pick a pearl setting

[mom2rtk]

We let our 8yr old pick a pearl last year so he could take it in to show and tell at school...but after we payed for it and got the pearl out of it, the girl would not let us take the Oyster shell its self..despite explaining to her beforehand he wanted to take the whole thing in to school!! he was very dissapointed. This was at the downtown disney one. Is this normal practice? I felt a bit miffed as I felt like I had payed for it.??? Her reason was somthing to do with health and safety...my hubby said it was because they use the mother of pearl inside the oyster to make other jewellery and that Disney could get money for the shells. What do you think?

I vote for the health and safety issue. I'm sure hardly anyone asks to take the shell. Even if they WERE using them for something else, giving ONE away would be of little consequence.

 

[mskayjay]

I vote for the health and safety issue. I'm sure hardly anyone asks to take the shell. Even if they WERE using them for something else, giving ONE away would be of little consequence.

It is a safety related issue because of the chemicals in the tanks with the oysters. If you watch, you'll notice that at none of the places selling the oysters do the sales associates touch the oysters with their bare hands. I want to say there is formaldehyde in there due to the smell but when I asked the associate wasn't sure what it was. You can definitely get that smell that reminds you of high school biology lab though! lol

 

[NYEmomma]

I never knew there was a pearl place at Epcot... I'm so excited now! We lived near the Sea World in OH (that's now closed ) and every time we went, my parents let me get a pearl. They had a diver go down and get them. I loved it! Then, when I was getting married they made the pearls into NICE earrings and a necklace for me to wear on my wedding day.

I'm going to do the same thing for DD. I figure by the time she's ready to get married, we'll have gone to Disney enough times to get her a set of earrings and at least a 1-pearl necklace.

Does anyone know if you can have a pearl that is set in a piece of jewelry removed at a later point and set in a different piece of jewelry?

I'd love for her to be able to wear it now & then we'll just upgrade when she's older. If that's possible.

If not, I could always get a cage for it. Anyone have any experience on how durable those are? I'd hate for her to lose it.

 

[mum1]

I have a cage for one of my pearls and I'm not the best person for storing my jewerly. They all get tossed in a small drawer in my night stand. With that said, I think if your daughter knows the necklace is special, she will treat it nicely. I've had my necklace for a couple of years now and it still looks like it did the day I bought it.

I like the idea of making it a tradition. I don't have a daughter, yet, but if I did, I would certainly make it our tradition together.

 

[ccgirl]

I never knew there was a pearl place at Epcot... I'm so excited now! We lived near the Sea World in OH (that's now closed ) and every time we went, my parents let me get a pearl. They had a diver go down and get them. I loved it! Then, when I was getting married they made the pearls into NICE earrings and a necklace for me to wear on my wedding day.

I'm going to do the same thing for DD. I figure by the time she's ready to get married, we'll have gone to Disney enough times to get her a set of earrings and at least a 1-pearl necklace.

Does anyone know if you can have a pearl that is set in a piece of jewelry removed at a later point and set in a different piece of jewelry?

I'd love for her to be able to wear it now & then we'll just upgrade when she's older. If that's possible.

If not, I could always get a cage for it. Anyone have any experience on how durable those are? I'd hate for her to lose it.

My DD8 has the cage and it has been just fine. The settings were expensive , to me, and the cage was only $3.50! And, it was Cinderella's coach to boot!

 

[NYEmomma]

My DD8 has the cage and it has been just fine. The settings were expensive , to me, and the cage was only $3.50! And, it was Cinderella's coach to boot!

You ordered it online and brought it with you, right?

 

[Lilac_Girl]

I happened upon this thread today, and it made me so happy! I'm headed to The World this fall for the first time!

In an earlier post, someone posted a picture of a heart shaped pearl cage, I think they said it was available at Epcot. But the posting was from 2009- I was wondering if anybody has gone to the Pick a Pearl at Epcot recently, and if so- did they have the heart pearl cage pendant still? Do you happen to remember how much it cost?

Thanks in advance for all of your help- this board has been SOOO helpful with my planning process!

 

[mskayjay]

Yes, it was still there in November 2010.

 

[mskayjay]

My DD8 has the cage and it has been just fine. The settings were expensive , to me, and the cage was only $3.50! And, it was Cinderella's coach to boot!

I'm not picking a snit with you but I am always surprised when I hear people say that. There are necklace settings as cheap as I believe $10 or so and they are sterling which means no discoloring like with the cages from eBay. I don't consider that expensive. The really cute letters which are adorable for little girls are only $12.50. Again, since it is sterling, it will truly be a lifetime keepsake. My little heart clip (you can use it on a cell phone case or where ever.....mine is on a bracelet) was only $5.

 

[Lilac_Girl]

Yes, it was still there in November 2010.

Thanks!! I didn't want to get all excited about it, and then realize when I get there it's been discontinued

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Yes some settings are expensive but not others. Personally I think the Cinderella carriage that people get on ebay not very nice but personal opinion. DD just picked a pearl last month and she loved it. She had the biggest pearl of the day and ofcourse that is all she talked about ALL DAY. We got it on a neckless setting for my mom as a bday gift and the setting was about $30-35. I my opinion not expenive at all

 

[mermaid&cinderella]

Thanks!! I didn't want to get all excited about it, and then realize when I get there it's been discontinued

One thing about the cages.....if you get a big pearl it will not fit. DD got a 8.5 mm pearl and I wanted to get the oval or circle shaped cage and the pearl was too big to fit in it.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes some settings are expensive but not others. Personally I think the Cinderella carriage that people get on ebay not very nice but personal opinion. DD just picked a pearl last month and she loved it. She had the biggest pearl of the day and ofcourse that is all she talked about ALL DAY. We got it on a neckless setting for my mom as a bday gift and the setting was about $30-35. I my opinion not expenive at all

It really depends on one's personal situation. For some the $17 to pick the pearl in the first place is an extravagance. Add the "inexpensive" setting and you're up to $50. Does the girl have a couple siblings? They're going to want a $50 souvenir too.

I say if the $3.50 pearl cage makes it affordable and accessible to others, then that's grand. Maybe at a later date they can take the treasured pearl out of the cheap cage and put it in something nicer.

 

[pampam]

One thing about the cages.....if you get a big pearl it will not fit. DD got a 8.5 mm pearl and I wanted to get the oval or circle shaped cage and the pearl was too big to fit in it.

Also, DD got 'twins". They would never have fit into the carriage. It's a good thing I didn't buy the carriage first.

 

[mskayjay]

It really depends on one's personal situation. For some the $17 to pick the pearl in the first place is an extravagance. Add the "inexpensive" setting and you're up to $50. Does the girl have a couple siblings? They're going to want a $50 souvenir too.

I say if the $3.50 pearl cage makes it affordable and accessible to others, then that's grand. Maybe at a later date they can take the treasured pearl out of the cheap cage and put it in something nicer.

You do not have to go up to that $50 threshold for a sterling piece that will be a life long remembrance. They do have much less expensive ones. Yes, it does depend on the personal situation, but it is so sad to hear about so many people who get the cages and then are so upset when they tarnish and/or ruin the pearls.

 

[bethienjoey]

Thank you all for all this information!! I cannot WAIT until I get to do this with my SIL!!

 

[PittPantherfan]

I never knew there was a pearl place at Epcot... I'm so excited now! We lived near the Sea World in OH (that's now closed ) and every time we went, my parents let me get a pearl. They had a diver go down and get them. I loved it! Then, when I was getting married they made the pearls into NICE earrings and a necklace for me to wear on my wedding day.

I'm going to do the same thing for DD. I figure by the time she's ready to get married, we'll have gone to Disney enough times to get her a set of earrings and at least a 1-pearl necklace.

Does anyone know if you can have a pearl that is set in a piece of jewelry removed at a later point and set in a different piece of jewelry?

I'd love for her to be able to wear it now & then we'll just upgrade when she's older. If that's possible.

If not, I could always get a cage for it. Anyone have any experience on how durable those are? I'd hate for her to lose it.

I used to go to Seaworld OH all of the time when I was young -did not live too far away in PA. One of my fondest memories was picking a pearl there. I was excited to hear about this at EPCOT and can't wait to do it with my DD7. We have purchased the carriage pearl cages online just in case the settings there are outrageous.

 

[sl_underwood]

Doing this in May! Cant Wait! Can anyone give me an idea of the price range for white gold setting. I am planning about 400 for 3 different pearls and settings, dd 14 would be fine with silver but my dd18 is allergic and will want white gold.

 

[mskayjay]

Doing this in May! Cant Wait! Can anyone give me an idea of the price range for white gold setting. I am planning about 400 for 3 different pearls and settings, dd 14 would be fine with silver but my dd18 is allergic and will want white gold.

That should be more than enough! The pearls will only be $54 and if you go back to page 100 you can see the page with some of the sterling settings and see some prices. The gold is obviously more. You may also want to buy your chains ahead of time if you see what you want. I have all of my pieces on a small box chain as it is stronger than the link style. If you search my name you'll see some of my pieces. I really should get them all out for a group photo!

Come back and post pictures!

 

[cmh314]

Thanks for all the great info and photos. I can't wait to pick a pearl in May!