Hi drop,

I admit my bias, but any serious pearl lover on a given budget will in my opinion get the better looking and higher overall quality from a graduated freshwater pearl strand compared to a South Sea PPB strand of the same price.

However, the larger high-quality freshwater pearls are vastly rarer than the South Sea PPBs. That may sound illogical and it definitely is absurd that the rarer, prettier, and higher-quality strand should cost relatively less but, at present, that is the case.

Just shop around. Even here in Fresno, EVERY jeweler has South Sea and Tahitian PPBs in a range of qualities and sizes or can get you some within a few days. If you ask them to get you a graduated 11-13mm freshwater strand in untreated pink with high luster and good surface (not to mention orient), you will draw a total blank. Nobody has one and nobody knows where to get one and if you are willing to find one for yourself, you better figure in a round-trip ticket to China plus accommodations and translator/driver services into the final price paid. Yet, all jewelers will first tell you that they are common as dirt and cheap and you will get a much better lasting value from South Sea or Tahitian PPBs although that is blatantly false.

Zeide