I do not believe Joyce has offered a suggestion that price is a sole determinant in authenticating a bead.

I would imagine that she—and anyone—understands that it is always possible for a bead to be offered for a fraction of its value, if not recognized by the seller as being worth more. Finding such a bargain is something we all might hope to experience at one time or another.

Nevertheless, a truism that I promote at any appropriate time is this:

An unscrupulous seller will OFTEN try to sell a fake at a price that is higher then the actual value of the bead, but MUCH LOWER than the value if the bead were authentic.

As an example, A Roman Period face bead might be worth $3000. A copy of this bead might be worth $30. The unscrupulous seller will try to get $300—thus making ten times the actual value of the item, all the while making it appear that he/she is letting it go at a great loss.

THIS is what should make any potential buyer see a RED FLAG. Beads that seem to be offered at a severely reduced price are often misrepresented fakes. In the instance you are discussing, there is no overt misrepresentation—clearly—because the seller prices the bead low because he/she does not recognize it as valuable.

It is not a suggestion that there are no bargains on the horizon. And, this is only one step in determining likely misrepresentation and attempted fraud.

Jamey