Weddingbee Blog

…which is weird, because I don’t wear much jewelry.

Last week, I talked about renting jewelry. Today, I’m going to talk about getting jewelry “cheap” (I should say cheap-ER). I’m a frequent Overstock.com “window-shopper.” I think I’ve only bought something from there once (and it happened to be pearl earrings for my mom).

Pearls and diamonds tend to be the favored jewelry when it comes to weddings, as well as my own personal favorite.  However, like most people, I have a certain uneasiness when it comes to purchasing jewelry online.

So, here’s some of what I found while researching pearls.

1. There are many types of pearls. Here, I’ve grouped them by what American Pearl considers “investment” and “non-investment” (or I like to call “expensive” and “less expensive”).

Click image to enlarge.

Japanese Akoya, White South Sea, Black South Sea (also known as Tahitian), Golden South Sea Pearls and Natural Pearls are the more valuable than the other types. Natural Pearls are extremely rare and usually only sold by auctions or by estate/antique dealers.

2. As you probably know, pearls come in different sizes. Obviously, the bigger the pearl, the most value it has. Each type of pearl has different ranges of size (different mollusks!).

• Japanese Akoya pearls range from 1mm to 10mm in diameter.
• Chinese Akoya pearls can be as large as 8mm.
• South Sea pearls (all colors) range from 7mm to 20mm.
• Freshwater pearls also can be as large as 20mm.
• High grade freshwater pearls only get as large as 8mm.

3. Luster. Luster refers to the shine or the brilliance the pearl gives off. In very high luster pearls, you can usually see your reflection! The higher the luster, the higher the value of pearl. Unfortunately unlike diamonds, the pearl industry has not yet adopted a standard grading system of pearls. However, 2 grading systems are commonly used.

The first, which is used for grading freshwater and akoya pearls (though also sometimes used for South Sea), is the AAA to A system.

• AAA is the highest quality pearl. These pearls with have very high luster, and at least 95% of the pearl’s surface will be free from any defects.
• Next, the AA quality pearl will have high luster and at least 75% of the surface free from defects.
• Lastly, the lowest grade, an A quality pearl will have less luster and only 25% of the surface will be free from defects.

The second system, the A-D scale, is used for grading South Sea Pearls.

• A: The highest-quality pearl, with very high luster with only minor imperfections over less than 10% of its surface.
• B: High or medium luster. Surface may have some visible imperfections, but over no more than 30% of its area.
• C: Medium luster with surface defects over not more than 60% of the surface area.
• D: May have many slight defects, but no deep ones, spread over 60% of its surface; or deep defects over no more than 60% of its surface; or a combination of minor and deep defects over no more than 60% of its surface. In this grade of pearl, the luster is irrelevant. Even the most lustrous pearls will be graded D if their surface is blemished to this extent.

4. Color. Japanese Akoya pearls also come in a range of colors. The body color is the basic color of the pearl, as seen here:

Additionally, pearls also have overtones of either rose, silver or green. Rose and silver overtones are generally the most popular.So, there’s my brief (and probably not very professional) view of pearls. All my info came from Pearl-Guide.com and American Pearl (images above also from American Pearl).

Now that I’ve given you the run-down on pearls, it’s on to the goodies!
Note: I know these still aren’t cheap, but these are what I considered the “best” quality base on the above criteria and are heavily discounted (click the links to see retail value!).

Left: 14k White Gold Cultured Freshwater Pearl Pendant ($98.99); Right: 14k White Gold Diamond Cultured Freshwater Pearl Earrings ($143.99), bottom: 14k Gold Cultured Pearl 2/5ct Diamond Bracelet ($683.99)

Top: 14k White Gold 1/5ct Diamond & Cultured Akoya Pearl Earrings (260.99), 14k Cultured Akoya Pearl Strand ($719.99)
Bottom: Platinum Cultured Akoya Pearl Earrings ($224.99), 14k Gold Diamond Cultured Akoya Pearl Earrings ($98.99)

Top: 14k Gold Cultured South Sea Pearl Drop Earrings ($323.99), 14k Cultured South Sea Golden Pearl Diamond Earrings ($197.99)
Bottom: 18k Gold South Sea Pearl 1/2ct TDW Diamond Earrings ($1,429.99), Cultured White South Sea Pearl Earrings ($278.99)

Good deal, bad deal? You decide.

Where are you getting your wedding day jewelry? Any good websites to recommend? Or is this the kind of thing that’s only an in person kind of thing?