Hi Danaloo,

Your friend may not like "big" jewelry but she might not like "tiny" either and 3-4mm is really tiny. 7-8mm is not as big as you may think and in the right quality it has the subtle glow generally associated with delicate jewelry. (delicate/classy/timeless)

By "scrawny" I take it you really mean swanlike/long/slender (!!) and if so 7-8mm will look perfect but if you mean bony/scraggy a 3-4mm will only draw attention to the "scrawniness". Bearing in mind that even the "scrawniest" of necks are likely to thicken with age, I'd say 3-4mm is too "dainty".

If your friend is extremely petite and fine featured, 7-8mm earrings might be on the big side and the same might apply to a multi-strand necklace unless the pearls are very small.

With $500.oo to spend, I think your best bet is top quality freshwater. Have you checked out the "freshadama"?

But why not just give her your gran's necklace, if you know she really loves it, unless you have very good reason to think it is worth more than you are willing to give.

Keep us posted!