Anniversary Gift

[KaJ]

I would like to start this post the way that most newcomers do...by thanking all of those that share their knowledge and enthusiasm for pearls on this site! In the new digital age of non-traditional retailers, misleading information on supplier sites and shorter Mark-Up, PG has made it extremely easy to become well-versed in pearls in only a matter of days.

With that being said, I am working on an Anniversary Gift and have definitely decided on pearls for this occasion. I have been in contact with several of the vendors that participate on this forum and I have run into some decision roadblocks.

I originally was going to segment my purchase into two disctinct pearl sets (at least in my mind):

AAA Akoya Pearl Set
1 - A 'AAA' Akoya will exhibit an extreme amount of metallic looking luster.
2 - This metallic luster will provide a much more formal feeling
3 - Purchasing Silver overtone Akoya's w/ white gold clasps and studs will provide a flexible and highly metallic pearl set for more formal events.
4 - The nacre is thinner, particularly on the 6-6.5mm sets, since the nucleus is bead based. These pearls may not last as long, non-inhertiance longevity quality.

Freshwater Elite/Freshadama
1 - Gem Quality CFWP will have less luster on average than a 'AAA' Akoya, but should have more orient as they are pure nacre.
2 - The naturally softer luster will be less formal and could provide an everyday wear solution.
3 - Purchasing Rose overtone CFWP will maximize the orient
4 - Since these are full nacre pearls they should last a really long time.

After speaking with several vendors it seems that I may have missed something in my flow of logic: 6.0-6.5mm Akoya's will look really small on a young woman.

This is where my thoughts have detoured :

1 - I need to have a high quality set of White Cultured Pearls. I don't think that Hanadama's fit in my budget (unless some vendors really squeeze their margins for me ), moving up the AAA Akoya Set to a larger size dramatically affects the price model and doesn't make sense when Freshadama/Freshwater Elites are much more affordable although they are sans the metallic luster which is how I was segmenting my original purchase. I know the orient of Gem Quality CFWP is better in the rose overtones, but Elizabeth has a northern Italian olive complextion that tan's to a golden-olive and silver would probably work best. Any thoughts?

2. If I go with a single set of Gem-Quality CFWP, what does everyone think about possibly differentiating another 'set' of Tahitians? I am looking for something more casual like these:

Necklaces

http://www.pearlparadise.com/detail.aspx?ID=2571

http://www.pearlparadise.com/detail.aspx?ID=983

http://www.pearlparadise.com/detail.aspx?ID=1972

http://www.purepearls.com/detail.aspx?ID=500

Earrings

http://www.purepearls.com/detail.aspx?ID=285

http://www.pearlparadise.com/detail.aspx?ID=467

http://www.thepearloutlet.com/servle...supplierID=490

I'm sorry there are so many links, but who wants to go shopping!

Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated.

Kyle

[pearlescence]

You don't say where you are..
Do your pearls have to be white. Peach coloured pearls could look amazing on darker olive and brown skins (they look rubbish on my white untanned skin)

[KaJ]

I haven't updated my profile, but I am in Texas (Southern US).

I was under the assumption that Peach coloured CFWP would have to be dyed or manipulated to achieve the color variation?

[dkan 168]

My 2p.

Although high end Akoyas have this metallic sheen that cannot be matched by the best CFWP, I personally do not believe they are good value for money.

Therefore, I would go for a gem quality CFWP set plus a Tahitian set myself, more versatile to have a set each of white and black pearls, than 2 sets of whites.

If you are looking for an inexpensive Tahitian set, then baroque or circle pearls are very good value for money.

PP's Apr 09 special, the baroque/circle Tin Cup necklace in Sterling Silver is good value for money IMHO

Bear in mind that some of the PGers are also vendors of pearls, so it is worth checking their sites for B grade Tahitian pearls in smaller sizes.

DK

[Sueki]

Hello KaJ,
Welcome to P.G.
All of the peach freshwater pearls I own are natural colour. I've bought them from several vendors on here, and the colours are stunning....

[knotty panda]

Although high end Akoyas have this metallic sheen that cannot be matched by the best CFWP, I personally do not believe they are good value for money.

If you are looking for an inexpensive Tahitian set, then baroque or circle pearls are very good value for money.DK

That so-called logic baffles me. Why are akoyas not a good value but Tahitians are a good value? They are both cultured with a bead and have thin nacre. Why are akoyas so bashed on this site?

[Hanaleimom]

That so-called logic baffles me. Why are akoyas not a good value but Tahitians are a good value? They are both cultured with a bead and have thin nacre. Why are akoyas so bashed on this site?

I am assuming because akoyas have been known to be harvested much earlier than 18 mos. in the water and therefore the nacre is so thin, .2mm on the avg? Whereas, Tahitians' control quality (prior to the GIE Perles de Tahiti shake up) was at least .8mm radius for nacre.

[dkan 168]

That so-called logic baffles me. Why are akoyas not a good value but Tahitians are a good value? They are both cultured with a bead and have thin nacre. Why are akoyas so bashed on this site?

White Akoyas when compared with white CFWPs are not good value for money, as I do not believe the subtle differences between the two can justify the hugh differences in price.

I do not believe black-dyed CFWPs can be compared with Tahitians, as I do not believe they can be considered as like for like.

IMHO, there is no substitute for Tahitians.

Therefore, if I were to get 2 sets of pearls for my starting wardrobe, I would rather have a set of white and a set of black, rather than 2 sets of whites.

And I would rather get Tahitians over Akoyas any day

DK

[Hanaleimom]

This all comes down to a matter of preference. Since I am bias towards Tahitian pearls, I'd say 1 set of white FW and 1 set of Tahitian. There is not that much difference when comparing Hanadama vs. Freshadama's metallic luster, based on my opinion. And since the nacre is thicker in FW and the cost also justifies the purchase, I'd go for FW for white pearls.

I also think there is no substitute for Tahitian pearls, no matter how great the irradiation or dye job is. The black dyed FW pearls do not have the orient that genuine Tahitians have, based on my observation. The same goes with Majorica that imitates Tahitians. The color is just way off either pink or blue. The black FW is more similar to Tahitians than Majoricas and is less costly. I think Tahitian Majoricas look too faux for the price you pay.

[pattye]

Hi Kyle, and Welcome!

Good for you, doing the homework! Great ideas for Anniversary Gift! I would say start with white CFWP. She probably has dark hair, and these will be great with her coloring. The vendors can help you decide on the best overtones.

Tahitians are fab too! Baroques are a bit less expensive than the rounds with lots of choices of overtones also!

Akoyas are beautiful pearls also! But because of the nacre thickness as related to quality in a smaller bead-nucleated pearl, and Akoya being more expensive to produce, I would put that purchase a bit further down the line.
Although there have been some very nice Akoya sales come up from time to time with the vendors who post here.

Peach FW pearls are gorgeous also! Obviously all of us here are huge fans of the "Pearl Wardrobe"!!

Elizabeth is fortunate to have you and hopefully she will love what you purchase!

[barbie biggs]

What a lovely idea!

Since you asked for our thoughts I'll just throw out one with a few reasons why. You sound like you enjoy luster. Your GF has nice tawny skin. (I'm so jealous.) Have you seen this?
16-inch 9.1 - 12.8 mm Multicolor South Sea Pearl Necklace
SSN100-204
I'm a ditz with the technology so apologize for not being able to give an address you can just 'click' on.
The idea I had was, if she is not too formal, PP had some truly amazing exotic pearls last year. Even Jeremy said they would put some of the Akoya to shame. The ones I got are stunning. 22 kt gold. Green. Shades of blue. You could do gold and white if someone was willing.

You could reproduce something like these colors in freshwater baroques. The would of course be smaller. And you'd have to ask Jeremy the cost but they'd be amazing on someone with great olive skin.
Just thinking out loud.
barbie

Just got home from work. I think maybe Jeremy said they put the Freshadama to shame. But I still think they are as great as the akoya. Very metallic and shiny.

[Caitlin]

Hi Kyle
The best cultured freshwaters can have a brilliant mirror.

Mirror is the quality you love in akoyas. It is more common in akoyas than in gem quality freshadamas but we have an old photo around here that is a poll asking people to say which is which in a picture Jeremy put up. I'll try to find the link.


Akoyas, having once been the pearl of choice, indeed the only cultured pearl available, have slid as the nacre layers have gotten thinner and with the rise of all the other cultured pearls. Buy akoyas only from people you trust and will stand behind their pearls, because it is all too easy to get conned with overpriced poor quality akoyas.


Akoyas are also the cultured pearls most enhanced with technology.

[laurenb]

This metallic luster will provide a much more formal feeling
...
After speaking with several vendors it seems that I may have missed something in my flow of logic: 6.0-6.5mm Akoya's will look really small on a young woman.

This is where my thoughts have detoured :

This is a very good time to buy Tahitians, as you've probably read around here. Agree completely that there is no substitute for them.

Although I like akoyas, as a fellow Texan I second the suggestion that you should push them down the buying list. Sun, sweat, sunscreen, pollution... a CFWP strand is necessary for daily/frequent wear.

Hehehe, I've never seen anyone on this forum steer a buyer toward smaller pearls. If the recipient is 5'4" or under, don't dismiss that size range. I'm a 'young woman', 5'3" and I feel like Wilma Flintstone in pearls over 8mm and over.

7mm is probably a safe size if you're planning a surprise, but you may be able to take some guidance from how her other jewelry fits into the Texas aesthetic. Some women here start wearing big jewelry at a very young age, others recoil from conspicuous ornamentation and choose to be extra demure... either way, I haven't really noticed Dallas women concerning themelves with traditional notions of formal or casual, so I wouldn't worry about versatility.

If it fits in the budget, which I'm assuming is of a fair size because you were initially looking at akoyas, I vote for a "Night and Day" gift: Gem quality 7mm white CFWP necklace and stud earrings, and a Tahitian tin cup necklace and baroque dangle earrings.

Good luck! She'll love whatever you get!

[KaJ]

Thank you all for your feedback! I am taking all these suggestions to heart and am trying to weigh them all in my decision. I'm still leaning towards a CFWP set and some Tahitians, but need to do some research now on the SS and peach coloured suggestions...just need some time to sneak off and get on the computer for another good 5 hours.

Keep the votes and suggestions coming! As always on PG....all excellent feedback.

[jerin]

Hi Kyle and welcome to the forum,
you already have gotten excellent advice from our members, here another suggestion:

Size: minimum 7,5 - 8 mm (this size will hold up over time)
Type: natural coloured peach/pink freshwater pearls or
white bodycoloured pearls with a creame overtone, since she has a
warm olive tan

No 2: The monthly Special from PP, the tin-cup necklace.

I do like Akoyas and I also have some strands but those you could get later on. Just start out with a nice white or peach necklace and matching studs or dangles, if you choose the highest quality line, the Freshadamas/Elite/Presidental don´t expect too much orient, orient usually is much better seen on baroque shapes but if your girlfriend likes her pearls round/round to the eye, she most probably will love Freshadamas.

As for luster I do believe nothing comes close to Akoyas ( I am talking about real cultured pearls, not Majorica or Misaki imitations of white pearls or Tahitians) even though the high quality freshwater pearls do have an amazing luster, softer than South Sea or Akoyas.

If your choice is SS, I think baroque golden SS would also suit the skin tone of your girlfriend.

But as everything boils down to a matter of money, the safest bet would be necklace + studs in white or peach plus the tin-cup with dark pearls, in this case Tahitians.

Later you can choose from lots of other colours and sizes as well as types of pearls. We all got addicted very fast....