In Reply to: Great info posted by LynneeD on Saturday, 10. February 2007 at 05:46 Bali Time:
Yes, I've seen really low quality for as little as 300rp per gram. If the pearl is a very small seed pearl that makes the cost of a string less than a dollar. That sort of quality doesn't sell well in Australia.
Also I bet the clasps were junk and the string half rotten. I've seen them actually put a clasp (that costs them Rp5000 for 100) on the temporary string the pearls come on and sell - which is why you see so many 15" necklaces with the beachsellers (the ones who don't know what they are doing anyway).