pick a pearl setting

[WLfamily]

Before our trip (which was last week ) I bought one of the Cinderella carriage pearl cages from Ebay. Good news: I picked my pearl, it is beautiful and BIG. Bad news: It doesn't fit in the cage.

When I got back to our resort, I tried to put the pearl in the cage, nope, it didn't fit. I think, I am going to go get it put in something nicer anyway, but I just love the carriage, its so unique.

I got the same one from Ebay for our trip last summer and ran into the same problem. Then I got a smaller pearl that fit the carriage but had a bigger problem...after wearing the cage all day in the parks it tarnished on the backside where it rested against my skin. Now my pretty carriage isn't very pretty anymore, and I have a pearl without any way to wear it. Be very careful with those on Ebay.

 

[shippedtosea]

Do you mind my asking how much the setting cost?

I believe it was $25 plus the necklace which was 12

 

[mickeystoontown]

I believe it was $25 plus the necklace which was 12

Thanks so much. I don't remember seeing that particular setting when we were there earlier this month. But, it was quite busy and crowded so I may have missed it.

 

[famsen]

I got the same one from Ebay for our trip last summer and ran into the same problem. Then I got a smaller pearl that fit the carriage but had a bigger problem...after wearing the cage all day in the parks it tarnished on the backside where it rested against my skin. Now my pretty carriage isn't very pretty anymore, and I have a pearl without any way to wear it. Be very careful with those on Ebay.

To help with the jewelry that is not real silver or gold, I layered on a couple thin coats of clear nail polish over the pieces. Nothing tarnished or rubbed off. I know it won't last forever but for what I paid, I am happy with the carriages and other setting I bought for my pearls from ebay.

 

[TandLMommy28]

I seriously spent the last two days reading all 93 pages! I ordered 5 cages from topearl.com and even though it says that's the price for 50, it let me order 5 at the wholesale price. I plan to do four of them and the extra one I want to give to a little girl if we see one waiting to do the pearl. Thought that would be a fun thing to do for someone.

Thanks to reading this, I know to coat them with nail polish BEFORE going and we'll be looking for sales on chains!!!

 

[kkhworth]

I got the same one from Ebay for our trip last summer and ran into the same problem. Then I got a smaller pearl that fit the carriage but had a bigger problem...after wearing the cage all day in the parks it tarnished on the backside where it rested against my skin. Now my pretty carriage isn't very pretty anymore, and I have a pearl without any way to wear it. Be very careful with those on Ebay.

What size was your pearl? My mom got a 7 mm silver/blue pearl and I was thinking about ordering the carriage for her to put it in. THANKS!

 

[SnowWhite607]

subbing

 

[dance2874]

I have always wanted to do the pick a pearl at DW but never have. When I was a kid I got one every year when we went to Sea World. (they had actual divers go get the oysters, it was very cool.) Anyways, I wanted to start the tradition with my daughter but didnt want to spend a ton on the settings since she is so young.

I am so glad I stumbled across this thread! Off to buy my carriage cage before our trip

 

[aaarcher86]

What size was your pearl? My mom got a 7 mm silver/blue pearl and I was thinking about ordering the carriage for her to put it in. THANKS!

It should say the size of the pearl it can accomodate on the website somewhere.

 

[stitch09]

I have a really quick question...

I did Pick-a-Pearl at TL 4 or 5 years ago and I love my pearl! I've been reading through all these pages, and I told my mom how people say it's better to pick the hairiest, ugliest clam you can find- it leads to bigger and possibly more rare pearls! Well, she doesn't believe me . Can anyone tell me if this is really true- picking the hairiest/ugliest is better?

 

[gk90]

True for us, an ugly hairy one got us twins last year! Twins are 3% of all pearls picked.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

I have a really quick question...

I did Pick-a-Pearl at TL 4 or 5 years ago and I love my pearl! I've been reading through all these pages, and I told my mom how people say it's better to pick the hairiest, ugliest clam you can find- it leads to bigger and possibly more rare pearls! Well, she doesn't believe me . Can anyone tell me if this is really true- picking the hairiest/ugliest is better?

It's true. When I picked a big, ugly, hairy thing I got twins. When my girls picked pearls, one went for the pretty shell and one picked the ugly looking thing and the ugly shell had a bigger pearl. It wasn't a huge difference but it was bigger.

 

[Kurby]

true for us.

i told dd (3 at the time) to pick 2 ugly shells. she got a pinky cream one and i got a silvery blue one.

mind you i don't think any of the pearls are ugly and most seem to fall within the same size range.

i haven't hear anyone say they got a very small or really large one

 

[stitch09]

Thanks for all the answers! I'm definitely gonna pick the ugliest, hairiest one I find! One last question... does size matter, like is it better to pick a small ugly one or a big ugly one?? or is there really no difference? TIA!!

 

[hoverpumpkin]

true for us.

mind you i don't think any of the pearls are ugly and most seem to fall within the same size range.

i haven't hear anyone say they got a very small or really large one

The pearls you pick at Epcot are almost certainly cultured. In a natural pearl, a grain of sand or other irritant enters the pearl and the oyster builds up layer after layer of nacre (the iridescent stuff) around the irritant to protect itself. In a cultured pearl, there is a plastic bead inserted into the oyster to get a jump on the process, and so the oyster only has to coat the bead with a few layers of nacre before it's ready for harvesting. That way they can ensure each oyster will have a pearl, and that they'll all be of a similar size. It would be almost impossible for you to get an unusually small pearl, although if you choose an overexcited oyster it's certainly possible to get a larger-than-usual one.

I used to be a jeweler and I love pearls. I hope I get a silvery-blue one when I choose in two weeks!

 

[WLfamily]

To help with the jewelry that is not real silver or gold, I layered on a couple thin coats of clear nail polish over the pieces. Nothing tarnished or rubbed off. I know it won't last forever but for what I paid, I am happy with the carriages and other setting I bought for my pearls from ebay.

That's a great idea! Wish I had thought of it before mine tarnished, but my daughter has one that is still in perfect condition so I'll coat it with the clear polish to keep it pretty. I might order me another one from ebay now that I know how to protect it. Thanks!

 

[flea1267]

dumb question and totally off topic but does the oyster die?

 

[hoverpumpkin]

dumb question and totally off topic but does the oyster die?

It's not a dumb question at all! It actually depends on the type of oyster whether they die when they are harvested. Akoya oysters are killed. Tahitian and South Sea oysters can survive the harvesting process and go on to produce subsequent pearls.

I have not seen the process at Epcot but I strongly guess that they kill the oysters there. If I saw a video of the process I would probably be able to tell for sure.

 

[qanita92]

Quick question, is the gift shop in Japan air conditioned? Because I would hate to be in 95 degree weather the whole time (how long does the whole process take?).

 

[elgerber]

Quick question, is the gift shop in Japan air conditioned? Because I would hate to be in 95 degree weather the whole time (how long does the whole process take?).

Yes it is a a large gift shop, fully air conditioned. The pearl area is just one small section of the shop.