starsinthesea...my advice to you, as a relative novice with pearls myself, is to work with the vendors Jeremy has posted. I have made purchases from Pearl Paradise, as well as other vendors who participate on this forum. You get what you pay for, and if you are looking for quality and value, these are the best of the best. Yes, a bargain is to be had on eBay...but only if you really know what you are looking at...which, I don't. It is also worth it to mention that bargains can also be had through these wonderful vendors. They often run monthly specials, as well as special sales throughout the year (holiday, mother's day, etc). And finally, if you are deciding what you want, develop a budget and work with the vendors on what they can offer within your price range.