need help in choosing pearl necklace

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young_princess

O.G.
Sep 29, 2006
269
3
#1
ladies, I need help! So I've been really wanting to get an opera length pearl necklace. At first I really didn't want to get the chanel coz it's not real pearls. But I saw Devil Wears Prada today and I think I really want one. I know it's just glass but it looks so chic! :drool: However, I really want a real pearl necklace like the one SJP wore on SATC movie. I'm gonna have one of my mom's friends make the real pearl necklace if I choose to go with that one. Price isn't that big of a deal but I think I just want one pearl necklace, so getting both won't be an option.

So please help! Which one should I get? I basically want to be able to wear it with everything, for work and night. One of my apprehensions for getting the chanel necklace is that I don't want to seem like I'm showing off at work. And I think it may be too flashy? Just because the logo is there. As opposed to the real one, where some people might mistake it for a fake? Oh decisions decisions! :confused1:
 

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#2
I would get the real thing, hands down. It will last you forever. I'd get one long enough that you can double strand comfortably- that is a great look too. A lot of pearls are very reasonable in price, you might be surprised w/ the cost of the Chanel one v. real pearls.
 
#3
It depends on what you mean by "real." You could either do Freshwater or Saltwater Pearls in that size (6-8mmish) and there is a big difference in price.

Cultured Freshwater pearls are much more affordable but they don't last as long as saltwater pearls and eventually become chalky over time. You'll often hear people say "Freshwater pearls will last your lifetime while saltwater pearls will last many lifetimes."

A freshwater strand in that length would be $200-300ish.

Akoya Pearls in AA-AAA Quality 8mm would be around $1200-1500
 
#4
^ That is interesting about cultured freshwater! I didn't know they become chalky. How long does that take? I know my mom has had some freshwater strands for more than 20 years and that hasn't happened yet that I can tell.
 
#7
elizat said:
^ That is interesting about cultured freshwater! I didn't know they become chalky. How long does that take? I know my mom has had some freshwater strands for more than 20 years and that hasn't happened yet that I can tell.
Click to expand...

Eliza, it depends on the strand and how much wear it gets (exposure to oils, lotion, and elements). Some can last 30-40 years while some start getting chalky after 5-10 years or less. A FW strand that is worn daily and exposed to perfume and body oils will deteriorate much faster.
I wrote an article awhile back on the differences between Freshwater & Saltwater Cultured Pearls here:
http://www.futurefashionista.com/whisdibefran.html

I have seen some very interesting new crops of high quality freshwater in the last year and it will be really interesting to see how durable and long lasting they end up being over time. Some of them are nearly all nacre because they use donor oyster tissue rather than bead nucleation, but they are still different in quality from South Sea or Tahitian (hence the prices).
 
#8
Mikimoto is the best pearl in the world. They only use the top 5% of the best pearls in the world, and have a specific grading system. A new opera length strand with Mikimoto will cost thousands (unless you can find a vintage strand...but then you have to worry about the wear on the pearls). I own an 18", purchased new.

There are some really beautiful Akoya Pearl strands out there for much much less. I would look into it.
 
#10
My top recommendation: PearlParadise.com

http://www.pearlparadise.com/detail.aspx?ID=961
http://www.pearlparadise.com/detail.aspx?ID=1295

I'd go for AAA pearls. DON'T get Mikimoto. IMO: Mikimoto is WAY overpriced for what it is. Mikimoto uses Hanadama pearls, which are the top quality pearls available, yet you can get AAA Freshwaters or Akoyas that are almost identical. The "Freshadama" line at Pearl Paradise is the highest, gem quality, freshwaters available.

Actually, the only real difference between AAA and "Gem Grade" is orient in the pearls. Many other retailers offer "Gem Grade" ("Freshadama," "Presidential Pearls," etc). Side by side, comparing Gem Grade freshwaters to the Hanadamas, is almost impossible. Most people actually prefer Gem Grade because they have more orient since they're solid nacre.

Other GREAT retailers:
Pearlsofjoy.com
Purepearls.com
Thepearloutlet.com
 
#13
cultured pearlshere in manila are really cheap,not sure how much they sell a strand of pearls, but a pair of earrings, about half an inch in diameter, can cost about 1500 pesos. the currency's not doing well quite wellagainst the dollar, so that's about $30. I heard the ones from the party/resort island of Boracay can go as low as 900 for the same quality and size. (that's around $18)
 
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