Okay-- thank you, baby nurse!
BWeaves, here is the comparison-- remember these are estimates since we have not measured each and every pearl.
• baby nurse's 9.2-12.2mm Edison (based on 39 pearls): estimated total volume 26,481 cubic mm
• 7.5-8.0mm, 36 inch strand (based on 106 pearls): estimated total volume 25,970 cubic mm
• 8.0-8.5mm, 36 inch strand (based on 100 pearls): estimated total volume 29,500 cubic mm
• perfectly size-matched, exactly 8.0mm, 36 inch strand (based on 103 pearls): total volume 27,604 cubic mm
Weight and volume go hand in hand, so if you are comfortable with the weight of a 36- inch strand of pearls in the 7.5-8.5mm range, you should be okay with a 17 inch strand graduating from about 9mm to about 12 mm.
Even a 10-12mm strand (based on 37 pearls) would weigh only very slightly more than the hypothetical perfectly-size matched 8mm, 36" strand.
It occurs to me that it might be helpful if the vendors posted the weight of their strands, along with the other information. But I suppose one could always ask about the weight of a particular strand if one were concerned.
