In Reply to: pearls posted by robbieganteng on Saturday, 10. May 2008 at 07:52 Bali Time:
Yes, Lombok is certainly the best place to get pearls but as you will be in Bali I would check out the guy from Lombok. Most Java matrons visiting Lombok take back Lombok pearls for resale in Jakarta.
Depends what you want to pay...people just selling strands along the beach usually have freshwater pearls from China that are a dime a dozen - this goes for the beach sellers in Lombok as well.
Pearls from Lombok are either the mikimoto type (nice, round and white) and the South Sea type, mega price ones are round and the more irregular the cheaper but still not cheap but heaps less than Oz...some of the black ones are imported from Pacific Islands. Both these types are grown mainly off south Lombok (one has to wonder for how much longer with all the potential development there). Myself and friends have bought from reputable certified shops in Lombok at about 25% to 33% of valued price in Oz or UK.