Thanks Pattye and Cathy! I am really loving the 21.5" length on this strand...it works well with my fall wardrobe...just long enough to wear over a top, but still able to be worn with an open collar blouse. I was shopping in Wegman's yesterday, wearing my pearls with a Theory sweatshirt top and distressed jeans, and a woman came up and asked me what kind of "beads" I was wearing. When I told her they were Tahitian pearls, she didn't believe me at first because they weren't "black". I explained to her that the pearls come in all variety of colors, not just dark dark green/black. I'm guessing she's going to try to find a similar strand...she had that look in her eye!