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Add-A-Pearl necklace is basically a starter pearl necklace. It starts with just a couple pearls, (see picture, top necklace) and
you keep adding pearls to it over the years, until it gets totally full and looks like a real pearl necklace! (see picture, bottom necklace)
"When I grow up, I wanna be a Pearl Necklace!" That's about it! It makes a great gift for a young woman. Most add-a-pearl necklaces start with either 3 or 5 pearls. (Always an odd number so it looks balanced!)
People love them, because they already know what to get her for that next special occasion. A full strand of Pearls can usually hold about 30-40 pearls depending on the mm size of the pearls and the length of the chain. And as far as the length of the necklace goes, I would advise 18". That's a perfect size for a pearl strand. It's not a choker, but it'll rest on the neck nicely and be seen well.
Here's the cool thing about add-a-pearl necklaces: Buying a couple pearls every year is much cheaper than forking out $3000 for a nice strand!
But here's the really funny thing that people don't realize: Most Add-A-Pearl Necklaces are never worn! Odd eh? It kind of defeats the purpose! And you ask why? It's because it looks silly wearing a thin chain with 3 pearls on it. So the necklace sits in a box for 10 years or so. But the even crazier thing is this. People will buy new pearls every year, and still keep adding them to the necklace! Ha! I always laugh at that. You see, every time you add pearls to the necklace, you have to get the entire necklace restrung by a pearl stringer. Usually they charge $2.00 an inch, but they also tack on a $20.00 minimum stringing fee. Wow, the price goes up fast now doesn't it?
This is what I always ask people "Does she wear the necklace?" If the answer is no, then don't get it restrung every time you add pearls. It's just silly. Wait a couple years until you collect about 12, then have it restrung. Paying by the inch is expensive, so you should at least make it worth your while.
Here are some important things you must know about add-a-pearl necklaces...
