three-strand pearl necklace - advices?

[Arkteia]

for a long time, I wanted to have a nice pearl necklac with a red spinel set into the center of the strand. Something like Lady Di's aquamarine choker. My jeweler adviced me to choose pearls no larger than 6 mm, since the spiel is around 3 ct and does not sprea well, but I would like to have a 7-8mm three-stranded necklace which would drape around the neck. Alternative idea is to.simply put a gold divider in the middle of the necklace and attach a "hook" to it so that I could erase a spiel pendant, or other pendants on a bail. I do not yet have the budget in mind. I To pour it simply, I am looking for high-quality Akoya round pearls, with minimal pitting, high luster and thick nacre. I never looked at pearls so I do not quite know what vendors should I look at.
I am educating myself about pearls, but hopefully, one of you had a similar project done? Any advices would be appreciated. I want to have one really good necklace. Thank you.

 

[Fly Girl]

Hi Arkteia - I just wanted to welcome you over to the Pearls forum.

Your project reminds me a bit of my Diana bracelet, where I had an aquamarine cut by Dana set into a three-strand pearl bracelet. Your jeweler is right in that the proportion of the colored stone to the pearls is important. The jeweler and I laid out various sizes of pearls strands next to my center stone, and the right size of pearls for my piece was easy to choose.

Some pictures are here. [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/pearl-and-aquamarine-diana-bracelet-is-home.157752/#post-2869827']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/pearl-and-aquamarine-diana-bracelet-is-home.157752/#post-2869827[/URL]

Also, an aqua and pearl choker is shown here.

[URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-version-of-the-princess-diana-bracelet.151511/page-3']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/my-version-of-the-princess-diana-bracelet.151511/page-3[/URL]

I am thinking that if you put a substantial setting around your spinel, you could use it in a three-strand piece. I suspect that it will be a bit too small to handle three-strands of 7-8mm pearls. By the way, I chose gem quality freshwater pearls for my bracelet instead of akoya. Being all nacre, freshwater pearls will last longer than akoya pearls.

 

[bsomlo]

FlyGirl, gorgeous!

 

[Pattye]

Your Diana aquamarine and pearl bracelet is just stunning! I hadn't seen it before, FlyGirl.

Arkteia, PearlParadise.com has the largest inventory of high quality akoya pearls (and also freshwater pearls) of anyone I know of, and they do excellent custom work, too. (Only part of their inventory is shown on the website.) I highly recomend them, as do many others on this forum. Best wishes on your pearly project.

 

[Arkteia]

Fly Girl, gorgeous bracelet! Also, I absolutely love the color of your , aquamarine, such a beautiful stone! I shall compare akoya and freshwater pearls and see which one looks better for the necklace.

Pattye, thank you for telling me about Pearl Paradise. It was important to read that a small part of the inventory was shown on the website. Thank you. I shall try them.