[Caitlin]

Hi ilovepearls

What a great id!

There are arguments raging on this forum about the pearl plated beads vs the solid nacre pearls. The general concensus is that the solid nacre pearls last for generations, while the pearl plated beads do show their wear in less than a decade.

There are many threads on this forum to that effect. While Mikimoto is the most expensive, most of the price is for the brand recognition. The finest Akoyas (the type of pearl Miki sells) can be had for a fraction of the price elsewhere, and they will be as beautiful when new, and wear out just as quickly with daily wear. Perfume does not help. Try to keep it away from the pearls where they touch your skin.

I am sorry to tell you that for Mikis, it is the clasp, the box and the certificate that retain their value, not the pearls themselves. They do discolor with wear and the nacre even wears off the mother of pearl bead inside.

I think you and hubby should educate yourselves thoroughly about pearls if you want investment quality that will endure. Much info is to be had on this forum.

I am so sorry to rain on your parade, but most jewelers, even the ones with integrity are not well educated about pearls. They only know what the pearl source they use-in your case Mikimoto, says about the pearls. Pearls are far more subtle and complex than diamonds, for instance, and even the GIA course and trainings on pearls, which few jewelers invest in, are beginner courses.

If you want investment quality pearls that will stand up to daily wear for the next seven years, I recommend top of the line Chinese Cultured Freshwater pearls of the best quality, such as Jeremy Shepherd sells. They are solid nacre and have a luster and orient comparable to the best natural pearls of old. Natural, wild pearls are not to be had any more from the wild, and the ones iin circulation go for astronomical prices, but the Chinese CFWP are new to the market and have not been selling at their full worth, though the market is going up even as we speak. The best quality of the freshwater pearls are the absolutely best buy and the most beautiful pearls to be had.

Do not take my word for it. Read this forum, you would have to pay $136 to get the textbook on pearls by Elizabeth Strack, as it is not available in this country yet, so this forum provides a better education on pearls than you can get anywhere else.