Understanding Tahitian overtone/body color

[Pinkmartini87]

Hi all, I’m trying to find a strand with overtones and body colors like @dmz’s and was wondering if someone can comment on if I’m getting close?

Here’s DMZ’s original strand:


Here’s the strand I’m looking at:

 

[mtsapphirelovingannie]

I think the strand you are looking at has nice color variation.

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

I agree the pearls you are considering have a nice color variation. I have observed that when I buy pearls the vendors typically list the pearls as "grey" or "green" even though the pearls have many different color overtones. The strands are also usually differentiated as light, medium or dark.

 

[Pinkmartini87]

@mtsapphirelovingannie and @LisaRN Thank you both for weighing in! Yes, hard to tell sometimes in vendor photos but I think this one has the color scheme I like; I did ask the vendor if he had similar colors/overtones but in a more oval shape since I’m not a huge fan of circled pearls. Will share more photos when I get them!

 

[Lisa Loves Shiny]

@mtsapphirelovingannie and @LisaRN Thank you both for weighing in! Yes, hard to tell sometimes in vendor photos but I think this one has the color scheme I like; I did ask the vendor if he had similar colors/overtones but in a more oval shape since I’m not a huge fan of circled pearls. Will share more photos when I get them!

Looking forward to your photos. I like circled Tahitians but I don't love them. I consider them disposable (the circle Tahitians I buy are not very expensive) and wear them with casual clothes and in hot weather.

 

[MMtwo]

The colors are getting close, the shapes and circles are different a bit. BUT, this would be a perfect strand for a casual day. I think the circles make them a tad less formal. But color! Yes, you have it there.

 

[Pinkmartini87]

@moneymeister Thanks!!!

 

[cmd2014]

I think part of the issue is that you’re looking at DMZ’s glamour shot which is taken under specially filtered light that will make you see colours in the Tahitians that will not be visible to the naked eye under the vast majority of light conditions, and hoping to find something that will look like that irl. My guess is that the strand you are considering will not look nearly as multi toned in natural light. To see an example, Pearl Paradise has some multicolored strands that they have taken natural light neck shots of. That might help you get a better perspective on what you are really likely to get. Those peacock overtones in the strand that you are looking at will only be visible as flashes in certain types of light.

https://www.pearlparadise.com/products/18-inch-11-0-11-6-mm-aaa-round-tahitian-pearl-necklace

Keep in mind that even the neck shot is in pretty ideal light, making these pop a bit more than you are likely to see on yourself.

 

[pearlsngems]

Here is another example of a recently sold round strand from PP. Beautiful colors can be seen under the studio lights (first photo and top of second photo). Now look at the same pearls under bright direct light (lower half of second photo. The overtones are very much muted there. This is normal for Tahitians!

If you want your strand to look multicolored in any light, you should consider a strand that has Tahitians, white south sea and golden south sea pearls. The white and gold pearls will still look white and gold in bright light.

 

[Pinkmartini87]

@cmd2014 and @pearlsngems Thank you to you both for your photos and advice. Yes, maybe I am not being realistic with my expectations.

With that said, I guess the only way to know is to buy a strand and see for myself.

Here’s the strand I purchased from Pearl Paradise:



Will post IRL photos once I get it! Stay tuned!

 

[pearlsngems]

That is the one you liked best, as I recall. So congratulations on your new strand! It has really nice overtones, and light/dark contrast. Plus, it was made specially for you.

 

[yssie]

Can’t wait to hear what you think of it in-person!!

Leon at TPS explained that baroque tahitians generally show much stronger “soap bubble effect” than rounds - the uneven surfaces exaggerate both overtone and orient. I especially love the half-green/half-pink pearls scattered throughout

I do think that mix of light and dark pearls will really help in non-optimal lighting. I just got a multicolour strand of my own - a bracelet, so much shorter than yours. My pearls are more similar in both tone and body colour and sunlight completely wipes the overtone variance out... So my favourite pearl changes quite a bit depending on lighting!

 

[cmd2014]

I think because there are white tahitians sprinkled through that strand as well as tahitians of differing body colours too, you will see more colour variation in most light conditions than you would see in a stand with less contrasting body colours. Plus baroque pearls do tend to be more colourful than rounds. That's a very pretty strand (I like it a lot!), and the nice thing about Pearl Paradise is their generous return policy, so there's very little risk other than the cost of shipping (and even then, only if you are outside of the US) to buying pieces to see them in person.

 

[pearlsngems]

I am vicariously impatient to see photos of the necklace, when it arrives!

 

[Pinkmartini87]

@pearlsngems You bet! Delivery with USPS got delayed from yesterday to today, but I think looking at the tracking info it’s got a signature confirmation which sadly means I won’t be home early enough today to sign for it, so will try to pick it up on my day off tmrw!

 

[pearlsngems]

The black velvet case swallows up color and luster. Many of us have found that first glance at our new pearls disappointing-- but it's the black background's fault!
Flip the case over and look at the pearls against the white interior of the lid. In fact, look at them in every room of your house; you'll be amazed how the light affects them.

 

[Pinkmartini87]

@pearlsngems It’s here! I got home to find my lovely postman having fitted it snugly in my locked mailbox.

Here are some photos with my iPhone in the shade (will try to take better photos tmrw):

 

[pearlsngems]

That is beautiful on you! The size is perfect--not too small or large-- the shapes are pleasing and it suits your skin tone.
I look forward to seeing more photos tomorrow.

If you should happen to have mixed feelings about it at this point, this is normal too. With pearls, one has to make an adjustment from what one saw on a monitor to what one sees in person. Give yourself a few days to observe the necklace in various lighting and with different outfits. Live with it for a week, if you are at all ambivalent.

 

[Pinkmartini87]

@pearlsngems Very difficult to photograph the colors but here are some more shots indoors next to a window.

I like them, but I’m not sure if I like them enough for what they cost (a bit over 2k when one factors in taxes). On the fence as to whether to return them or not.

 

[Pinkmartini87]

Here’s one under indoor light:

 

[cmd2014]

What size are they again? They have quite a presence on your neck (in a good way). I really like the colour variation with the white pearls mixed in. They look like they have nice luster too. I would give them a few days before you decide. I am often "meh" when I first look at pearl purchases because I am expecting what I saw in the glamour shot (even though I know better), and then once that mental image fades, I can appreciate them for what they are. But if you end up not being thrilled with them after a week or two (or more - you have 90 days to return iirc), don't hesitate to send them back.

 

[pearlsngems]

Right, and if you do send them back, don't feel badly about it, because someone will be sure to snap them up!

 

[Pinkmartini87]

@cmd2014 Thanks for your advice! The largest pearl measures 8 x 10.8 mm.

@pearlsngems Yes, trying them out in different lighting and finding myself warming up more to them.

 

[pearlsngems]

I thought you might!

I was ambivalent about some of my favorite necklaces when I first saw them. But they grew on me!

 

[Pinkmartini87]

@pearlsngems here are my favorite pearls from the strand:

 

[pearlsngems]

And they're the ones that are front and center! The best possible location. Sometimes the most colorful pearls in a strand are farther back, nearer the clasp.

 

[Pinkmartini87]

@cmd2014 and @pearlsngems Thank you again for all your help. I’ve tried them out in the office and at home and am leaning towards keeping them.

 

[Pinkmartini87]

@pearlsngems PS one of the pearls (my favorite one actually, the pink one up front) has an odd blemish just away from the drill hole. Doesn’t bother me (since pearls are organic things and aren’t often perfect!), but just wondering what it is? Peeling of nacre?

 

[pearlsngems]

It's not in focus enough for me to tell. It could just be a naturally occurring growth characteristic, as opposed to damage to the nacre.

Check out this page-- scroll down to the section called "Common Tahitian pearl inclusions".
https://www.purepearls.com/pages/tahitian-pearls-grading

I do like the strand, by the way. It has a nice overall appearance.

 

[Pinkmartini87]

@pearlsngems Thanks! After reading that this may be just a deep pit displaying the organic conchiolin layer