Pearls

[Zemke Fan]

Ladies, pardon the intrusion, but I wonder if you could help a fella out with some thoughts about vintage pearls, especially sizes/lengths for various decades...

My wife Helen absolutely ADORES Audrey Hepburn. So, for Christmas this year I am working on a 1950s/1960s Audrey-themed set of presents. I've checked out this book for inspiration:

Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit

With this on the list to be part of this year's presents:

Audrey Style by Pamela Clarke Keogh

So, anyway, here are my questions:

1. What LENGTH pearl necklace should I be shopping for?
2. Single strand of pearls or double?
3. What SIZE pearls should I be seeking?

Any expertise that you could share with me would be much appreciated...

BTW, the first two items that I've already purchased include this Mikimoto .925 silver and pearl pin. The pearls in this (hasn't arrived yet) are supposedly 4.5 to 5.0 mm.

The second item is a .925 silver NOS 1960s manual-wind Swiss watch:

 

[~landgirl~]

What a lovely, thoughtful idea - Helen is a very lucky lady, you are a rare breed!
I can't help with the pearls unfortunately as I a only just discovering these things myself but I wish you all the luck!

 

[mysterygal]

Here's my suggestion: single strand. size: small. My favorite pearl neclace is a length that is longer than collar bone length or up to it. I also favor white pearls. Good luck Fred!!

 

[AllaboutEve]

I would go for a salt-water pearl rather than fresh water as they are infinitely more beautiful, and have a far better lustre.
If you can afford it go for a set of Akoya pearls, these usually have an unsurpassed sheen.
I can't resist pearls that have a slightly more pinkish lustre to them.

For help on which length to go for you may want to check out this link http://www.pearlsonly.com/pearls-jewelry-length---education/index.html

If it were me I'd go for a collar length single strand in cream/white something like this.

Obviously this is a teeny, weeny bit pricey as they are the set that Marilyn Monroe got from Joe DiMaggio I think! But it is the simplicity that is the loveliest thing.
Or to play devil's advocate you could go for something like the set that Audrey wore in Breakfast at Tiffany's !!!!

 

[Rosie]

How lovely. You are wonderful and your wife is such a lucky lady.

Pearl size and length depend on your wife's size and height. I'm 5'9 and plus sized so a necklace for a lady of 5'5 and petitie would not work for me as my necklace would not work for her. My favorite strand has pearls of 9 +- mm.

Eve is correct, pearls with a pinkish sheen are lovely, my favorite strand has this and is the one I reach for all of the time.

Like Mysterygal said, a necklace at the collar bone or slightly below it is beautiful, this is also a trait of my favortie strand. But, some ladies may like a longer strand.

Lastly, double or single strand? It's personal choice. I have one single strand, and one double strand. My mom has the same pearls, nine times out of ten I'm wearing my doubles nine times out of ten she's in her single. Is your wife bolder or more subtle?, this may be an indication of what she likes. Look at her other favorite pieces of jewelry, what do they reflect? I'm boisterous, in a lady like way of course so I like bigger bolder items. My mom is very quiet and reserved so she is of the less is more camp.



Good Luck!

 

[Honey Doll]

What a darling you are!

Your wife is very lucky!

I just took off my pearls to measure-- I wear (almost daily) a 16 inch long strand of 5 mm pearls. I find it to be the single most versitale piece of jewlery I own. I wear the strand with sweater sets, suits, evening dress. For me the size is just small enough to be demure, but large enough to be noted. I don't think I could pull off anything larger than 6 mm. I do have my eyes on a 7mm pair of earrings, but don't think I could pull off that large on a strand.

Honey Doll

 

[BettyValentine]

Ooh, I love the one from Joe to Marilyn! that is stunning. I have one a lot like it, with creamy colored pearls that hits right at the collarbone. That's the one I wear the most.

I also have a couple longer ones that I can double-up or loop, but I think the one short single-strand option is the most classic and versatile. The other lengths are good to have once you have that one. ^_^


BV

 

[Zemke Fan]

Thanks, ladies!

.
.
Mysterygal, landgirl, AllaboutEve, Rosie, Honey Doll, and BettyValentine,

Thank you all for your suggestions. AllaboutEve, your choices are stunning, wish I had the big bankroll to be able to afford either necklace.

I've been monitoring vintage earring/necklace auctions on eBay and I think I've found some good options. HOWEVER, an oblique conversation with Helen indicated that she's not much of a strand of pearls kinda gal. (There are some good alternatives, including pearl pendants, so I've not given up.)

 

[Zemke Fan]

Pearl earrings added to the mix...

Got what I believe to be a terrific deal on these Mikimoto earrings...

So the ensemble continues...

 

[texasgirl]

Just a suggestion Zemke Fan- I know you have a couple books already listed. But I saw this book over the weekend at Barnes and Noble- It's awesome!

Summary

Now, in this lavishly illustrated biography -- created with the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund -- Audrey's own words are given center stage to create a unique personal narrative. This special collection also includes approximately 200 black-and-white and color photographs selected by the Hepburn Estate, as well as reproduced mementos from Audrey's life. Thirty-four removable documents include an excerpt from her Breakfast at Tiffany's script with handwritten notes, a letter she sent to husband Mel Ferrer while preparing for The Nun's Story, and a birth certificate announcement marking the arrival of her first son.

http://www.amazon.com/Audrey-Hepbur..._bbs_sr_1/002-6844324-5301610?ie=UTF8&s=books

 

[Puzzicato]

Just bumping this thread up.

I love my classic princess length pearls, but I've been wanting a strand of large faux Tahitian pearls (well, I'd really like real ones but I can't afford them and if faux is good enough for Jacki O it's good enough for me). I had a site bookmarked but my hard drive collapsed and I lost it.

Any ideas where I could get some? I haven't been able to come up with any combination of search terms that finds them for me! I think the site I had found was a woman's name. Possibly Chinese American. But I am at a loss really.

Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[Gracie Lee]

Total sucker for pearls here. For faux pearls and vintage styles, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Carolee! Don't see the color you're looking for? Just wait! They do all colors of pearls... I have a set of baby blue pearl earrings, they frequently do shades of pink, and former seasonal sets have featured black and shades of brown. For anyone looking for Victorian and Deco inspired jewelry, they do that too. If I had an unlimited budget, I'd still probably wear a ton of their repro jewelry... it's so classy.

 

[KittyT]

I really, really, REALLY want a short strand of HUGE pearls. Barring that, my strand of creamy small pearls that sits just beneath my collar bone is perfect for, well, pretty much any outfit. As Honey Doll noted, they're one of the most versatile and classic pieces of jewelry a girl can own, and they never go out of style!

 

[Tourbillion]

My mom's pearls are "Jackie O" pearls like these:

They have a little rhinestone clasp with an "Emerald". Although single strand pearls are nice, and I would really like some for myself, the double strand is classy and worth considering too.

 

[Puzzicato]

Total sucker for pearls here. For faux pearls and vintage styles, I LOVE LOVE LOVE Carolee! Don't see the color you're looking for? Just wait! They do all colors of pearls... I have a set of baby blue pearl earrings, they frequently do shades of pink, and former seasonal sets have featured black and shades of brown. For anyone looking for Victorian and Deco inspired jewelry, they do that too. If I had an unlimited budget, I'd still probably wear a ton of their repro jewelry... it's so classy.

Oh thanks! This is close to what I am after! Very close. I wonder if they ship internationally?

 

[kymeratale]

I have a quick question. I have 2 sets of double strand pearls (one from one gma and one from the other) and they drive me nuts. When I wear them, they twist around each other and will not sit flat. Is there some way to keep them sitting the way they are supposed to?

 

[Mike in Seattle]

I wonder if they ship internationally?

Give them a call or shoot them an email. I'm sure they do - most business these days, in the Internet age, do. Better to go to the source and find out, rather than wonder indefinitely.

 

[LaMedicine]

I have a quick question. I have 2 sets of double strand pearls (one from one gma and one from the other) and they drive me nuts. When I wear them, they twist around each other and will not sit flat. Is there some way to keep them sitting the way they are supposed to?

The alignment may be wrong. One strand should be a bit longer than the other--usually by one pearl or two-- for it to sit flat. Have it looked at a jeweler's that's experienced with pearls and see if it can be corrected.
I think there are also clips that you can attach to immoblize the strands.

 

[Puzzicato]

Give them a call or shoot them an email. I'm sure they do - most business these days, in the Internet age, do. Better to go to the source and find out, rather than wonder indefinitely.

I'd like to keep it as a vague wondering until after next pay day!