So, I wanted a proper set of pearls. I bought top quality stud earrings from Blue Nile, Premier Akoya. I'd have liked the Premier Akoya strand too but it's over $3200 and I'm not spending that much on pearls. However, I wanted something better than a freshwater strand. So I bought the Blue Nile Classic Akoya pearl strand. Currently it's about $1300 but I got these in a Christmas sale for $800, which I was pretty pleased with. The clasp is 18k white gold.
The classic akoya strand is pretty lustrous, but the premier akoya earrings are like glass. I had great difficulty photographing the pearls - they all came out blurry, so only three pics. It's a great pity that I couldn't get a great close-up of the studs.
When I first wore the strand, an acquaintance who is not a jeweller but a hairdresser said, "Oh, they're the real ones, aren't they?" meaning that he could see they were akoya and not just freshwater. I love it when that happens. It vindicates the money you've spent.
The premier studs are the shiniest, but the classic akoyas are pretty shiny too; when I put my strand next to my freshwaters, there is no comparison at all.
I wouldn't necessarily wear the studs and the strand together, unless I was going to be in ultra-conservative company, like going to the opera with my in-laws. You don't want to look matronly or like a headmistress! I'm more likely to wear each piece on their own.
All the pearls are 7mm.
Here's a link to my Blue Nile pearl and sapphire drop earrings. [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/sapphire-studs-with-pearl-drops-from-blue-nile.186643/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/sapphire-studs-with-pearl-drops-from-blue-nile.186643/[/URL]



The classic akoya strand is pretty lustrous, but the premier akoya earrings are like glass. I had great difficulty photographing the pearls - they all came out blurry, so only three pics. It's a great pity that I couldn't get a great close-up of the studs.
When I first wore the strand, an acquaintance who is not a jeweller but a hairdresser said, "Oh, they're the real ones, aren't they?" meaning that he could see they were akoya and not just freshwater. I love it when that happens. It vindicates the money you've spent.
The premier studs are the shiniest, but the classic akoyas are pretty shiny too; when I put my strand next to my freshwaters, there is no comparison at all.
I wouldn't necessarily wear the studs and the strand together, unless I was going to be in ultra-conservative company, like going to the opera with my in-laws. You don't want to look matronly or like a headmistress! I'm more likely to wear each piece on their own.
All the pearls are 7mm.
Here's a link to my Blue Nile pearl and sapphire drop earrings. [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/sapphire-studs-with-pearl-drops-from-blue-nile.186643/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/sapphire-studs-with-pearl-drops-from-blue-nile.186643/[/URL]


