| There really is no absolute standard.
We drill akoya and freshwater pearls for necklaces that are of average size at .6 mm, standard stud earrings at .8 mm, and pendants and fancy earrings (Tahitians, South Sea, etc.) at .9 mm. We Tahitian and South Sea strands from .7 mm to 1.0 mm depending on the size. We have drill bits that range from .5 mm up to 2.2 mm. We use them all for different pieces.
If a pearl has been drilled for a pendant or earring setting it can be used for a necklace, but that is not recommended. The pearl will likely have a slightly larger hole than the others in the strand and may not wit well on the knot.
I don't think there is a standard price for drilling pearls, but I imagine most would not charge more than a dollar or so if a lot of pearls are to be drilled. Most of the time we do not even charge people for a couple of pearls because it really only takes a few minutes. |