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Help in finding multicolored Tahitian necklace

@pearlsngems Hmm, good point! Yes, two many whites and not enough color.

Ok, one more for Friday night! Found this strand online just now (is one of the stickied vendors on pricescope). It does have the light and dark alternating pearls like you mentioned, although overall the colors aren't especially vivid.
upload_2019-7-26_20-19-7.png
 
@LisaRN Wow, gorgeous! Way over my budget unfortunately...but fun to look at, thanks for sharing!
 
There are usually just a few (if any) vivid pearls in multi colored strands, from what I've seen.

Edited to add: In this day and age, fuzzy vendor photos are incomprehensible to me. I always wonder what flaws I'd see if the photo were in better focus.
 
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@pearlsngems That makes sense. I am now beginning to doubt if Tahitians are really for me. I think I was blown away by @dmz strand but I think in some ways that strand is the exception to the rule, and that the things I like about Tahitians is not actually what they are famous/typical for. Because I don’t like really the more subtle play of iridescence and dark tones that maybe they are famous for and would probably look like most of the time. I think what I actually want is something that more resembles a strand of frosted glass Christmas orbs!
0A0D4AAA-74E4-4D64-952C-F038E0528A0F.jpeg
 
I like the frosted glass orbs! But to find a pearl strand like that...that would have to be imitation!

The colors in the @dmz strand were taken in his own homemade light box, you know. And the neck shot was on an overcast day; diffuse light helps bring out colors. It's a gorgeous strand, but I wonder what it looks like in bright daylight?

My Tahitian strands look different in every room of my house and outdoors. Which photo shows the real colors? They all do. :rolleyes2:
 
@pearlsngems thanks for your eloquent reply; you said it best that, yes, Tahitians possess a quality of metamorphosis about them.

I have looked at dyed freshwaters in the past but most look tacky for some reason which is really too bad.

I am still waiting to see some more photos from Kamoka (those were the pearls you liked best) as well as from Jose (who has been very thoughtful and kind already) so will keep you posted on those if anything really catches my eye.

Happy weekend!
 
Pinkmartini87 said:
@pearlsngems That makes sense. I am now beginning to doubt if Tahitians are really for me. I think I was blown away by @dmz strand but I think in some ways that strand is the exception to the rule, and that the things I like about Tahitians is not actually what they are famous/typical for. Because I don’t like really the more subtle play of iridescence and dark tones that maybe they are famous for and would probably look like most of the time. I think what I actually want is something that more resembles a strand of frosted glass Christmas orbs!
0A0D4AAA-74E4-4D64-952C-F038E0528A0F.jpeg
Click to expand...
i totally get that
they are so beaitiful individually
i think id like Tahitians as earings or on a ring or a handful of pearls spaced out on a silver wire type of necklase
 
Let me guess, from Cees? Looks like his style photos. ;))

#2 is the most colorful!
#3 is also very nice, but a bit greener overall.
#1 has that one striking blue pearl that would catch your eye every time, but it is not centered. This is your favorite?

You can't go wrong with any of these.
Edited to add, be as sure as you can. FedEx in both directions (in case of a return) is on the buyer.
 
@pearlsngems You bet!!! He responded in minutes!

Two more (I’m feeling very overwhelmed but excited, and to think I was going to go to bed early!)

Help me choose because I like all 5 and I think you know me and my color preference best even better than I know myself!!

23E1612C-6536-4740-A5EF-D2DF801115AA.jpeg E1397484-9447-469E-8EBE-C236A185726D.jpeg
 
Ok, here’s my order in list of preference for color? What do you think, guru? Should I ask for more photos? I think he took the second one of each to show me what it looks like in nonideal situations:

Strand one:
0B6246AE-41FC-4B79-AF90-DE97A7431030.jpeg 0BB7D64C-6441-4939-A711-A25E408C0601.jpeg

Strand 2:
6B029D75-35F3-4077-A1F8-6BD2BF018E36.jpeg 504F3B3B-ED1E-4CAF-9A2C-B8AF58A302E1.jpeg

Strand 3:
F04BC045-56EF-4444-B100-D528322DDEFC.jpegF0FE32E1-B4CF-4580-806A-6BFF543DAF30.jpeg

Strand 4:
A59DF53C-769A-4F54-8474-F92C8687F9A1.jpeg 5FBDBCF7-5C8A-4758-89F8-CB9F8698F7F4.jpeg

Strand 5:
3A516E8F-2AF5-416C-AF7B-9CA7862A7E7C.jpeg 08DB47DD-B72B-4A43-AE2A-A1E7611CBAB7.jpeg
 
My newbie reasoning:

Strand one: pros: each pearl has great color. Cons: similar dark tone

Strand two: pros: some lighter tone pearls and some darker tone pearls makes it pop more. Cons: some of the colors are so so.

Strand three: pros: all great color pearls, esp like the chocolate ones that really pop. Cons: similar dark tone to all the pearls

Strand four: con: bit more uniform over all and nothing pops out

Strand five: Con: think I actually prefer rounds/semi rounds to baroque.
 
It's good that he sent natural light photos. I like the first 2 the best.

The first one has more burgundy and greenish gold colors, as well as blues, and they seem to be interspersed at good intervals. Not too many of one tone together.

The 2nd one is a little brighter because a little lighter. It is less contrasty but still has a very nice range of colors. Less gold and burgundy and more light green and light blue. I prefer this color range over that of the first strand, having now seen the natural light photos, but that is just me. You have to ask yourself what clothes you wear, which colors will go better with your clothes, skin tone and hair.

To me the first one has earth tones, the second has sky and sea tones. The second makes me think of tropical waters, the first of harvest tones. The natural light photos are what I'm looking at in saying this.

As to asking for more photos, if you are still not sure, then yes, ask for more photos of your top favorites. It's very little trouble compared to having to do a return. :roll2:
 
@pearlsngems Thank you for the enormous amount of time you’ve spend teaching me! I feel a little chuffed knowing we share the same top two choices, maybe I’m learning after all!

Yes you are correct in I think it comes down to preference. The art nerd in me says the first reminds me of a rich Dutch still life painting palette (aka rich earthy tones) and the second is a more Salvador Dali dreamscape with a soft palette.

I’m going to sleep on it, friend, and keep you posted in the morning!

Btw, does he add clasps typically? Does he also make earrings? If I’m thinking of getting a pair of earrings to match, should I tell him now prior to the necklace being shipped out to me so he can match them up better? How DOES one match earrings to a multicolored strand? Do I just pick one of the colors in the strand?
 
The GSS necklace I bought from him was strung up already with wire and a hidden "harpoon" clasp that clicks closed, for an endless look. The pearls are separated by 2mm silicone bead bumpers (sold by Beadalon in various colors; Cees' stringers used white, which is not optimal for gold pearls, but not really a problem. Gold bumpers would have been better. If this system is used for your pearls I'd really want them to use the silver/gray bumpers, not white.)
See my thread about my strand:
https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-new-gss-strand-from-cees.219085/

It is very comfortable and I have not had to restring it since I got it over 3 years ago, but if the wire ever breaks I don't know how I'd restring it with wire-- how the wire would fit into the end 2 pearls. I suppose I'd see at the time! But if I wanted (or needed) to restring with thread I'd probably have to either replace the end 2 pearls or just use a larger clasp to take up the space-- for example the Orbit clasp, as PP calls it; Rio Grande calls these "oval push clasps". They are interlocking oval rings. I will cross that bridge when I come to it. I will not be shipping it back to him for restringing!

If you prefer traditional stringing with silk or synthetic thread (like Beader's Secret--a great thread!) I would definitely ask for this stringing method instead of wire. I would think he'd offer a choice of clasps.
Or you could ask that the pearls be sent to you unstrung, and then you could string them with the clasp of your choice.

If you aren't sure what color earring pearls you'd want, ask him to photograph a few different colored pairs next to the strand you select. Remember it is harder to match earring pearls, and some colors will be scarcer than others (blue, for example). They may not be a perfect match. You may end up preferring one pair over another based on how well they match each other or the strand.

I got my earring pearls loose and had them made up as studs locally, after some thought about my preference (studs vs. dangles.) Do you prefer studs or dangles? I think that might influence what you decide, depending on what findings he has. You'll have to ask.
 
Here's a thought that occurred to me just now about the choice of earrings.

I have matching earrings for many of my pearl necklaces, but I find that I often wear the necklace with different (non-pearl) earrings, and I also often wear the earrings without the necklace.

If you think you would do that too, choose the earrings color that you like best, even if it's second-best for the necklace. When you do wear them together, the necklace will be the main attraction anyway.
 
Such beautiful strands to choose from. Number 3 is my favorite.
 
@pearlsngems Wow, thanks for the sage advice re clasps and stringing; I will double check with him for sure.

Great advice re earrings to pick them for what they are, I’ve reached out to him and will show you what he shows me!

What would I do without you?????

Oh and I’ve decided to go with this strand (it’s most festive in color, almost Christmasy):
47DB1560-AB51-4DBD-AFF0-D1625B079C1C.jpeg
 
@LisaRN Thanks for taking the time to look. Just curious, what about that strand do you like best? Always interesting to hear other folks’ opinions!
 
It is really varied and will still look varied in natural light. I think your association with Dutch masters is cool! =) The pearls are round and the surface flaws aren't prominent or distracting.

What size is it?
 
@pearlsngems I think all the ones he showed me are within 8-11 mm.

Too small? Should I go bigger? I know my current Majorica strand is under 8mm and I like something just a tad bigger, although ive never had Tahitian pearls before so don’t know if the size of a white pearl strand could be extrapolated to a Tahitian strand.
 
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Pinkmartini87 said:
@LisaRN Thanks for taking the time to look. Just curious, what about that strand do you like best? Always interesting to hear other folks’ opinions!
Click to expand...

I like that this strand has more pearls that have both green and rose tones. That is my personal preference.
 
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stracci2000 said:
Be careful of "shell pearls" !!!! This description is deceiving!
They are not natural pearls! It's a man made coated bead. I believe shells are used in the coating or bead, so they get away with calling them "shell pearls"
https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/summer-2014-labnotes-shell-pearl
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Yes shell pearls should be a fraction of the cost of Tahitian pearls. With that said, there are a few Etsy vendors list their cultured pearls under the listing of shell and pearl. So when in doubt verify that the pearls are genuine cultured Tahitian pearls. There is a vendor whom I trust and has a great reputation that has a Tahitian necklace under "shell and pearl" and her description lists the pearl necklace as genuine Tahitian pearls. Best bet is to carefully read the description of the pearls, ask questions and buy from vendors with good reputations.
 
Pinkmartini87 said:
@pearlsngems I think all the ones he showed me are within 8-11 mm.

Too small? Should I go bigger? I know my current Majorica strand is under 8mm and I like something just a tad bigger, although ive never had Tahitian pearls before so don’t know if the size of a white pearl strand could be extrapolated to a Tahitian strand.
Click to expand...

8-11mm is a nice wearable size!

Tahitians get larger than that, of course, but the large pearls come from older oysters that can tolerate a larger bead nucleus (which is placed in the gonad!) These are often oysters that have already produced one harvest and were re-grafted. Older oysters generally don't produce as good colors or luster as younger ones. So often I see large Tahitian strands with boring colors.
 
@pearlsngems So interesting re how the process differs to get the larger pearls (gonads—sounds painful!). I’ve been doing some reading myself on the process of harvesting, and watching some good ole YouTube videos on the topic too. The process is truly amazing and so much work goes into it.
 
The process isn't different, no. In oysters the bead is always placed in the gonad. I was just pointing out that a little oyster's gonad isn't big enough for a large bead!

For freshwater pearls it used to be that all pearls were grafted with bits of donor mantle tissue placed in the mantle of the host, a freshwater mussel. But for the past 14 years or so the Chinese have been also placing beads in the gonad of the hybrid mussel used for this, and the result is large pearls that compete with SSP. Some have fabulous colors-- purple, burgundy, copper.

As to pain, oysters and mussels don't have a central nervous system or brain. The oyster or mussel is cared for as it heals from the grafting process and the care continues as the pearl grows in it. Oysters are kept clean of biofouling organisms, are turned, etc. It's a remarkable process.
 
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@pearlsngems Was reading about 2 inch pearl extendors? Do you have an example of it or can direct me to a photo? Should I ask Cee to see if he can make one for me?
 
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