[Slraep]

I think the matte ball clasp is fine too. Give yourself a break! I mean with all the worrying as to how well you are going to wine and dine your guests, and how fabulous the band/DJ will be, and what with all the other well-thought-out entertainment/decoration you will be indulging your guests in, trust me when I say from experience that nobody will come up to you on that day exclaiming, "My God, that is one AMAZING pearl clasp you have there!!". And you know why? Because they will all be stuffing their faces with fabulous food(in my case everyone was completely taken aback as to how the caterer was able to make tofu taste so good!) while guzzling the fine booze, and doing funny dances till they drop of exhaustion or someone has a near heart attack(Old Uncle Casimir doing his famous Hip Flop moves). Again trust me when I say that even if my maid of honour had stuck a "kick me" sign on my back, no one would have stopped their intense partying to actually notice, let alone actually kick me. When I ask friends now, many years later, what they remember about my wedding---it's the "exotic" vegan food, the abundance of fresh flowers and the weird scared look my husband had on his face before the ceremony.

Why not recycle the matte ball clasp and have hubby get you the clasp of your dreams for your first wedding anniversary(how romantic is that, eh?) You'll have a WHOLE YEAR for devoting to buying, and then casually sending back, all the clasps you've inspected and don't think quite make the cut, until you find THE ONE!! Plus, with the way gold prices are soaring, in a year's time, the matte ball clasp will probably be worth double what you initially paid for it.

Just some thoughts.

Slraep

[Spherical Flower]

Questions about the size of a ball clasp versus the size of the pearls? What's the rule that I can't seem to remember?

A 9 mm ball clasp for a 8-9 mm strand of pearls?

[Casey.R]

I'm not sure about the size thing. But i'm sure someone here knows, or PP could tell you. So have you decided to go with the matte ball? If so I think it's a good choice.

[Spherical Flower]

Yes we have decided to just go with the matte ball clasp but I don't know what size will look best, or in porportion to the size of the pearls.

I don't want a clasp that's normally put on a strand of giant tahitians to be put on a clasp of pearls that appear half that size. If you know what I mean.

I do know that 10mm is too big, but even 9mm might look big?

[Spherical Flower]

Well i've contacted PP, and all is well in the land of getting things fixed! It's so great to deal with a company that stands behind the products they sell. It's honestly hard to find such companies these days.

I decided to go with the size of the ball clasp that is equal to the size of the smallest pearls on the strand. This way the clasp blends with the pearls rather then distracting you. I'm letting the pearls speak for themself, so to speak.

I went with the matte finish ball in 14kt white gold, which unlike a lobster claw clasp, allows me to show off the clasp in the front of the necklace, if I choose to. Plus I like the finish of the ball, and the darker then normal color, which makes it appear very platinum-like.

As far as the pearls go, the strand she had picked out was actually Ivory in it's body color with strong rose overtone. She was suprised to find out im looking for a White body color with a strong rose overtone. I told her im trying to find something that looks like it could be a strand of Akoyas. She understood what I ment, and then went on to say that some of the top quality akoya strands have noticeable blemshes. She is also addressing the blemishes by searching through large amounts of pearls to find the more flawless ones she can find that fit the bodycolor/overtone requirements.

Then the length of the strand, I had told her 17, but then we debated the whole 16-17-18 inch length issue, and decided that best way to assure the strand isn't too short is to get the 18 inch. You can always take away the pearls easier then you can add the pearls, because of the matching of the additional pearls. I'm hoping the strand is the perfect length for me. If I find it to be too long, I can always have a pearl or two removed a heck of alot easier then adding pearls to it! Maybe make a pair of earrings if I end up with 2 excess pearls?

I've prolly drove the people at PP nuts, with how picky I am!
I can't wait to recieve the new strand! I'm very excited!
Of course I will be sharing pictures with all of you.

[jerin]

Hi Spherical Flower,

I can sympathize with you wanting the perfect strand of pearls but I sure wouldn´t like to be your wedding-planner, that job must be one of the hardest ones, as you are not easy to please, LOL.

[Spherical Flower]

I sure wouldn´t like to be your wedding-planner, that job must be one of the hardest ones, as you are not easy to please, LOL.

Too funny!
I was just thinking..
scince I have a yellow undertone in my skin,
that strand of pearls with an ivory body color would look bad on me?

Also an ivory body color does not match a true-white wedding dress.

The first strand she picked out had an ivory body color with a strong rose overtone, so if I would have never called her back, I would have recieved the wrong pearls.

I'm hoping what I recieve has a true white body color and a strong rose overtone, altho I donot know if this grade even exsist in freshadama freshwaters, as akoya pearls generally look like this. This appearance I like that akoyas have, is a result of heavy treating, such as bleaching and dying or "pinking". Solid nacre pearls most certianly have the advantage.

[Spherical Flower]

These pearls seemed to have a true silver-white appearance in normal lighting. Think Tiffany and Co pearls versus Mikimoto. Tiffany and Co usually carries silver-white, while Mikimoto is famous for rose overtones. They just didn't seem to have enough rose to them. But taking them outside into direct sunlight brought out the rose overtone.

I'm hoping to find something with a white body color and a strong rose overtone. A strand that looks like akoyas, but is freshwater.

Anyway, here are some more pictures of the strand I sent back.
(the main reason why I sent them back is because they BARELY fit aroundmyneck)

[Caitlin]

I would call that the strongest rose overtone possible with out actually getting a pink necklace.

Mikimoto uses dye to do what they call "pinking" their pearls. It does not have to be disclosed unless the dye is actually visible- like around the holes. This is the source of the pink overtones.

In the freshwaters, that overtone is natural and is not as strong.

[Spherical Flower]

I would call that the strongest rose overtone possible with out actually getting a pink necklace.

Not sure what you ment by that?

I already knew that Mikimoto's Akoya's are "pinked" with dye and that's where the color comes from.
I also knew that freswaters have natural rose overtones, and because of this it doesn't appear as "pink".
I'm just trying to get somebody to make me a freshwater strand out of all of the "strongest rose tones" they can find, out of white body color pearls and not ivory, as white is what matches a wedding dress.
I don't think I will get that lucky tho.

[Slraep]

Originally Posted by Spherical Flower

Not sure what you ment by that?

I already knew that Mikimoto's Akoya's are "pinked" with dye and that's where the color comes from.
I also knew that freswaters have natural rose overtones, and because of this it doesn't appear as "pink".
I'm just trying to get somebody to make me a freshwater strand out of all of the "strongest rose tones" they can find, out of white body color pearls and not ivory, as white is what matches a wedding dress.
I don't think I will get that lucky tho.

Oh my, Spherical Flower, you seem to be a little "wilty" and "frazzled". Don't let all this terrible pressure on you to find the perfect necklace and clasp, affect your health!! Have you given thought to the fact that you will be wearing the pouffy white dress only once(hopefully) and that an ivory bodycolour in pearls is actually a lot more flattering to most complexions. I would think that your wardrobe, after the wedding is over, will be composed of more than just white. Very white pearls always seem a little chalky to me. But if you have black or very dark brown hair, they may be okay. Of all the pearls I own, my least favourites and seldom worn are the "dead" ultra-whites.

Slraep

[Pearl_dreams]

I've avoided injecting my opinion so far because I had the most minimalist of weddings-- by choice!-- so I tend to think most weddings are overdone and people stress too much over them.

With my disclaimer out of the way, I think white pearls are beautiful, and I think those pearls show good rose overtones. (You don't want them really, actually pink, I don't think-- just overtones, right?)

I hope you will be able to relax a bit. Wedding preparations can be so stressful, and the day is over so quickly....choose your battles, is my advice, and consider what "good enough" might mean for you.

Good luck!

[Slraep]

Originally Posted by Pearl_dreams

...... most weddings are overdone and people stress too much over them.

Good luck!

AHMEN! Great mantra to repeat over and over for all brides-to-be. Also, Spherical Flower, don't forget to breathe.....deeply. Breathe..... I had a friend who's husband developed gamophobia just twelve days before the wedding. His family had him hospitalized because he refused to put on any kind of shoes. He ultimately looked to be okay on the wedding day though.

You got me thinking somemore, Pearl_dreams---because pink or peach pearls are also really, really flattering with a white dress! Imagine a strand of peach freshwater pearls and shades of peach in the flower bouquet. Or pink pearls! And shades of pink in the flower bouquet. Or a peach and pink flower bouquet! Lovely!! (Oh Spherical Pearl, forget I mentioned that). Oooo, you could also match you lips(lipstick colour) to the peach or pink pearls too. I'd definitely go with a yellow gold clasp for the peachies. Mind you, thinking along the same lines....if your bouquet is composed of non-pastel colours, wouldn't it be interesting to wear a Tahitian baroque? Just think how much fun a Tahitian baroque would be AFTER the wedding.

Slraep