[Caitlin]

I had not given a thought to a pearl ring until this thread came up. I had my daughter bring mom's ring over so I could take a picture.

I think pearl rings are risky jewelry for everyday wear because they wear out in mere years if you wash dishes or otherwise treat it like a diamond engagement ring.

I have known several Margarets, Ritas, and other pearl girl's names whose husbands picked an akoya pearl ring for the engagement. Don't do that. Give your Pearl-named girl a necklace or earrings-anything but a ring if you want the gift to last unless you pick a solid nacre ring!

Now my mom's ring is one that has been worn often- but never to wash dishes or hands, or to put on lotion. It is a natural pearl from the Persian Gulf, so ordinary wear and tear will not take off the nacre like it does on an akoya pearl ring. If it does wear, there is always more nacre underneath, so it can be worn for generations and already has been.

So, I strongly recommend a natural pearl if you want a high quality, expensive pearl ring to outlast you!

If you want an inexpensive solid nacre pearl ring, try cultured Chinese freshwater pearls. They are the cultured pearl closest to the original wild, natural pearls.

Jeremy,
Would you please ask Reese what those earrings she wore at the Oscar were? We have differing points of view on that represented in this forum!

Also- here is my critique of your design. It is very stark, clean, almost industrial or spaceship. On the finger, the pearl is what the ring is about and only the pearl. This is not a ring worn daily for sentiment, but as an occasional ornament, meant to be worn as part of an ensemble It would never be worn to do housework to to a job either- except a board meeting, maybe--- it is for public occasions-
Interchangeable pearls make it interesting and make me wonder what else you could use those pearls for- a pendant that you can change the pearl on? A singleton drop earring?