New Pearl Earrings

[MichelleCarmen]

Hi everyone,

Helzberg Jewelers sent me a card saying they were giving away free freshwater cultured pearl earrings to me because my birthday is in Dec. Just a gimmick to get customers in their store. The SA said she''d been giving them out all day.

I''ve never owned any pearls and am guessing these are of lower quality. The shape is weird. They''re button shape rather than round. . .plus I''m betting the coating (nacre - or what do you call it?) is very thin and will chip off possibly?

Is there any way I''m suppose to clean them? How long can I expect before the outer layer starts to chip?

They''re suppose to be around 5.5 mm. I just don''t know anything other than they don''t retail for very much (lol).

Thanks for any help/advice.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Side photo. . .sorry it''s blurry. I''m kind of in a hurry here. . .

 

[MichelleCarmen]

top earring it the front view

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Also, is that shape considered low-quality? Please tell me the truth. My feelings won''t be hurt AT ALL. I''d rather know than look like an idiot wearing pearls that look odd - the shape kind of makes me wonder if they''re rejects the store was trying to get rid of.

Thanks!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Here''s an ear shot. My boys (7 & 9) first told me they look "cool," then later told me they look fake. lol

 

[that_someone_special]

I got that card for my birthday as well.. but for November. I am giving them to a friend- and was wondering the quality as well....

I will give you my thoughts later... (and personally I don''t mind button shaped pearls)

So far, without seeing them, I am guessing they are bleached??

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Okay. Please tell me what you think after seeing them.

 

[LGK]

Well, luckily they''re freshies, so they''re solid nacre. You shouldn''t have to worry about thin nacre at least!

Button shape is not as high quality as round, but as earrings I personally wouldn''t mind them. Big pits or no lustre would bug me more, for sure.

I''m bad about cleaning my pearls, lol, so I tend to just wipe them down after wearing. I think at least with earrings you won''t have to worry about wetting the silk.
For freebies I think they''re cute!

 

[Indylady]

Your pearls shouldn''t chip unless you seriously bang them around, or unless they are really old or really dry. I wouldn''t call buttons ''low quality'' just for the sake of being buttons. Its similar to a lower colored diamond; some people love them, some people hate them, and some people cant tell the difference. Your earrings look great, and it sounds like a great free gift!

 

[cellentani]

I actually like button shapes for earrings, and I have some that are about 8mm - in larger sizes, they just fit better on my ear and don''t droop. I also think that it''s tough for others to tell that they''re not fully round when you''re wearing them. Pearls like that (small and button-shaped) are pretty cheap, but they look nice and smooth. Maybe you need some bigger ones.

 

[kas baby]

I definitely wouldn''t disregard button shaped pearls. you have to remember, pearls come in a variety of interesting shapes, button, round, baroque, keshi, rice...

if you like the color and luster, then I don''t see how they could be ''bad''. Much like colored stones, there is a lot that is open for interpretation.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 11/19/2009 6:30:10 PM
Author: cellentani
I actually like button shapes for earrings, and I have some that are about 8mm - in larger sizes, they just fit better on my ear and don''t droop. I also think that it''s tough for others to tell that they''re not fully round when you''re wearing them. Pearls like that (small and button-shaped) are pretty cheap, but they look nice and smooth. Maybe you need some bigger ones.

There were a pair of round ones with little .10 ct. diamonds attached that caught my eye! I almost tried them on, but then I''d have been posting pictures of THOSE here on PS instead of the free ones.

What makes me nervous about pearls is the nacre thing. Even though I know next to nothing about it, I''m pretty sure I had heard somewhere that often the coating is very thin. Is this true?

 

[LGK]

Date: 11/19/2009 9:43:26 PM
Author: MC

Date: 11/19/2009 6:30:10 PM
Author: cellentani
I actually like button shapes for earrings, and I have some that are about 8mm - in larger sizes, they just fit better on my ear and don't droop. I also think that it's tough for others to tell that they're not fully round when you're wearing them. Pearls like that (small and button-shaped) are pretty cheap, but they look nice and smooth. Maybe you need some bigger ones.

There were a pair of round ones with little .10 ct. diamonds attached that caught my eye! I almost tried them on, but then I'd have been posting pictures of THOSE here on PS instead of the free ones.

What makes me nervous about pearls is the nacre thing. Even though I know next to nothing about it, I'm pretty sure I had heard somewhere that often the coating is very thin. Is this true?

I think it is for Akoyas / saltwater pearls - at least the lower quality ones. The freshwater ones, like your earrings, are all nacre through and through- they're nucleated with tissue (like a small bit of another oyster or whatever) rather than a bead, so they're solid pearl nacre. A lot of the not-so-great-quality antique (c.1940ish) Akoyas I see at work have peeling nacre around the drill holes. Their nacre is incredibly thin looking- like way thinner than paper.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 11/20/2009 1:47:05 AM
Author: LittleGreyKitten
I think it is for Akoyas / saltwater pearls - at least the lower quality ones. The freshwater ones, like your earrings, are all nacre through and through- they''re nucleated with tissue (like a small bit of another oyster or whatever) rather than a bead, so they''re solid pearl nacre. A lot of the not-so-great-quality antique (c.1940ish) Akoyas I see at work have peeling nacre around the drill holes. Their nacre is incredibly thin looking- like way thinner than paper.

Okay, thanks for the info. I wish I could get a second pair and disect them to see what they look like inside! lol

(Now I need outfits that match pearls. I have two camisoles that have white lace on them that matches, but almost 75% of my shirts/sweaters are black and don''t coordinate with pearls. Almost the rest of what I own is purple. Because of the limited color range, I''m pretty sure most people think I''m wearing the same thing every day!)

 

[kas baby]

oh, I think matching is overrated! lol

but this is coming from a person who will wear her pearls with jeans and a t-shirt

no one says anything (to my face anyway) and to be completely honest, it doesn''t bother me one bit. They make me happy so I wear them

 

[ts44]

Date: 11/20/2009 1:51:47 PM
Author: kas baby
oh, I think matching is overrated! lol

but this is coming from a person who will wear her pearls with jeans and a t-shirt

no one says anything (to my face anyway) and to be completely honest, it doesn''t bother me one bit. They make me happy so I wear them

Agreed! I wear my pearls with anything - and I only have multicolors! Just wipe them with a damp cloth, no cleaning solutions of any sort. Pearls "like to be worn", so I hear, so wearing them more often will make the luster come out more. I leave my pearl earring case open in the bathroom when I shower. They seem to like the steam.

 

[glitterata]

I really like button pearls for earrings. To me they fit better against the earlobe, especially in larger sizes.

 

[cellentani]

Date: 11/20/2009 11:58:29 AM
Author: MC
Okay, thanks for the info. I wish I could get a second pair and disect them to see what they look like inside! lol

(Now I need outfits that match pearls. I have two camisoles that have white lace on them that matches, but almost 75% of my shirts/sweaters are black and don''t coordinate with pearls. Almost the rest of what I own is purple. Because of the limited color range, I''m pretty sure most people think I''m wearing the same thing every day!)

MC, I''m getting visions of you with a cleaver, lol! If a pearl has a drill hole, it''s possible to look into it without cutting it in half - a loupe and good lighting will help. But unless you undo the earring post, you won''t be able to do that with your earrings. And consider pearls to be neutral, almost like a pair of diamond studs. They really go with just about anything, and I think pearls look much more elegant and chic with a black sweater than a white one.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Date: 11/20/2009 6:08:17 PM
Author: cellentani

Date: 11/20/2009 11:58:29 AM
Author: MC
Okay, thanks for the info. I wish I could get a second pair and disect them to see what they look like inside! lol

(Now I need outfits that match pearls. I have two camisoles that have white lace on them that matches, but almost 75% of my shirts/sweaters are black and don''t coordinate with pearls. Almost the rest of what I own is purple. Because of the limited color range, I''m pretty sure most people think I''m wearing the same thing every day!)

MC, I''m getting visions of you with a cleaver, lol! If a pearl has a drill hole, it''s possible to look into it without cutting it in half - a loupe and good lighting will help. But unless you undo the earring post, you won''t be able to do that with your earrings. And consider pearls to be neutral, almost like a pair of diamond studs. They really go with just about anything, and I think pearls look much more elegant and chic with a black sweater than a white one.

I''m totally a cleaver woman. My favorite cooking knife is the one which gets the job done. That said, the earrings are cute, and I''m sure I''ll wear them sometimes. It is nice to have them added to my collection. . .there are some really stylish pairs out there that I like more. . .but these are nice starter pair. Not sure if I''ll continue from these

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

lol MC, if you decide to dissect a pearl, I hope you record it and let us see the process

I think the buttons might be more comfortable to wear in larger sizes. I think some of the TPO pearls, the AA+ are button shaped, whereas the AAA are fully round.

And I wouldn''t worry about matching. I''m wearing my pink pearl studs from PP with a cream sweater, jeans and Uggs! I love wearing pearls with casual clothes - kind of casual dressy, y''know?

 

[Ronnilee]

Hey, you get what you pay for..... and if you received these free, just enjoy!!! : O They look very nice and pretty. I would wear them and love them! ronnilee

 

[Christiana]

I happen to like button-shaped pearl earrings, too. Actually, yours reminded me of the ones I bought recently (8-9mm). Their luster is amazing, they fit better and since they weren''t that expensive, I can wear them often and all day long. I would hesitate to do this with my expensive pearls/jewels. All in all, it was a great gift. Enjoy it!

 

[D&T]

hey what a great free gift

I really love my button pearls more than my rounds, as they stay on my little lobes better.