I believe that graduated strands were the norm for natural pearls and the early stages of PPB cultured, as the larger pearls were scarcer and seriously more expensive. Now the larger ones still are priced higher alright, but the cultured are available in quantity to make non-graduates strands. At any given time non-graduated would have been and still are priced higher, with the cost of larger pearls, and are more difficult to match. However, they are so common with cultured pearls that it is all very relative (higher price and availability). It looks that for smaller freshwater, the cost of matching the graduated strands is more than the easier matching of same-size - go figure

To me, graduate strands are the quintessential pearl look - no logic involved, just because they are a throw back to natural pearls. They are more comfortable and IMO, fall better on the neck than same-size in multi-strand necklaces. So all in all, I agree with your wife all the way.

I've seen some large 12-13mm freshwater pearls with one of the sellers posting here, but not Freshadama. I wonder if a graduated strand (say, 8-13mm) could not be put together, if you asked for it.

Just a non-expert, personal opinion, of course.


PS: Modern? Modern, same size are the relatively modern look. And those mix & match strands with different sizes (and colors) mixed at random without orderly graduation really are new kids on the block, as far as I can tell. The mix & match are quite intriguing and take some fashion guts to show up with, especially if the pearls are valuable. But that's the whole fun (wouldn't make a surprise gift of one though!)