First pearls

[Matt_95]

I've been wanting to get a pearl for a while now. Recently I contacted Jeremy from PP about getting one to put on leather and he suggested I might like a metalic freshwater. I had a look at his blog and I fell in love with the souffle pearls he has. Since he was having a sale at the time and since shipping to Australia was a fair but I decided to get a second pearl to even it out a little. Stephanie from PP selected me a few Tahitians to pick from after hearing my description. The service I got from pearl paradise was without a doubt the best customer service I have ever received. I was kept up to date the entire time and I cannot possibly fault them in anyway. Anyway, onto the pearls, I recieved them today. I must admit I was a little dissapointed upon opening the package, however on taking the pearls outside I was blown away. They are beautiful. The orient in the souffle is beautiful.

 

[KarinK]

What a lovely story We must also remember that pearls seem to brighten up when they are worn. More than once I've felt a bit disappointed until the pearl 'warmed up'.

- Karin

 

[Matt_95]

Thanks very much. I had read here previously that you shouldn't judge a pearl right out of the package because they're cold and indoors. Here is what I have done with the Tahitian. And I have attached Jeremy's photos of my souffle because his are much better than mine show.

 

[BAS]

Matt_95 -- first of all, welcome!!! Pearls are funny little things. I often feel unimpressed or underwhelmed when I first open a new shipment of pearls. It's such a strange phenomenon, but they really seem to be "asleep" at first and warm up and change colors as the minutes go by. I also think the current practice of sending them in a black lined box does not show pearls to their advantage. One "disappointing" shipment became one of my very favorite necklaces. I've learned to wait and live with pearls and look at them in different light at different times of day before making a final decision.

You now own one of my very favorite types of pearl -- a souffle!

Enjoy your new pearls and wear them in health.

A few more "wrist shots" would be appreciated!

 

[GemGeek]

Let me add to the disappointment comments. Pearls change in different lights and the first look environment might be the worst, so I always tell people to resist the urge to return them until they have spent a little time with them. Your pearls are spectacular and I love what you have done with them. A neck shot, please!

 

[Matt_95]

Thanks very much Bas, I have noticed the colours in the tahitian changing as I have been wearing it. It's fascinating. I've taken a few more photos, I'll take a better neck shot tomorrow in the sun. The souffle doesn't look that great in some of the lighting on my house, but outside it is spectacular. The lighting in the house also washes my skin out and I have not even a trace of a tan. I was trying to find a store that sold leather cord today at the local shops and everyone who saw it said how beautiful it was. I ended up finding a local designer who sold pearl and leather jewelery and she said she has never seen a pearl that beautiful before.

Thanks very much Gemgeek, I don't have a clasp for the necklace yet, I've just tied a knot in the leather for now.

I'd really love to get a few more now. I really want a Gold south sea and a larger tahitian.

 

[KarinK]

A totally cool and very masculine look! More pearls on men!!

- Karin

 

[BAS]

I just want to lick that souffle (ooh, did I type that "out loud"?). Yay, more pearls in your future! Please share them with us. It makes us happy.

Enjoy!

 

[GemGeek]

It took a long time for you to evaluate what to get and then you made such a big leap. I'm tickled to see how good they look on you. Welcome to the club of the pearl-obsessed!

 

[Matt_95]

Thanks very much guys, I appreciate it. The souffl? has so many different moods, it's fascinating. It's an overcast day here today and the colours in it are beautiful. I wore it to my exam today and got a few comments on it. Someone tolde they liked my opal!

It would have been almost a year ago I think I made a thread here asking for opinions so yes it has taken me a while!

A few better shots, still haven't mastered taking them. View attachment 29675 View attachment 29676

My photos seem to be less colourful and less in focus when I upload them here. I'll have to take some better quality ones soon.

 

[pattye]

Matt,

Great pearl choices! We all struggle with photographing pearls to show them off properly, so we understand completely.

 

[BAS]

I just read your original thread and look at your journey! I bet you never would have thought back then that you'd end up with a souffle! Good job hunting, researching, thinking and waiting. Now you are the owner of two, very different, lovely pearls!

 

[Matt_95]

Thanks very much, I'll try a bit harder for some better photos yet still. The Tahitian is so much easier to get it to look true to life.

I didn't even know what a souffle was back then, thank you Jeremy to bringing them up!

I've finished the clasp for the souffle, I decided not to use a silver finding and to go with something more natural. I had half of an old watch strap lying around so I cut one of the holes off and sanded it to be round, then I tied the cord through it and on the other end I made a loop to but the button I made into. The necklace is at the perfect length now and I think the clasp fits the rest of the necklace, what do you guys think?



I am thinking my next purchase will be a tahitian 15-16mm and in the strongest blue overtone I can find. I found that the Tahitian I have now wasn't big enough to wear around my neck, I've got very broad shoulders and it didn't really have much of a presence. My tahitian is 12-13mm. Will a more drop shaped baroque have more of a presence than one that is closer to round?

 

[Marianne]

Love that you repurposed your old watch strap and think it makes a very complete piece! Beautiful pearls, Matt

 

[juliebeth]

that is so cool. your pearls look fabulous, and i love what you've done with the leather!

i definitely think a larger drop, perhaps even a circle'd drop tahitian, with shimmering rings of color, would make an enormous statement around your neck!

 

[Matt_95]

Thanks very much again guys. I wore it to a housewarming last night and got lots of compliments and people asking what it was. There was actually another guy there with a bracelet of dyed flat keshi pearls. He called them "she'll rocks" though and said they weren't pearls.

I definitely want a few circles on it I think, I love the play of colour they cause.

 

[CathyKeshi]

Matt_95, your "shell rocks" are great! My own little 7 year old grandson has taken to calling my pearls "pirate pearls" ... and now he's asking for one of his own. I've been thinking a circled and wildly colored small Tahitian baroque/keshi on a leather cord ...

 

[Matt_95]

Thanks very much and that would be very cool

I took some more photos just now, they're so beautiful. Sorry about the overload of photos

I took a photo of this little guy while I was at it as well.

 

[CathyKeshi]

Oooh, there can not be too many photos; very nice And WHAT is that little green guy!?

 

[Matt_95]

It's a carpet anemone, I was trying to get the shrimp that lives in it in focus though.

Here's an old video of it with some clownfish if you're interested
http://youtu.be/rwxYohtBYss