help choose! :)

[v_ni]

i chose to get pearls for my 5th wedding anniversary present and i can't decide which to get.

my choice is between a strand of 9-10mm Freshadamas vs 2pcs 12-13mm golden south sea pearls (i'm getting loose ones so i can decide whether i want earrings or pendant and ring, that's a totally different problem altogether)

i already have a pair of mikimoto pearl studs and a ring, but they are about 7.5-8mm. i prefer to get bigger pearl sized necklace (cos i'm rather larged size ) hence eyeing on the 9-10mm, do you think they will look weird if the necklace pearl size is bigger than the earrings & ring ? i'm also worried that there will be a color contrast between my mikis and the freshadamas.....

i definitely wear my miki pearl studs quite a bit but i can't imagine wearing my pearl strand other than for church and formal occasions. i'm from south east asia and pearl strands are rather formal looking since we tend to dress casually.

so i'm kind of leaning towards the SS pearls but then again, i already have 1 full set of white SS pearls that my mom gave me for my wedding and i hardly wear them, only for formal occasions.... but i think that has to do with the more elaborate design.

i think if i choose a simple design for the golden SS pearls, i may wear them more? but after reading about freshadamas, i'm quite keen to get those too!

any thoughts?

[pattye]

Hi V_ni,

What a nice choice to be making! Are you considering colored freshadamas at all? Whether you are thinking "white" or a color freshadamas, I would probably spend the little extra and get earrings too in the 9-10mm. GSS sound fab also! If you choose that, I would do the earrings and pendant first. You still can wear the white pearl ring with it. But it will be more difficult to match earrings and pendant if they are purchased separately.

I started off "saving my pearls" but now I put them on and enjoy! I have some great small and med hoop earrings in both white and yellow gold, and wear them with my pearl necklace instead of pearl earrings for a more casual look. Now I wear one of my pearl pieces all the time, 'cause it just makes me feel good! The style now seems to be, plainer ( i.e., jeans) on the bottom, fancier on the top, including gemstones for day, too.

Rings, being further away, probably have less importance to match--and will coordinate just fine.

You have a chance to be a real trendsetter and break some rules!

Just a few thoughts,

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[Valeria101]

Just reading between the lines...

... i prefer to get bigger pearl

...i definitely wear my miki pearl studs quite a bit but i can't imagine wearing my pearl strand other than for formal occasions.

It sounds like you might get more use out of a pair of larger stud earrings then a necklace. Would you think?

What if there was a pair of 10-11mm golden studs to go with the 13mm (15?) golden ring ?

Just an idea...


Now, if you do get the Freshadama strand, a pair of earrings of the same type should be possible. The white ones are listed 'out of stock' but it can never hurt to ask.

[airdancer]

Just reading between the lines...
What if there was a pair of 10-11mm golden studs to go with the 13mm (15?) golden ring ?

Just an idea...

Now, if you do get the Freshadama strand, a pair of earrings of the same type should be possible. The white ones are listed 'out of stock' but it can never hurt to ask.

I have been asking for the larger sizes. I was looking at something else online and asked about the freshadama earrings in larger sizes Kristin informs me that they are no longer available. You could also check from Kevin's store. The last I checked the larger size studs were available (but not listed). I changed my mind about those - eyeing something else now. hee!

[airdancer]

i think if i choose a simple design for the golden SS pearls, i may wear them more? but after reading about freshadamas, i'm quite keen to get those too!

What about baroque golden SS? They are not too formal. If you are looking for classic sizes freshadama, it seems the stock isn't running out just yet so you could get them for...well, let's see...mother's day gift!

[v_ni]

hi all, thanks for all the inputs.

i'm hesitant to get another pair of 9-10mm pearlstuds, since the size difference with mine is quite minimal.

looks like i might get the GSS afterall...

i'm considering 10-11mm GSS pearl studs and same sized pendant. i went to see some SS pearls today and realize that i would be happy with anything between 10-12mm, i think my original idea of 12-13mm is a little too big for my liking.

[jerin]

[QUOTE=v_ni;27710]i chose to get pearls for my 5th wedding anniversary present and i can't decide which to get.

my choice is between a strand of 9-10mm Freshadamas vs 2pcs 12-13mm golden south sea pearls (i'm getting loose ones so i can decide whether i want earrings or pendant and ring, that's a totally different problem altogether)


Hi and welcome to the forum.
If I read your comments correctly you will be able to spend quite a lot of money on either pearljewelry, is that right?

If I had that choice I definitely would go for the Freshadamas at first, as the white pearls are always versatile and you can wear them either with jeans a top or more formal cloths - believe me once you have had them on with both types you´ll never ever worry about whether it is too formal or not.

And I would go for a pair of Freshadama studs in a smaller size (it is more comfortable and does not "STICK OUT" to much as those pearls always are round and for that matter alone do look larger than other shapes like buttons).

You can wear your Miki studs as well together with the Freshadamas, don´t be afraid to mix and match....

If you buy loose GSS, that strand should be rather expensive. Have you checked the strands PP is offering? I think the round ones start somewhere at 3,-4,000 dollars with no upper limit or

look at their baroque GSS, much cheaper - still very nice for casual wear...

Let us know what You decide upon and please send photos once they arrive...

[v_ni]

hi jerin, i think you misunderstood me.

i can only get either the freshadama pearl strand or 2 loose pcs of GSS.

i'm afraid i won't be able to afford a strand of SS pearls for a long long time

having said that, my budget is about US$1200, i'll definitely burst my budget if i get the SS pearls since i would have to spend more to get them set at the jewellers and with gold prices at it's all time high, i'm not sure if that's a good idea either....

as for my mikis and freshadamas, maybe i really should just ignore the fact that they DON'T have to match at all. i'm just so used to have somewhat matching jewellery...haha...

[lisamla]

Have you looked at PP or Pure Pearls? They are selling loose GSS that I think would be within your budget. And, depending on if you want AA or AAA I think you can probably get the settings too and still be within budget - or at least pretty close.

I didn't see loose pearls on Pearls of Joy or The Pearl Outlet. Maybe though they are just not on display.

[jerin]

hi jerin, i think you misunderstood me.

i can only get either the freshadama pearl strand or 2 loose pcs of GSS.

i'm afraid i won't be able to afford a strand of SS pearls for a long long time

having said that, my budget is about US$1200, i'll definitely burst my budget if i get the SS pearls since i would have to spend more to get them set at the jewellers and with gold prices at it's all time high, i'm not sure if that's a good idea either....

as for my mikis and freshadamas, maybe i really should just ignore the fact that they DON'T have to match at all. i'm just so used to have somewhat matching jewellery...haha...

SORRY! In that case go for the Freshadamas before the prices rise as the will in the near future!

[barbie biggs]

Hello and welcome aboard!

You mentioned color contrast. Since you also mentioned Freshadama you are looking at Pearl Paradise. The best way to be sure there is no problem with colors is to spend a couple of extra dollars (after talking to Mia or Kirsten) and send your (insured) pearls to PP so they can match the colors.

Next: This is just me so take it with a grain of salt; you don't have to be married to tradition. You can have your carefully matched Freshadama's and larger earrings too, if that is what you want. It's 2008, so do your own thing! If you want SS earrings and pendant and a Freshadama necklace, and if you'd like them to be interchangeable with your other pearls, go for it. PP has a very large inventory so it could happen. Pearl Paradise (PP) is very easy to work with as long as you tell them exactly what you want. Try not to make them guess.
Have a great time,

barbie

PS One of the nice things about a white strand of pearls is that you can alter it by placing a pendant on it. You could have your SS pendant made to match your Freshadama but still take it off and wear it on a chain or with something else. It's all very versatile.

[v_ni]

lisamla, yes i looked at both pp and purepearl for the loose GSS. the loose pearl itself is definitely within budget, it's the setting that i'm worried about. especially since i gravitate towards larger diamond with pearl settings....

jerin, wow your comment really made me rethink about getting freshadamas now . do you think the supply for freshadamas/presidential/pearl elite/ will reduce in the future? i mean, from what i understood (could be all wrong since i'm a newbie), the harvest for freshwater pearls is always larger than the other pearls. so logically, with better technology and farming techniques, shouldn't the supply for gem quality freshwater pearls increase rather than decrease?

this is of course not taking in account on the increasing demand for gem quality FWP, perhaps that would be the main reason for the increase in pricing.

barbie, thanks for the advice. unfortunately, i'm located in asia, i think it will be a huge hassle to send my pearls all the way to the USA to have them color matched. but it's definitely a good idea, will take that into account. maybe when i visit my sister in florida, i would send my pearls to pp.

[lisamla]

Yes, the diamond will get your every time. Maybe you could do a setting without a diamond now and then upgrade at another time.

[knotty panda]

do you think the supply for freshadamas/ presidential/ pearl elite/ will reduce in the future? i mean, from what i understood (could be all wrong since i'm a newbie), the harvest for freshwater pearls is always larger than the other pearls. so logically, with better technology and farming techniques, shouldn't the supply for gem quality freshwater pearls increase rather than decrease?

this is of course not taking in account on the increasing demand for gem quality FWP, perhaps that would be the main reason for the increase in pricing.

All the variables make my head spin. China has had a troubled weather year typhoons, 100 year snow storms and all, which has impacted the harvests. They rely on the strength of the dollar. Can they recover from the killed harvest? Can they replace the lost harvest and future harvest levels? Can they afford better technologies or have to remain with the status quo for the now? My friend, Vigor He, (and he really has become a very good friend, nice man) was talking to me the other day about how the presidential election here will effect them. He's actually more interested in it than I am at this point since we don't have named candidates. Lots of variables, lots of scenarios.

And another thread is hijacked.

[jerin]

jerin, wow your comment really made me rethink about getting freshadamas now . do you think the supply for freshadamas/presidential/pearl elite/ will reduce in the future? i mean, from what i understood (could be all wrong since i'm a newbie), the harvest for freshwater pearls is always larger than the other pearls. so logically, with better technology and farming techniques, shouldn't the supply for gem quality freshwater pearls increase rather than decrease?

this is of course not taking in account on the increasing demand for gem quality FWP, perhaps that would be the main reason for the increase in pricing.

Hi v_ni!

Of course I´m no expert on what will happen in a couple of years from now but from what I have read I understand that the Chinese perhaps want to go in for tissue and bead nucleation in their freshwater pearls (especially to get larger pearls) and not tissue-only nucleation for several reasons:
a) tissue only nucleated pearls are risking getting into baroue shapes (everything that is not round) because it takes such a long time for the mussel to "grow" large pearls ( several years depending ont the size) and the finest Freshadamas for me anyway are the large ones!

b) that would be one of the most important reasons why the Chinese would rather grow tissue and bead nucleated pearls, once the master the technical side: because if you already have a rather large and perfect shperical nucleus, it is easier to get a round and large pearl in much a shorter amount of time - even if the customer in that case has to be satisfied with a pearl that has a nacre thickness that is substantial lower than on the tissue-only pearl, which is 100% nacre.

Besides that if the technique has become perfected, it will be much easier to get round and large pearls(because of the nucleus size that can be chosen of the farmer) and in the future the farmers also will know how to avoid the "tails" that very often are on the tissue-bead nucleated pearls, at least right now.

So yes, from an economical point of view it would be more worthwile for the farmers to farm this kind of pearls IMO.