Smooth briolettes do not sound like an expensive proposition - especially small ones.
I am not sure if I get the right picture of the necklace you describe... (like to dream with the eyes open though!)
How about these? They aren't even pearls....
7-19 mm silver beads from the 'Gamma' series by Robert Lee Morris: 
'Told you I like things graduated allot... maybe too much so.
