DSL Pearls

DSL Pearls (Est. 1915?) is owned by a family that has been in the jewelry business for four generations according to the firm’s official website. The business started nearly a century ago when the family’s grandfather traded turquoise. It was a lucrative business until turquoise went out of fashion. To keep the business going, the family began trading precious stones including rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds.

In 1983, a friend of the family, who was dealing pearls, asked the firm to sell his products. As it turned out, the company’s largest customer needed a pearl supplier and DSL became the middle man selling the friend’s pearls to its customers. At that time, the demand for pearls was increasing rapidly yet the friend stopped importing pearls. The family began to travel so they could buy cultured pearls directly from Japan.

Over the next two years, DSL began investing more time and energy into pearls and eventually this became the firm’s sole focus instead of colored gem stones. It was an easy conversion and unlike colored stones, there was no bad inventory.

Since 1985 the firm has produced and distributed only pearls. Representatives travel to pearl farms in the Far East and South Seas to buy first hand. The buyers travel to Japan, China, Australia, and Tahiti on a regular basis to collect beautiful pearls which are then brought to their offices where they are sorted, cleaned, and strung.

Today, DSL Pearls, located in the heart of the jewelry district on New York City’s West 47th Street, has an extensive collection of pearls including cultured pearls from Japan, freshwater pearls from China, and south sea pearls from Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Their authentic products come in all shapes, sizes, and colors so they can offer a variety of options from which to choose.

Their inventory consists of items that combine interesting pearls, including new bead-nucleated freshwater pearls from China, which many call “fireball,” in big, baroque shapes and natural colors like lavender and peach. Pearl strands in 18-mm to 20-mm-plus sizes, which wholesale for $1,000 and 13 mm to 16 mm, priced at $800, have sold very quickly.

In an interview conducted at a recent AGT Gem Fair, DSL partner Danny Livi said, “We also [do] well with mixed strands of peach freshwater pearls with bluish-white South Seas, which wholesale for $6,000 to $7,000 in 13-mm to 16-mm sizes, and $8,000 to $9,000 for larger sizes.”

The firm’s bestselling pieces include earrings, pendants, necklaces, rings, bracelets, and clasps. It offers diamond jewelry in rings, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and yellow diamonds. DSL also offers bridal jewelry such as engagement rings and wedding bands.

Their pearl earrings range from trendy styles to classic studs. These are made from Freshwater, Akoya, South Sea and Tahitian Pearls. Pearl pendants have been produced from Freshwater, South Sea, Tahitian, Golden, and Multi Color Pearls.

Necklaces use Freshwater, South Sea, Tahitian, and Multi Color Pearls. Rings are fashioned in South Sea and Tahitian Pearls.

Pearls have become an elegant yet trendy jewelry item. Today many celebrities, notably Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johanson, wear pearls, particularly pearl necklaces. Whether it’s a necklace containing Freshwater pearls which are the pearls of lower value or pearls such as Akoya, South Sea, or Tahitian, which are generally the pearls of higher value, celebrities are often seen wearing pearls.

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