This necklace was purchased for me as a gift about 35 years ago. I have only worn it about a dozen times. I was in the store during the transaction, and I remember a lot of talk about the pearls being special and that the origin justified the price - $300? $500? something in that range, plus the color, shape and matching, but I was young and all of the details were lost on me. I was actually looking around at other types of pearls while it was going on. Don't remember the store name but they only sold pearl jewelry and I think it was in one of our So. Cal. beach towns