Carl,
are you strong? Sit down - listen to me. Just kidding....!

But, truely, I just thought it were stupid and Octopussy not to tell you the full truth. I looked at the strand again just now. Here my honest statements, the best I can say in all honesty!

The strand looks good, yes! Amber always look gold, when real and old, like yours. And it is real and old. All of it (I canīt see clearly only 3,4,5 pieces twoards the knot). But it is NOT a gorgeous strand. I think you wanted a statement in that direction. What else could you want, since we do not talk about the differences in chemical composition of brown and yellow amber.

Take all none-golden pieces out and make a new strand. Weight both piles, golden and non-golden. Depending on where and when youīve bought it....

....maybe you should tell me first, if you want my "online examinations" going into financial detail or not. I do not want to deliver something you may wanna keep private. Or a private mail maybe...?

Not the the darker pieces were useless - they are not. But they are different, lower in price and the reason is simply a lesser desire and demand.

A tip: take a soft piece of fabric and "oil" the strand. Yes, take olive oil, thatīs the best and used in Morocco too to give the beads a matt-shine and some more classs. You must repeat that now and then. Amber needs some care now and then! Itīs simply and easy!

I repeat, what I said in another context and previous mail: what dealerīs say is totally irrelevant, unless you know your dealer for a long/er time and he confirmed being knowledgable. You must understand that they are dealers. Not collectors. If beads or amber - generally spoken - makes and is no difference. As Muslims they have an ethic of their own, also regarding lying and misrepresenting. I can only assume youīre wise enough to understand the real meaning of my words. Do not make me say that "I love and respect them" or bullshit like that. I am talking facts here, regardless of religion, education, nationality, age, sex or color. This guys are all rather religious and take the Quaran real serious. Maybe you know what Muhammed, founder of that religion, had said about trade and how to trade with the unfaithful to Allah. All those things must be known - and I am rather superficial here to say the least - if one is dealing with a black Muslim dealer. What Iīm saying is: they usually do not know much about their stuff (exceptions, as everywhere, just confirm this rule) and for them itīs no lie nor bad, when they "verbally enhence" this merchandise. Itīs your obligation as buyer to have knowledge too. Itīs your money, in the end! To trust them, just because you wanna treat them with political correctness, just because theyīre black, authentic and from Africa, is not advisable! Such a delaer will NEVER EVER cheat you, will not take a single penny more than was agreed to. They are correct businessman in their majority, but,....again,....read the Quran to understand the rest! I enjoy making deals with them, a lot even. To me thatīs way better and more funny and "happy" than with any white-collar baby which has never set a foot onto African soil. But....ok, you got it - the Quran should be written first (at least as "introduction to the subject").

Iīm saying: a strand sold as FULANI can be, but do not necessarily has to be FULANI alone. You have to say, you have to know "itīs Fulani". When buying a car, you come with clear ideas to the dealership too, donīt you?

Depending on the price you paid, it can be a good strand. Really gorgeous amber - seen with Moroccan/Malian eyes, at least - looks some better, bigger (what are the sizes of your beads? I can only guess, based on experience), rounder, more regular and completely golden.

One strange thing: the elaborately and carefully repaired pieces, also those with fine end-capps (mostly Mauritanian though), are same, if not higher in price. A repair of this amber is no decrease of price. OK, common knowledge!

....where are the girls?
BOND needs to rest.