[Nerida]

What a man! Not only does he want to buy pearls for his girlfriend, but get this part - he seeks advice!! It doesn't get any better than that.

I agree with all the advice to date:

freshadamas or gem quality from one of the other vendors
bigger pearls rather than smaller. If she was 22 years old, the smaller would be fine, but you know we all like bigger pearls..
18 inches is the length that will get noticed the most, because it will sit on her skin (where pearls truly come alive) much much more than a longer strand. Save the long strand (and now I'm talking 34 - 38 inches) for your anniversary or something else that is special.
rose overtones
don't forget matching stud earrings
pearl folders are sensational - I'm just in process of changing my packaging to deliver my pearls in folders...
then, unless you are a truly unique male and can gift wrap beautifully yourself - get your mum, your sister or a friend to do the wrapping for you...

[Pearl_dreams]

Jumping on the bandwagon--

Gem quality freshwaters definitely! Rose overtones (which are natural in the CFWP, while in Akoyas they are the result of soaking the pearls in a pinking solution.) I like dangle earrings better than studs personally. 8.5-9mm or larger. You can dress it up with a fancy clasp if you like.

Why buy a pearl that is a bead coated thinly with nacre (Akoya) when you can get one that is all nacre, for less money (CFWP)?

Here is a photo of my 18 inch 7-8mm Freshadamas; 8.5-9 would be a little larger obviously. Now what's not to like about these CFWP? The CFWP you see in mall stores are usually inferior-- off-round, dull, ringed even-- but if you buy from the online vendors you can find pearls like these.

[Caitlin]

Freshadama and gem quality pearls are not higher than AAA, they are the top % of the AAA grade. Grading actually has a small range in each grade. Freshies and gem quality are the best of the best.

Below is the comparison photo of Freshadamas and akoya. Take a guess at which is which.

[dkan 168]

Caitlin,

I remember reading that thread, however, I cannot remember which one is which, and certainly can't tell them apart!

Pearl_dreams, your necklace is beautiful!

No wonder the comments about gem-quality freshwater pearls look like good quality fakes, they are GORGEOUS!!!

Can't wait to get mine!

DK

[Pearl_dreams]

Thanks, DK! I've been wearing my exotics so much that these white ones have been neglected. With the change of season and different clothes it's time to take them out and wear them again!

My 12 year old daughter wore them last year to an important school event and she looked amazing in them. That's what is so great about pearls-- no one is too young or too old for them. They are truly timeless.

Which is all the more reason to buy solid nacre-- why should a timeless thing like a strand of pearls wear out in a decade or two?

[texasjack]

Hmm, it's sounding pretty unanimous. So it sounds like the consensus is an 18" freshadama/gemgrade fresh with rose overtone. I guess I should get some matching earrings. Should the earring pearl size match the necklace?

[dkan 168]

Originally Posted by texasjack

I guess I should get some matching earrings. Should the earring pearl size match the necklace?

IMHO, no, it really depends on the size of her earlobes.

A 8mm pearl would cover a very large area of a small earlobe and look overwhelming, whereas it may look small on someone with a large earlobe.

It's all about proportion I believe

DK

[dkan 168]

Originally Posted by Pearl_dreams

My 12 year old daughter wore them last year to an important school event and she looked amazing in them. That's what is so great about pearls-- no one is too young or too old for them. They are truly timeless.

Gosh, you are brave! And she is a lucky girl!

DK

[Pearl_dreams]

Originally Posted by dkan 168

Gosh, you are brave! And she is a lucky girl!

DK

She's very careful by nature. This is a girl who was using my bone china teacups at age 3 and never broke a one!

As to earrings, I really like my 8-9mm drop earrings with my 7-8mm Freshadamas. They look and feel substantial without being heavy. They are these:
http://www.pearlparadise.com/detail.aspx?ID=783

But if you are going for stud earrings, the point has been made by others (and I agree) that a button shaped pearl earring is often more flattering than a spherical one. You could get a AA pearl in that shape and it would cost less also.

The problem with all stud earrings is that it is hard to use the phone with them on!

[Caitlin]

I remember when Jeremy first got gem grade Freshwaters, I was always telling people to try them. Now there are so many p-g-folks that love them, that I don't even need to taut the freshie's merits any more. 10 people always get in there ahead of me!

Truly this speaks to the merits of these pearls, because these are discriminating buyers who are glad they bought gem quality freshwaters!

No one wants to guess which is which? Clue, the ones with orient are the freshies!

[dkan 168]

I find buying earrings without trying them on difficult, as they may look good on the display, but do not sit well on the ears.

Good advice about getting a pair of button shapes to start with, as they are relatively inexpensive, so it does not hurt so much if they are scratched!

So far, all my "pearl" earrings are fakes. However, I am getting some cheapo 6-6.5mm white and black studs to go with my diamond earring jackets for workwear soon.

DK

[dkan 168]

Originally Posted by Caitlin

No one wants to guess which is which? Clue, the ones with orient are the freshies!

Without cheating and check the previous thread, I *think* I can see orient in the top strand more than the lower one.

The lower one has more lustre though.

Probably got it wrong!

DK

[Pearl_dreams]

Sit tight --I will photograph my ear with the dangles and post the photo so you can see how they look on the ear. I have large earlobes and one hole is higher than the other one, so it is a snug fit for me, but if I can wear them, anyone can, LOL!

[Pearl_dreams]

Ok, side view and underside of Freshadama 8-9mm dangle. As I said, snug fit, but my lobes are not dainty (and studs have to be large to look good on me.)

That is a reflection in the first photo, not a flaw.

Now I am coveting those earrings more than ever! My earlobes don't quite match, and I do think a dangle is very flattering to most any age-------