Honora April 11, TSV

4/11/14 Honora 11.0mm - 14.0mm Ming Cultured Pearl Sterling Silver Necklace

Sterling silver. Ming cultured freshwater pearls measure approximately 11.0mm to 13.0mm. Graduated pattern in shades of metallic pink, purple, and copper colors. Strung on stainless steel wire. Oversized matte finish sterling silver lobster claw clasp with stainless steel crush beads on either side. Measures approx. 18"L x 1/2"W at the widest point. Box. Floral pouch. Imported.

Retail Value: $700.00 - $770

QVC Price: $447.00 - $483

TSV Price: 18" $369 20" $399

S&H $9.72

5 x $73.80 - $79.80

ETA:

I was going to order, but am curious why they are strung on a wire and not on silk (knotted). Is this because the weight of the bead inside the pearl?

I just saw the price. You'd think for that amount, they could have sprung for a nicer clasp than a basic lobster claw.

Oh man..another vendor burning themselves out to the customers.....like Clarks, Dooney and Bourke, Dyson and more. I wish QVC would get creative with their vendors like they used to.

On 4/10/2014 smarty said:

I was going to order, but am curious why they are strung on a wire and not on silk (knotted). Is this because the weight of the bead inside the pearl?

That's my guess, but large pearls elsewhere are strung on silk. White South Seas are strung on silk.*

* Technically, I think pearl string is a silk/poly blend.

Decided to order, but will likely restring if I like them. If the quality is good, which I suspect it will be, then the price is a very fair one for the size of the pearls. I agree, I would prefer a more decorative clasp, however, that's an easy fix.

The picture must not do them justice, lot's of money, are they really special pearls?

On 4/10/2014 evelyner said:

The picture must not do them justice, lot's of money, are they really special pearls?

In a way, yes. Ming pearls are bead-nucleated, like South Sea pearls, and the mollusks only produce one pearl at a time. In regular freshwater cultivation, the mollusks yield 20-30 pearls each.

Smarty - they look like they will be lovely. I hope you enjoy them when they arrive. If they're as good as they seem, it will be worth it to restring and change the clasp.