Pearl necklace question

Shopping for a Christmas present for my girlfriend I could not find any ear rings I liked. So I decided to look at pearl necklaces. The prices vary greatly. Some for $1000 and some for less than $100 and many in the $225-400 or so range. Any advice on what to buy? How to tell what is a good value and what is overpriced?

Rodney

 

Ohhhhhhh


must.........resist.........

 

Loaded Question of 2008, if not decade.


Resumes mantra; "Must be nice to Rodney, must be nice to Rodney..."

 

I did buy a necklace that day. I paid $225. Was originally marked at well over $300. Maybe closer to $400. I just wonder if I paid too much or?? 6-7 mm freshwater. 18" The pearls are all very round and mostly smooth. White with a very slight pink color. Is that better or worth less? Sales lady told me the slight pink was worth more. Was she just giving me a line to make a sale?

Now this morning I get some local advertisment things in the newspaper with necklaces for under $100.

Rodney

 

LOL.

A real pearl necklace is free and can be given at any time.



Someone had to.

 

Pearl necklace

Shes really upset with me again,
I didnt give her what she likes.
I dont know what to tell her,
Dont know what to say.
Everything got funky last night.

She was really bombed,
And I was really blown away,
Until I asked her what she wanted,
And this is what she had to say:
A pearl necklace.
She wanna pearl necklace.
She wanna pearl necklace.

She gets a charge out of bein so weird,
Digs gettin downright strange.
But I can keep a handle on anything,
Just this side of deranged.

She was gettin bombed,
And I was gettin blown away,
And she held it in her hand
And this is what she had to say:
A pearl necklace.
She wanna pearl necklace.
She wanna pearl necklace.

Shes so cold, as pure as the driven slush.
And thats not jewelry shes talkinabout, [see notes]
It really dont cost that much.

She was gettin bombed,
And I was gettin blown away,
And she took it in her hand,
And this is what she had to say:
A pearl necklace.
She wanna pearl necklace.
She wanna pearl necklace

 

Ah...ZZ Top has hijacked this thread. I seem to remember something about "cocaine and hanging out with great danes" from Under Pressure that would go great with those lyrics.

 

Oh great- now that song's stuck in my head.

 

+1

 

I don't know squat about jewellry, but was told that you pay more for the pearls to all be the same size. I have clue what is what when it comes to colour.

 

in general color does not make them more expensive, in pearls you want them round and smooth and with nice luster , size will drive the cost up as well but many girls dont want the larger sizes.

 

There is really no way to answer the question without seeing the necklace in question (photos won't get the answer). Pearls are priced based on size, color, finish, and luster. There are also VERY HIGH premiums for non-farmed pearls, you may never have seen one of these.

Of course it is all preference but, assuming this is for general wear, I look for:
1) uniformity in size
2) a good finish, I want the finish smooth enough that you don't notice any flaws form ~2 ft
3) color that I like, doesn't matter much but white to silver goes with more things and looks more classic

Only after I meet the above 3 do I look at luster. This is the one that will cost you the most AND most people won't be able to see the difference.

As for a good deal, how wrong can you have gone for $250? If she loves them all is great. If she wears them a couple of times, no huge loss.

 

You just described ....oh never mind Ive been hanging out in the backroom on off topic to long. please proceed

 

I think you should choose the one in the $500 range....and I happen to be running a special for that....and I will custom fit it to her for free!

 

I purchased some Chinese freshwater pearls for Christmas. The necklace with clasp was $500. They looked nice.

 

Do fresh water pearls come from rocky mountain oysters?

 

You must of got off cheap I hesitate to say what I paid for my wifes 14 mm AAA Mikimotos

Pearls are graded on size color luster shape and imperfections

 

Two reasons you paid so much, Mikimoto & 14mm. The first is actually a combination of all the other factors. Mikimoto is known for high quality, they deliver the goods but you pay a premium. They aren't fresh water either.

 

I have some that aren't even real and I can't tell the difference, so I'm not going to give anyone advice on pearls.

 

I want to but I won't.