Little, itty bitty pearls

[BWeaves]

So far, I've either panicked or not been quick enough to buy the big, honking pearls. You ladies look lovely in your SS chokers and Edison chokers, and ripples. I've never been a fan of big pearls in the past, but you all have changed my mind.

The thing is, I very drawn to lots of strands of little pearls. Little H has a Baby Freshwater necklace I'm lusting after with 6 strands of 2 or 3 mm pearls. My mother has some smaller round akoya pearls from the 1950s or 60s, and some multi-strands of rice krispies from the 80's or 90s, that I'll eventually inherit. And I just love how silky they feel. Like stroking a tassel.

Would you please share photos of your little, itty bitty pearls?

I know the small ones aren't really in style right now, because they're not really cost effective to produce, but I do love small pearls.

 

[lmgarden]

BWeaves, I like very small pearls, as well. I wear them alone, and sometimes with strands of larger pearls.
This little cutie, was one of my first pearls gifts from my parents. I was about 9 when they gave it to me. This is a 2-3 mm akoya circa 1910-1930, and very lustrous. I'm assuming it's akoya because of its age. The wg clasp accommodates a third strand. Through the years somebody removed it - I like it as a double. My father always gave my mother and I antique jewelry.

 

[BWeaves]

BWeaves, I like very small pearls, as well. I wear them alone, and sometimes with strands of larger pearls.
This little cutie, was one of my first pearls gifts from my parents. I was about 9 when they gave it to me. This is a 2-3 mm akoya circa 1910-1930, and very lustrous. I'm assuming it's akoya because of its age. The wg clasp accommodates a third strand. Through the years somebody removed it - I like it as a double. My father always gave my mother and I antique jewelry.

Ooo, lovely! The way they nest, I wonder if they were strung as a double, but just using a triple clasp? My grandmother used a triple clasp on a single strand of pearls, and never ever bought the other two strands. I currently have 2 strands of 8mm pearls on the clasp, but I wish in hindsight that I had bought smaller pearls and gotten three strands.

 

[lmgarden]

You could be right about originally strung as a double... hard to know. I encourage you to go with your desire for a small pearl necklace. They stand alone, with a pendant, tin cup or mixed with various strand sizes. If I didn't have mine, I'd buy one!

 

[Purranha]

I have 2 bracelets with baby akoyas - the first one is tiny 2-3mm, and the second one 3-3.5mm.
Sadly they don't get as much wear because I'm in NYC and it's cold half of the year (hard to wear these bracelets with winter coats with wind cuffs. They are uniform and quite lustrous. The pics are terrible.

 

[lmgarden]

Purranha those bracelets are lovely.
You reminded me of a few other tiny Pearl pieces I have to share.
A 3.5mm bluish akoya bracelet with sapphires. My grandmother bought it in the 60's, then gave it to my mother who years later gave it to me because she doesn't like hearts.
The tiny 14 k gold freshwater pearl tin cup necklace I found at TjMax a couple years ago!
The rest, Victorian & garnet seed Pearl pin and ring. The seed Pearl heart pendant I got when I was 7 years old.

 

[BWeaves]

I love them all. I have a squiggle tin cup similar yours, LMGarden, only mine has reborn pearls, so they are not that small.



My Mom has a pearl bracelet with diamond spacers similarish to your Purranha. Here she's wearing it with her baroque SS rope.



The Jade bracelet and the Sapphire with blue pearl bracelet are both to die for, too.

 

[Sanippy]

I really love tiny pearls too, so delicate and feminine. Hisano has some lovely pieces (a few are on my wish list!).

Not itty bitty but I love my 5-6mm rope from PP.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

Do loose naturals count?

These are from my 2-3mm collection.

 

[Purranha]

Do loose naturals count?

These are from my 2-3mm collection.

View attachment 41474

aaaahhhhhahahahahhahhhhahahahah!!!!!

 

[Sea Urchin]

I have a 1.8 mm freshwater strand, and also some tiny (replaced, freshwater) pearls around an old cameo pendant/pin.

 

[Marianne]

Dave, those little naturals are the best!

 

[lmgarden]

My oh my, LOVE those 2-3mm naturals!!!!!

 

[amti]

I love this thread!!! I'm lusting for some akoya keshi and want to make something with them, but not sure what. I know that I just want them. I'm pretty much in love with anything keshi since playing with Tahitian keshi on a strand. I do love the little akoya pearls too. I recently had to replace a 3mm pearl on a clasp and realized just how beautiful and perfect the pearls were.

 

[lmgarden]

I bought this 35" akoya keshi necklace during the Black Friday sale. It's nice to wear long or doubled, but I'm thinking of adding 5 or 7 hanadamas or GSS pearls evenly throughout the strand. They are so brilliant for being so tiny.

 

[kelluvpearls]

So delicate and gorgeous, love all the photos. Imagine the work drilling the tiny holes and threading these babies.

 

[Jacques]

Lagoon - thank you for showing us the picture of your tiny naturals!

They are enthralling.

I also love tiny pearls but the smallest size in Tahitians is 7mm. (which is mostly what I work with.) And they aren't always easy to find as farmers usually go for 8mm as the smallest size in a harvest.

As I branch out into selling other types of pearls I hope to carry more of the itsy teeny ones.

I think there is a trend in jewelry nowadays going towards tiny small pearls. Everywhere I look it seems, people are making jewelry pieces with the teeny ones.

 

[Lagoon Island Pearls]

I think there is a trend in jewelry nowadays going towards tiny small pearls. Everywhere I look it seems, people are making jewelry pieces with the teeny ones.

The tiny ones are among the best surface quality. The greater most are round and highly translucent. As well as new creations, they make for wonderful replacement stones in older pieces, particularly in Victorian or British-India jewelry.

Here's a high resolution image of the same lot : 2-3mm Naturals

 

[Katbran]

Oh I love all these photos !!!
Purr....that Jade/pearl bracelet.....omg...OMG..OMG
Dave...those little naturals are beautiful !!
And those little Akoya...they just GLOW!!
All the pearly pieces are wonderful !
I don't wear tiny pearls but love the look of them..

 

[Icyjade]

I love looking at them but I don't have any too. Have seen some beautiful pieces on Rakuten (a Japanese site like etsy). Will keep a lookout n post if I come across more.