14mm+ Tahiti pendant I’m wearing today.
The PEARL Lovers Thread!
- Thread starter bougainvillier
- Start date
TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
Madama Akoya 真多麻. I wish I could take better pictures.
Last edited:
Gorgeous and I love the longer length- matinee lengths are my favourite and so hard to find!
Beautiful glow and colour too
I am LOVING Rod Stewart in PEARLS:
@Berengeria , I don’t know if you posted your thread starter inquiry here, but I recalled that pearl lovers on this thread were a font of amazing information.
@cdtracing recommended a few on line sources on this thread. And, it’s also possible that you can compare prices from various places like Etsy all the way up to a local jeweler near you. The research can be fun as some pearls are graded (not sure about Tahitians). I bought mine long ago from a pearl market in the Philippines. But, I subsequently bought a variety of baroque and semi baroque which were much less expensive in Asia. I’m 5’2 inches, medium build, and my strand ranged from about 11-16 mm (first pic and center, fourth pic, last pic). First pic, they are mixed with a longer strand of inexpensive freshwater pearls that I doubled (freshwaters might have been probably under 100 USD). Second pic is a semi baroque strand that I had strung with a diamond clasp. Third pic is a white strand I bought on Etsy. Fourth pic are the Tahitian strand (center) with the baroque strands. I don’t recommend buying a few here and there bc even if they don’t match, there is simply so much other variation. But, if you don’t want to buy so many at once, you can have some strung on different chains or materials. Fourth pic is some of mine strung on a white gold chain to change up the look. My independent jeweler strung them for me, but Etsy sellers also market pearls on leather cords, metal chokers. Fifth pic is a smaller mm strand. I think 8-11 mm. Etc. . I guess my point is there are many many price points for dark pearls, in all sorts of grades, colors, sizes, shapes, and it helps to look at a lot before buying. . . Have fun.
If you want to really mix it up, you can google Nancy ****** pearls. She often wore chokers of mixed color SS pearls.
By the way, I also hope you will post pics of how you decide to style your grandmothers pearls. Apologies if you have already done so upthread — I have not caught up on reading this one.
Last edited:
Didn’t realize Nancy P would be blocked out. Hope it’s okay to post these screen shots. I don’t recall what pearl aficionados said about pearl source versus pearl paradise (I think those are two popular sites, but this is just what I came up to give you an idea of sizes and prices and colors. (I am not all that familiar with this site or PP). In general, mixed color pearls will of course be much less expensive.@Berengeria , I don’t know if you posted your thread starter inquiry here, but I recalled that pearl lovers on this thread were a font of amazing information.
@cdtracing recommended a few on line sources on this thread. And, it’s also possible that you can compare prices from various places like Etsy all the way up to a local jeweler near you. The research can be fun as some pearls are graded (not sure about Tahitians). I bought mine long ago from a pearl market in the Philippines. But, I subsequently bought a variety of baroque and semi baroque which were much less expensive in Asia. I’m 5’2 inches, medium build, and my strand ranged from about 11-16 mm (first pic and center, fourth pic, last pic). First pic, they are mixed with a longer strand of inexpensive freshwater pearls that I doubled (freshwaters might have been probably under 100 USD). Second pic is a semi baroque strand that I had strung with a diamond clasp. Third pic is a white strand I bought on Etsy. Fourth pic are the Tahitian strand (center) with the baroque strands. I don’t recommend buying a few here and there bc even if they don’t match, there is simply so much other variation. But, if you don’t want to buy so many at once, you can have some strung on different chains or materials. Fourth pic is some of mine strung on a white gold chain to change up the look. My independent jeweler strung them for me, but Etsy sellers also market pearls on leather cords, metal chokers. Fifth pic is a smaller mm strand. I think 8-11 mm. Etc. . I guess my point is there are many many price points for dark pearls, in all sorts of grades, colors, sizes, shapes, and it helps to look at a lot before buying. . . Have fun.
View attachment 6029241View attachment 6029242View attachment 6029243View attachment 6029244View attachment 6029247View attachment 6029249
If you want to really mix it up, you can google Nancy ****** pearls. She often wore chokers of mixed color SS pearls.
By the way, I also hope you will post pics of how you decide to style your grandmothers pearls. Apologies if you have already done so upthread — I have not caught up on reading this one.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply! What gorgeous pearls! And I love how you've styled them. I'm really loving the baroque ones actually. So unique, each one. I know they are considered "less perfect" than the round ones, but to me they are individual little sculptures.@Berengeria , I don’t know if you posted your thread starter inquiry here, but I recalled that pearl lovers on this thread were a font of amazing information.
@cdtracing recommended a few on line sources on this thread. And, it’s also possible that you can compare prices from various places like Etsy all the way up to a local jeweler near you. The research can be fun as some pearls are graded (not sure about Tahitians). I bought mine long ago from a pearl market in the Philippines. But, I subsequently bought a variety of baroque and semi baroque which were much less expensive in Asia. I’m 5’2 inches, medium build, and my strand ranged from about 11-16 mm (first pic and center, fourth pic, last pic). First pic, they are mixed with a longer strand of inexpensive freshwater pearls that I doubled (freshwaters might have been probably under 100 USD). Second pic is a semi baroque strand that I had strung with a diamond clasp. Third pic is a white strand I bought on Etsy. Fourth pic are the Tahitian strand (center) with the baroque strands. I don’t recommend buying a few here and there bc even if they don’t match, there is simply so much other variation. But, if you don’t want to buy so many at once, you can have some strung on different chains or materials. Fourth pic is some of mine strung on a white gold chain to change up the look. My independent jeweler strung them for me, but Etsy sellers also market pearls on leather cords, metal chokers. Fifth pic is a smaller mm strand. I think 8-11 mm. Etc. . I guess my point is there are many many price points for dark pearls, in all sorts of grades, colors, sizes, shapes, and it helps to look at a lot before buying. . . Have fun.
View attachment 6029241View attachment 6029242View attachment 6029243View attachment 6029244View attachment 6029247View attachment 6029249
If you want to really mix it up, you can google Nancy ****** pearls. She often wore chokers of mixed color SS pearls.
By the way, I also hope you will post pics of how you decide to style your grandmothers pearls. Apologies if you have already done so upthread — I have not caught up on reading this one.
I'm looking forward to doing the research and the shopping! I'm not sure if I have many places near me that sell Tahitian pearls, but hopefully I'll find someone. Online pics are pretty good though, so as long as I can be sure of reliability, return policies, etc., I would feel okay about buying online, although my preference would be for in person, naturally.
I have not posted pictures of styling my grandmother's pearls yet. It is kind of you to ask! I wore them one day with a similarly sized strand of tiger's eye stones. They looked nice, I thought. I will need to have the clasp on the pearls repaired before wearing them again unfortunately. It came open a few times, so I was glad for the safety chain.
Thanks again for your fantastic advice!
Hi Pearl lovers,
I am looking at buying my FIRST Mikimoto pearl. Is anyone here familiar with the Mikimoto stores in Tokyo? I have a trip in October transiting @ Haneda Tokyo airport. Should I shop at the Mikimoto Store inside the airport OR should I stay an extra day to shop at one of the Main stores? I wonder if the selection/pricing at the airport will be different? Your advise will be greatly appreciated. Thank you)
I am looking at buying my FIRST Mikimoto pearl. Is anyone here familiar with the Mikimoto stores in Tokyo? I have a trip in October transiting @ Haneda Tokyo airport. Should I shop at the Mikimoto Store inside the airport OR should I stay an extra day to shop at one of the Main stores? I wonder if the selection/pricing at the airport will be different? Your advise will be greatly appreciated. Thank you
)
Pearls are not my specialist subject (Type 11a diamonds are)- but I know a fair amount about them, having worked with them, and learned from them from the source of my current pearls.
@BigAkoya said she sources some of her pearls from David Norman, my South Sea pearls came from his nephew Charlie Barron, the 5th generation of a company who has supplied the most famous families and jewellers in the world.
Unlike most on this thread, I’m not a pearl aficionado , and only own
Silver and white South Sea pearl bracelet
Golden South Sea Pearl pendant on a gold chain
Golden South Sea Pearl bracelet
And my favourite piece
A triple row South Sea pearl bracelet
Which my parents bought for my birthday a few years ago.
Unfortunately it wasn’t knotted, and broke nearly a fortnight ago, and some of the pearls were lost.They were slightly baroque, so cannot be matched-I have insurance so it can be replaced (I have to surrender the original).
It was underinsured as it hadn’t been valued recently, so I’ll have to contribute, the clasp was only silver, I’ll probably use platinum and pay the difference, maybe diamond.
I’m not using Charlie, I’m using my own jeweller, who is Australian.
I’ll post the new bracelet when I have it.
@BigAkoya said she sources some of her pearls from David Norman, my South Sea pearls came from his nephew Charlie Barron, the 5th generation of a company who has supplied the most famous families and jewellers in the world.
Unlike most on this thread, I’m not a pearl aficionado , and only own
Silver and white South Sea pearl bracelet
Golden South Sea Pearl pendant on a gold chain
Golden South Sea Pearl bracelet
And my favourite piece
A triple row South Sea pearl bracelet
Which my parents bought for my birthday a few years ago.
Unfortunately it wasn’t knotted, and broke nearly a fortnight ago, and some of the pearls were lost.They were slightly baroque, so cannot be matched-I have insurance so it can be replaced (I have to surrender the original).
It was underinsured as it hadn’t been valued recently, so I’ll have to contribute, the clasp was only silver, I’ll probably use platinum and pay the difference, maybe diamond.
I’m not using Charlie, I’m using my own jeweller, who is Australian.
I’ll post the new bracelet when I have it.
H! I think you may have gotten me confused with someone else. For pearls, I'm a huge Mikimoto fan, so I only buy Mikimoto pearls.
Mikimoto pearls are absolutely gorgeous, and the glow is amazing.
Last edited:
Sorry I’ll read the thread again, I know someone does!
Apologies!❤️
It’s @cdtracing who buys from David Norman, mine came from his nephew Charlie Barron, they’ve supplied Royalty, Cartier etc.
Mikimoto invented the process of culturing pearls but mainly specialise in Akoya pearls-which are beautiful, mine are South Sea, Mikimoto do not do many South Sea.
I don’t know how long it’s been since you’ve been to a Mikimoto boutique, but in case you might be interested, they carry a lot South Seas (white and golden) as well as Tahitian. Their pieces are stunning.
The website only lists a small amount of their inventory as each piece is unique.
Thank you-it’s a long time-I lived just off Place Vendome, and I used to work in Bond Street, but pearls weren’t really my speciality as they are yours, and we had beautiful South Sea and Tahitian pearls where I worked.
Mine were acquired far more recently, and my own jeweller is Australian and has South Sea pearls so my insurance company have accepted them to recreate my bracelet.
I did look at the Mikimoto website, and the pieces were beautiful , but my insurance covers like for like, although I’ll probably have a better clasp, I’ve bought Argyle pink diamonds from them for 2 decades, it’s easier to negotiate (as I’m sure you know) when you’re an established client.)