Epcot, Japan, Pick a pearl

[TrinaLovesDisney]

First of all I hope that I am putting this in the right spot! I am super excited about our upcoming Disney trip!! I have been twice before and an hoping to get a nice souvenir that looks like a 28 year old woman would have . I have the ears, pins, Christmas ornaments, all of which I absolutely love, but this time I wanted to find something different. I have read about the Pick a pearl in Epcot's Japan and am super excited about possibly visiting there for my "adult souvenir". I was wondering if somebody could tell me a little more about it. My main question was if anyone knew what types of settings they had for the pearls. I am wanting to get a pearl and a setting for it...like a necklace or something but was wondering what choices they had. Pictures or just descriptions would be great! Thanks in advance!!

 

[jlhay]

It is a lot of fun! I did it at the little kiosk by Beach Club. Less crowded than Japan. I had my DS5 pick the oyster - it was priceless to see his face when they opened it up! They have settings for rings and necklaces that I know of. I got a ring. I believe you could choose between yellow gold, white gold, and silver. Prices varied considerably based on the metal. All together I think my white gold ring was $250 . Definitely pricey but very unique and when I wear it I always remember the time spent with my son

 

[KatieKat]

I've done it twice, the first time I got a pinkish pearl that I bought a necklace setting for. It looks like a open clam with pearl inside. I get tons of compliments for it! I believe all together with the pearl it was 40 bucks.

The second time I got twins! I put them in a cage setting earrings. These I paid near 60 for but they are already turning green after about a month.

 

[DisneyNic]

I love Pick A Pearl. We did it on our last trip and let DD and DS pick the oysters. My mom and I got matching cages and my DD got a Cinderella cage all of which we bought on ebay for a lot cheaper than the settings in Japan. There is a great (but long) thread that will give you any and all info you could want. I will try to post the link.......

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1520941

 

[DisneyHardin]

I got my pearl set on a little pendant with a "diamond" above the pearl and then bought my own chain once I got home (their chains seemed a little cheapy for the price). I think I paid about $20ish for the setting maybe after the cost of the pearl.

 

[reiella]

I have no pictures myself, but there are a variety of setting options. The settings themselves are where the store gets the money, so they have tourist prices.

 

[jenfromjersey]

I just did this earlier this month. I chose the "claw" ring setting. All in all it was $17 for the pearl and another $50ish for the setting

 

[wdwmom0f3]

I just did this earlier this month. I chose the "claw" ring setting. All in all it was $17 for the pearl and another $50ish for the setting

That's about what we paid for my DDs on our last trip. I have to say that it was a lot of fun and her pearl ring is beautiful. She actually had the largest pearl that day. We just got the sterling silver setting and it has held up great.

Remember, they say for the biggest, prettiest pearl you should pick the ugliest shell. It worked for us!

 

[TrinaLovesDisney]

Thanks so much for the information, I'm getting super excited!

 

[ncdisneydad]

My daughter picked two for earings one was bigger then the other so they will match one that they have from there stash to make a perfect size and color match

 

[Feistygirl916]

That's about what we paid for my DDs on our last trip. I have to say that it was a lot of fun and her pearl ring is beautiful. She actually had the largest pearl that day. We just got the sterling silver setting and it has held up great.

Remember, they say for the biggest, prettiest pearl you should pick the ugliest shell. It worked for us!

This is EXACTLY what we had heard, and my daughter chose two uglies.. And got a big black pearl in each one! I think the size was 8.5 or something? I remember them being shocked, and making a big commotion about the big black pearls. We did ours at DTD.


Good luck!

 

[suttonal821]

I did it last time we were there and was so happy to have found out about it on here. I had never heard of it before. I think altogether, mine came to about $50 with the pearl and the necklace setting. I wore it off and on for a few months, but hated the chain that I had gotten for it (not at WDW). I was so happy this past Christmas when "Santa" left me a perfect chain for it and now I wear it on a more regular basis and am able to remember my trip just by wearing it.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I really want earrings. I did Pick a Pearl on our last trip, but didn't have it made into anything. I wonder if I take it back this trip and do another if they will still match to make a pair for me even though the other pearl isn't from that day. I still have it in the little bag they put it in for me to take it home, so I would say they wouldn't doubt it is from them.

 

[TrinaLovesDisney]

Good to know they'll match a set! I'm ready to go!

 

[JerseyJanice]

I really want earrings. I did Pick a Pearl on our last trip, but didn't have it made into anything. I wonder if I take it back this trip and do another if they will still match to make a pair for me even though the other pearl isn't from that day. I still have it in the little bag they put it in for me to take it home, so I would say they wouldn't doubt it is from them.

It's my understanding that if you have it in the original zip-lock bag they gave it to you in--with the size and date noted--they will mount it for you anytime.

When I asked about having earrings made, I was told that it would be best if I picked twins, although those happen in about 3 of 100 clams.

So far, I've picked done three pick-a-pearls in Japan. The first was a 7mm golden that I had made into a pendant. Someone mentioned that setting above--there is a tiny crystal at the base of a double bail drilled into the pearl. I got 14K gold, and I don't remember what it cost in 2009.

In 2010, I picked a 7.5mm white pearl that I had put into a silver cage with a swirl. A friend was with me, and she picked the same size and color pearl. The girls at the counter pointed out how our pearls had different "orients" which refers to the colors seen in the pearl's luster. Mine had a purple orient, while my friend's was green. I think orient is another reason why twins works best for earrings.

Last September, I got my "twins." They are two 6mm goldens. I had them made into studs.

Good luck with your pearl experience, OP! The pearl itself is like $17 and so worth it. I often wear the pieces I have.

 

[dancingdisneydreamer]

Pick-a-Pearl is one of my favorite things to do in Epcot! I've done it twice and have gotten nice pearls both times. The first time, I got the pearl set in a dolphin charm that I could attach to either a bracelet or a necklace. The second time, I got a fairly large pearl (I don't remember exactly how big) and got it set in a heart shaped ring. I love the ring and wear it everyday! The only problem I've ever had is that the pearl became lose on the ring, so I had to bring it to a jeweler to get put back on securely.

 

[bluejasmine]

MY DH, DD and I are addicted to pick a pearl. First time we did it was Sept 2009 in DTD, I ended up with a 8mm white pearl on a pendant with a tiny hibiscus flower on it but it was more expensive than in Japan in Epcot.

Then in 2010 DH picked two oyster b/c I wanted earrings. He got one 7 1/2 gold tone pearl and a smaller white one, they switched the white one to a gold tone one that matched ours for the earrings. I got gold posts I think they ere $19.99

Last yr DS picked an oyster that gave us a huge bluish pearl, and I put it in a ring in between some diamonds, its gorgeous! Its silver I want to say $80

DD got a small white 7mm pearl she had mounted in a horse shoe pendant $39.99 then picked a huge 8 mm white pearl she had put in a ring I want to say it was around $40-$50.

Then lastley she begged Dh to let her pick one more there was a very ugly mishapen one stuck on the wall of the tank in the corner. Turned out to be 2 7 mm pearls she had made into earrings. Silver posts $9.99

So it can be very affordable depending on what you choice

 

[burnurcomputer]

I did 4 differnt pearls this past week. Silver swirl cage was 34.95 (Gold plated same price, but at Universal City Walk), the angel fish cage was 39.95, and the clam shell cage was 44 or 49 (can't quite recall!)

 

[TrinaLovesDisney]

I love Pick A Pearl. We did it on our last trip and let DD and DS pick the oysters. My mom and I got matching cages and my DD got a Cinderella cage all of which we bought on ebay for a lot cheaper than the settings in Japan. There is a great (but long) thread that will give you any and all info you could want. I will try to post the link.......



Thank you thank you, thank you for the link!

 

[TrinaLovesDisney]

Last night (after talking about the Pick a pearl nonstop for the past month) DH told me that if I would like, he would let me pick out a pearl and a setting for our 2year anniversary (which will be 6 days before we get to WDW) and I wont have to use my spending money for it! woo hoo