Jewelry

[PINKdogWOOD]

@Sunshine Kate   Your post eludes to the some, a few of the Chinese that Honora worked with in growing, creating pearls now moved to Italy to be able to continue setting Honora pearls in gold and silver settings. 

I really do not think this is at all what Mr Schecter was saying. I do not know this to be 100% but I also do not think 100% your post is 100% accurate. I believe this is speculation on your part.

Mr Schecter said many times throughout his hour with Terri Carr that the Italians certainly know what they're doing in creating beautiful gold and sterling designs as they so well do. This is why he shares his pearls with Italian designers. He did not at all talk down the Chinese who grow and harvest some of the most gorgeous pearls for Honora.

[Franklinbell]

@JoyFilled Warrior @That is what the charm school teacher always said! Pearls bring out your natural beauty!

[NYCLatinaMe]

@Sunshine Kate @PINKdogWOOD  I have heard about Chinese factories and immigrants making fashions and leather goods in Italy to get that "made in Italy" label, but not about jewelry.  I have found no reporting on Chinese making jewelry in Italy.

[alice87]

I keep wondering why Joel does not bring to us Ming pearl ring? It would be so nice. We have choice of earrings and necklaces, but nothing to match with a ring. Please Joel, make a ring!

[songbird]

Big difference in luster between fresh water pearls and ocean pearl.  You can wear white salt water pearls and the luster will be there. You get what you pay for (in pearls at least)  I only have two pearls.  And they are ocean pearls.

[alice87]

Honora offer all kinds of pearls, and they used to have incredible designs sold in jewelry stores.

Macy has Honora but I could not locate them in store, it is all online.

I like big size pearls, saltwater pearls are very pricey, not everyone could afford 11-13 mm saltwater pearls in perfect round shape. It make no sense to shame others freshwater is lower grade. 

Freshwater options make it available to a lot of people. 

May be some people reach enough to have the best of everything, but a lot of people choose some middle ground, some nice quality, some affordable. People buy costume jewelry because they simply like it. It is really hard  to resell costume jewelry, same as most of the jewelry for the price you pay in store.

[songbird]

@alice87  Should add that saltwater pearls are a lot more durable then fresh water.They will last a heck of a lot longer then fresh water pearls. Saltwater pearls are graded differently.  The rounder and bigger....the better.  As for cost....  They are expensive, but even saltwater/not so perfectly round pearls are cheaper then precious gems.  

[alice87]

I don't doubt it. 8 mm is a small pearl, 8 mm stone is big stone on average for precious stones.

[NYCLatinaMe]

---

@alice87 wrote:

I keep wondering why Joel does not bring to us Ming pearl ring? It would be so nice. We have choice of earrings and necklaces, but nothing to match with a ring. Please Joel, make a ring!

---

@alice87   I think the Ming pearls are too large for a ring.  I know I wouldn't wear a Ming pearl ring.  It would be very tall off the finger.  But I do have a rose mabe pearl that goes very nicely with my Ming pearl necklace.  I love the necklaces, but IMO the pearls are just too large for rings, earrings or bracelets.

[NYCLatinaMe]

@songbird My freshwater pearls from Honora have beautiful lustre.  I have bought FWP from other places, and they don't have the same lustre.  I think the same is true of dyed pearls, which I don't buy.  I prefer the natural colors.  FWP and salt water pearls come in all types of grades.  Some salt water pearls don't have the lustre of the Honora.

IMO, buy what you like.  Everyone has their own taste.