New Freshadama strand--pleased as punch :)

[gravityalwayswins]

Oh Jerin--I already want a bigger strand! I want a strand of Tahitian baroques, so those will definitely be bigger-heh heh. I'd also love a strand of lavender freshwaters. Could definitely do a larger size there!

Kaywal,
I don't have freshwaters yet (on the short list!) but I started with a 8-13mm crazy, all sizes, all colors strand of Tahitian baroques. At first I thought the big 13mm one was monstrous...

Nowadays I think the others are kind puny. I'm so embarrassed by the shift in my own perception. I'm 5'11 with a self-described "giraffe neck", so I think the big ones do so much better! I'll bet big dark pearls would look fabulous on you!

 

[Casey.R]

Perfect size and I love th 16 inch length too!

 

[Mervione]

No one want to answer my question? I?m quite confused about this...

 

[Sueki]

This is weird, I thought I was reading in another thread that when you buy a strand that range between two millimeters like that, you?re supposed to expect that most pearls are small and only a few in the middle are in the big range? Maybe I?m just mixing it up with something else.

Hi Mervione,
It is when purchasing from Chinese vendors that you can expect the pearls to be on the small side.
Kaywal bought hers from PearlParadise, who state actual sizes and deliver what they advertise.

 

[Mervione]

I don?t think I made myself clear. If the strand was 7-8, then most of them could be 7 with just a very, very few in the middle being close to 8, and it?d still be the size they said it?d be. But, judging from KayVals posts, it seems that hers was over 8 mm, and I thought you?d have to buy a 8-9 strand for the pearls to be over 8 mm? Or even most of them being 8 mm. Of course, if I?m wrong about this I?d be happy, because it?d save me from buying a 8-9 strand, I could just get the 7-8 instead if I want most pearls to be 8 mm...

 

[Sueki]

Ah, I see....
It might be an idea to e-mail the vendor and ask .....
And tell them what you are looking for.
If it's one of the vendors on here, I know they will all be only too pleased to help.

 

[jerin]

I think I might have been the one telling that 8-9 mm means mostly 8-8,5 mm and perhaps 3 pearls reaching almost 9 mm, that is, as Sueki told almost always the case when ordering from a Chinese seller, if our vendors here say 8-9 I think most of the pearls will not be smaller than 0,5 mm from the largest size anyway. But that is not so when choosing a Chinese seller so beware or be hard on him that he tells you just how large the pearls are! Otherwise be prepared to get a lot of smaller pearls and just a very few reach the given size in the add!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

I have a gauge but it doesn't show tenths of a mm so I have to estimate. Measuring the pearls on my Freshadama 7-8mm strand, this is what it looks like to me:

There are (2) 8mm pearls in the center, a few 7.5-8 mm ones flanking those, a number of 7-7.5mm ones flanking those, then 7mm on the very ends.

If you really want 8mm, then buy 8-9mm.

 

[barbie biggs]

I am not an expert so this answer is just my experience, plus what I have heard on this forum.

1) My mother in law has Mikis. 2mm to 8mm. Her necklace has lots of 2mm akoya, then on up to about 7mm with one lonely 8mm. I didn't say anything when I saw it because I was shocked, but it was pretty.
2) In today's market usually, the graduations seem to be much less widely spaced. For the sake of this blog;
If you purchase 7mm to 8mm you will get some of both plus graduated sizes in between.
3) As far as I know there is nowhere that you can get a necklace with just 8mm pearls on it unless you order and pay for a custom order.

Lastly, this only applies to reputable vendors. If you accidentally stumble across a humbug, you may be in trouble.

But, generally speaking 7 to 8mm does not mean 8mm. It means 7 to 8mm.
This is not too bad though as it is the traditional size. Many, many women wear this size. You can never go wrong with it and if you like larger pearls, all you have to do is be able to afford them.

 

[barbie biggs]

Kayway:
I am so happy for you. I too have freshadamas, as do many here on the forum and they are just wonderful. You will never regret your choice. I hope you have many happy years with your pearls.
barbie

 

[Mervione]

Thanks Jerin and pearldreams, I think I?ll go for the 9-10 or 8-9.

 

[Kaywal]

Thanks so much for the kind words ladies!

Mervione, I went over to PP and chose my strand. This strand was in the pile of 7-8. We measured throughout the strand and some were slightly under 8 or just a hair over 8.
I'm thinking that even though some are a bit over 8, the fact that some are less makes it go into the 7-8 category. Hope that helps!

 

[Mervione]

Oh, I wish I could visit too... I think it maybe could be something you can request but with me wanting to request both a strong colour of the necklace and strong orient it might be wishful thinking...

 

[Nerida]

They seem to be pretty obliging at PP, Mervione! I think I would ask...

 

[Mervione]

Well, definitely worth asking, since it?ll be quite a big purchase for a student. I think I?d rather be a picky, nagging costumer than to return the item, so better ask a lot than not to.