My sincere answer is "How will you know discount pearls when you find them?"
Information is your best answer and I can help.
Discount shouldn't mean low quality.
And lower grades do not mean lower quality.
It is only a discount if the product is what it says it is, and it is sold for less than an exact equal. Department stores sell discount pearls but the pearl value factors are not equal.
The retail pearl business in the US has not changed much, and jewelry and department stores are not the place to get discount pearls. Department stores sell pearls at discount prices; but, with lower grades than the online pearl jewelry store. Jewelry stores cannot sell a specialty item like pearls and be competitive.
The US based and owned online pearl jewelry store is the best place to buy pearls. Why the US?
Because of trust, and service; if you need to return something, you can feel confident that the jewelry will arrive back in one piece. We place our address for all to see.
Some stores like Sunshine Pearls only carry the better pearl grades and we sell at around 75 to 85 percent less than a jewelry store or department store for equal value. The prominent stores like Sunshine Pearls buy directly from the pearl farm. We sell pearls below the cost of jewelry stores.
It is best buy practice to go with a return policy like ours which is hassle free. Choose a company and buy what you want, then choose another company and check the price/quality of each. As long as they are a good company they will accept the return.
The best buy in my opinion is the Freshwater Pearl, our quality is superb in these. We string the same as our akoya pearls and use the same solid gold clasps and the same guarantee.
Best bet, choose the higher grades Freshwater Pearls. See our article on Coco Chanel.
For fun and guilt free buying experience, choose the lower grades of Freshwater Pearl Jewelry.
My advice, don't allow price be your sole determining factor, UNTIL you know pearl quality and pearl grades.
We have many pearl articles and pearl information to help you to quickly become an expert on buying pearls.