On our Palawan trip last March (which I haven’t blogged about, sorry!), buying a South Sea Pearl wasn’t part of the plan. I’m not really into jewelries or pearls, or maybe I’m not yet on the phase that values jewelries, or maybe I just cannot afford to buy real ones :p.
Delma Pearl and Souvenir Shop
We visited a souvenir shop, Delma Pearl and Souvenir Shop at Mercado de San Miguel, right after going to Baker’s Hill. We just wanted to buy pasalubong like the usual cashew, keychains and ref magnets, plus Nanay’s request, wild honey. The tricycle driver took us at Delma Pearls, a one-stop pasalubong center. Upon entering the shop, the first thing you’ll see are the pearls, pero dedma lang ako nung una because I’m there for the kasoy, lol! After paying at the cashier, I decided to peek into the pearls, and just for curiosity’s sake, I asked how much are the small loose pearls. I have no idea how many mm. but the attendant said Php 1,000. I then asked if they are South Sea Pearls, she said yes. Oooooh, and I thought South Sea Pearls are expensive, my idea of South Sea Pearls pricing are like Jewelmer’s, I was wrong. Or maybe, pearls in Palawan are really that cheap! Jeff was waiting outside the store, and I blabbed about how cheap the pearls are (not really hinting him to buy, wala talaga kasi akong plano). He then walked inside the store and asked me to choose what I like. Nag-panic ako hahaha! I don’t want to buy out of impulse, pero sige na nga! Here’s what I got…
sorry for the grainy photo, will post a proper one
I’m not really knowledgeable on South Sea Pearls, I just got the smallest stud earrings in champagne. The attendant said that natural colors of the pearl are white, cream, and champagne. We got this pair for Php 1,000. Upon paying at the cashier, tinanong pa ako kung magkano daw bigay sa akin, I said Php 1,000, I thought to myself, pwede pala tumawad :(. Di bale next time…
Mommies, anyone knowledgeable about pearls? Do you think my SSP are of good quality or not?
Very nice of you to have that pair of pearl earrings. Hope you enjoy with this piece.
I just love pearls. Besides being my birthstone, I love its simplicity coupled with elegance.
i guess pearl earrings can classify as class A, B and so on as like Jade Bracelets. and I guess real pearls are very expensive. anyhow the earrings you got looks very nice! x0~ http://www.tauyanm.com
Hehe you should have haggled first! I think everywhere in the Philippines you can do that except in the malls where the items are already with the fixed tag prices.
WOW! Php1000? Check out the overpriced pearls that they sell at Greenhills tiangge and you’ll realize how lucky you are for buying a pair of pearl earrings in Palawan. What more kung sa classy stores pa here in the metro?
Pearls are always a classic and those are just lovely!
Pearls always put the glamour to the Filipinas. Sayang, I remember the time when I went to Divi and bought everything on original price and when I got home, I realized na bakit hindi ako tumawad.
I hope to visit Palawan someday with my family or maybe all of the famous travel destinations in the Philippines, I hope you had a great time there and those earrings are really all time favorite of mine.
I think it’s regular to haggle price at souvenir shops.
Nice! Im sure they look good on you. Too bad, Im not really into pearls.
I likewise went all out with pearls shopping in Delma’s and Cora’s when we visited Palawan last January! From what I can remember, the owner says that their pearls are genuine but the reason they’re cheap is that they’re not perfectly refined/shaped. According to her, foreigners typically buy pearls from them and bring them to other countries like Singapore wherein they shape the pearls. They then sell the pearls for higher prices. 🙂
You can actually have it in just half the price. The quality of our pearls are really good.
I think the Delma Pearl and Souvenir Shop is a nice stop-over for tourists who love wearing accessories.
I’m not a big fan of pearls but I used to own some pair of earrings! Kaya lang I lost them na 🙂 But I still find pearls pretty!
Your studs look beautiful!
I am not an expert with pearls, but after dealing with a few jewelers in the past, genuine South Sea pearls will cost you at least a few thousand per stud. Top quality will cost around P10,000 per stud, about 13mm in size.
I think a woman can never go wrong with pearls. They are so elegant.
Ang ganda ng earrings, I love pearl earrings and this is beautiful. 😀 It looks elegant and classy 😀
My boss from the US once visited PH and they also flew to Palawan. When got back, they bought couple of these pearls. Back in the US she got it evaluated to be insured and turns out it has way more value than she expected. 🙂
This is what they call the Golden South Sea Pearl, with colors that range from champagne to deep gold. It’s a steal for 1k, sis. 🙂 My love for pearls grew after I received a set of Mikimotos, which my Mum handed down on my wedding day. 🙂
Nice to know this info Eunice!
I love pearls and I have a few of such beautiful stuff. Based on what I know, from asking the pearl vendors, the imperfection of the pearl is what makes lessen its price.
I only have one pair of southsea earrings tapos nawala pa how sad. I wish I can go to palawan!! Mag hoard ako ng south sea promise!
I love South Sea pearls also because they are simple but elegant looking. They can dress up any outfit. You surely got it for a bargain.
That looks like a pretty pair! I think it’s important to be able to get the pearls at a good price then you can always reset it into real gold. Champagne and gold pearls look gorgeous in yellow gold. I had my champagne pearls reset in 14k gold and nagmahal sya tingnan especially pag makapal yung setting . (Some muslims sell 14k pakaw pero manipis ang yari.)They’ll never know you got it for 1k! 🙂
That’s my plan Maica! I’m just looking for a trusted alahera to have my pearls reset in real gold :). And yeah, I agree, the champagne ones go well with gold. 🙂
Please email me if how can we purchase I am in Mindanao and willing to purchase your good. pls send me your contact number so that I can personally call your office.
Hi misisb! Were u able to find an alahera who can reset Pearls?
Hi Star, hindi pa eh. Okay pa naman kasi yung kasama na pakaw.
Maam sori po pero ang mga binibili nyo n pearls ay di po galing palawan, galing po yan ng china, pearl farms s amin(frm palawan po ako) di makakaproduce ng ganyan kamura and alam ko kc kilala ko mga saleslady dumadating jan from china marami boxes and ang iba pinapagawa ang set s bulacan
Hi Kat, I appreciate your comment :). Sorry din if I assumed that they are SSP since first time kong bumili ng ganun and I believed what the store said. Saan kayo yung marerecommend mo na store sa Palawan selling genuine South Sea Pearls and what are the price range for that?