Jusk Ask I would like to have a contact in Philippine so that I can purchase pearls at wholesale.

Hi Johnny the Philippines is called the Pearl of the Orient Sea and this could both apply figuratively and literally. The waters around  archipelago is very conducive to pearl culture that why some southwestern provinces have thriving pearl farms, Palawan having the most number. The famous jewelry store, Jewelmer, for example has a pearl farm in Busuanga, Palawan. There are many others who are usually co-owned by foreigners and are situated north of the Province. These pearl farms are culturing the saltwater pearls that are sold for several thousands apiece among all the Pearl bracelets are best sellers In Philippine Pearl farms only allow wholesale. Once the goods have been sold to them, they manufacturer and produce all different kinds of jewelries: rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and brooches. Some are sold in sets while others are sold individually. They also have some limited stocks for south sea and mikimoto pearls, two types of saltwater pearl. According to my source, the price of mikimoto is slightly lower than south sea but both cost several folds compared to the freshwater pearls. They many different types of freshwater pearls: siopao, for the cylindrical button type; rice pearl, for the near-round type; and dancing pearls, for the irregularly-shaped type. Dancing pearls are the choice of the youngsters because they make stylish bracelets which may be a combination of several colors. Rice pearls are for the professionals because this type is best for pure-pearl sets with necklace, bracelet and earrings. Siopao or the cylindrical button-type are ideal for earrings. A Sets of pearl are sold for a few hundreds of pesos, while individual pieces or pairs as in the case of earrings for less than a hundred. The materials used except for the pure-pearl sets are either gold-plated or silver-plated. Although products using 10-karat gold have started selling like hotcake. To distinguish whether the is authentic pearl or plastic, just light a matchstick and try to burn the piece. If it smells like plastic or melt, then no doubt, it not pearl. Real pearls can resist burn in high temperature they might be slightly deformed but the luster remains. Also, you can try rubbing two pearls together. A genuine pearl would turn powdery on the outside but once you rub the powder off, it will return to its lustrous shine. A plastic counterpart would simply rub off its color. The genuine colors of freshwater pearls can only be white, grayish-black, peach, tangerine or lilac. Red, blue, green and other colors are dyed products. Some if the local vendors get the pearl products for wholesale price. Many tourists do not mind paying big amount for a good quality pearl. This makes this business profitable for the locals. One of the pearl farmer reveal that a single freshwater mollusk or mussel is capable of producing up to 50 pearls at a time as compared to their saltwater counterparts like Akoya oysters that nurture one or two precious pearls at a time. This capability of freshwater pearls to be produced in masses is the major reason why it is sold at much lower prices. Hope that help.
The Philippines Pearl of the Orient