Well, the pearls will speak for themselves anyway - it really feels better to get compliments without having to explain how expensive an otherwise undistinguished object is. 'Brand name' stuff might really need some explaining when pearl are involved - the hyped ones are not always as nice as the label would have you believe and the lack of independent grading makes things worse than for diamonds, say. Better get fine looking pearls than branded any day - and it can't hurt if they are either large, long or by other factor the strand is impressive (second what other said about multiple strands of smaller 'Freshadama' pearls, or a longer one...). I might be mistaking here, but I think that you can have a freshadama strand composed on order (if longer ones, graduated or multiple strands of some specification you want are not on the list already). Matching earrings might fit in too.

My 2c


(btw. the really nice freshwater might be more than $300... quite a bit).