mall and Tyson's Corners Mall, and Lenkersdorfer
Fine Jewelers in Tyson's Corners Mall.
We found
that all licensed dealers of the Famous Brand sell the jewelry
at the same price with no discount. We also found that even
these large jewelry stores only had one or two pearl bracelets
to choose from. The only Famous Brand grades we were able
to find were A1, A+ and A. Lenkersdorfer Fine Jewelers in Tyson's
Corners Mall actually had the best selection to choose from
and we bought the pearl bracelets from Lenkersdorfer on September
16, 2000.
For a 7-inch,
6.5 to 7mm, A1 grade Famous Brand pearl bracelets, we paid $
970.00 plus $ 43.65 Virginia sales tax for a grand total of
$ 1013.65. The Famous Brand bracelet has
Famous Brand signature clasp in 18-carat gold. We now use only
18-carat gold clasps for AA+ and AAA necklaces and pearl bracelets.
This bracelet was never worn and was stored and used to visually
compare against our AA+ and AAA loose pearls.
In 2002, We decided
to obtain independent appraisal from a recognized jewelry testing
laboratory to see how Pearl Oasis quality compared to the Famous
Brand quality. We sent the Famous Brand pearl bracelet and a
sample of our AA+ and AAA grade Pearl Oasis necklaces to the European
Gemological Laboratory (EGL) for testing and appraisal.
What we discovered was surprising. The Famous Brand pearl bracelet
only apprised for the purchased price and the nacre was .25 mm
to .30mm thick. Click
here to see the Famous Brand pearl bracelet EGL report. The
Pearl Oasis necklaces consistently appraised for twice the selling
price and had nacre thickness .35mm, .4mm and thicker. GIA considers
nacre thickness a strong indicator of akoya pearl quality. The
thicker the nacre, the better the quality of the pearl. Below
are links to the EGL appraisals of the sample of our AA+ and
AAA grade Pearl Oasis necklaces. All of the samples have sold,
but you can click
here to see our current EGL-UGL certified items.
EGL Results for the Famous Brand Pearl Bracelet
Click the links below to see the EGL-UGS appraisal for the Famous
Brand bracelet.
EGL
Report (appraised: $970, Bought from Lenkersdorfer
Fine Jewelers for $970)
EGL Results for Pearl Oasis Pearls
Click the
links below to see the EGL-UGS appraisal for a sample of Pearl
Oasis AA+ grade pearl necklaces tested and sold.
NEX4101 (appraised:
$2400, Sold: $1200), NDX4301 (appraised:
$3000, Sold: $1350)
NDX5001 (appraised:
$2895, Sold: $1158), NE4002 (appraised:
$2400, Sold: $1200)
NEX4201 (appraised:
$2900, Sold: $1305), NF4004 (appraised:
$3050, Sold: $1525)
Click the
links below to see the EGL-UGS appraisal for a sample of Pearl
Oasis AAA grade pearl necklaces tested and sold.
NCX4006 (appraised:
$2850, Sold: $1140), NDX5021 (appraised:
$2800, Sold: $1120)
ND5004 (appraised:
$4000, Sold: $1200), NEX5400 (appraised:
$4500, Sold: $1800)
NEX5418 (appraised:
$4850, Sold: $1940), NF5002 (appraised:
$4500, Sold: $1800)
A word of
caution when buying that Famous Brand . Sea
Magic by "the Famous Brand" consists of
three grades: Platinum, Gold, and Silver. According to an email
we received from a representative of "the
Famous Brand", "select
styles"
in the Silver grade are made from Freshwater Cultured
Pearls not Saltwater Cultured Pearls. It seems to us
that the Famous Brand's use of the word "Sea" in Sea
Magic with respect to
the "select
styles" of
their Silver grade is at least confusing if not deceptive since
they are not made from akoya or "sea" pearls. Goodness
knows how one identifies the "select
styles" that
are made from freshwater pearls. We do know that Kay Jewelers
are marketing this line Nationally and we asked a sales representative
at a local Washington, DC store if the pearls used in Sea
Magic were freshwater or saltwater. They did not inform
us that there were three grades and we were told that they all
were freshwater.
In a study done by the Federal Trade Commission
in 1979, they said:
Comparative advertising, when truthful and non-deceptive,
is a source of important information to consumers and assists
them in making rational purchasing decisions. Comparative advertising
encourages product improvement and innovation, and can lead
to lower prices in the marketplace. [FTC Policy Statement in
Regard to Comparative Advertising, 16 C.F.R. § 14.15(b)
(2003); see also R. Pitofsky, Beyond Nader: Consumer Protection
and the Regulation of Advertising, 90 Harv. L. Rev. 661, 671
(1977) (discussing the advantages to consumers and competition
that flow from comparative advertising).]
The comparison is not our opinion but is the finding of a recognized
jewelry testing laboratory (EGL USA).
Pearl Oasis tells you how it grades its pearls.
The Famous Brand does not tell you how it arrives at its grading.
Pearl Oasis was the first to offer appraisal of our quality from
a third party (EGL USA). The Famous Brand does not offer third
party appraisal. You be the judge of whether Pearl Oasis or the Famous
Brand offers you the best value. |
