Picking a pearl??? Is it worth it ??

[TDS533]

Absolutely! If you want a really awewome souvenier that you child had a part of. My DS has picked a pearl for me on every trip he's been on, so now I have quite a few. You don't have to spend alot on a setting and it is a great memory. We have done it in Japan and Animal Kingdom and at a Kiosk outside of Beach Club. We got a huge one from the Beach Club kiosk, oh we've also done it at DTD. Every one of my pearls holds a different memory. Go for it you won't be sorry.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I really enjoy pick a pearl in Japan. I've got quite a few (5 or 6) pieces of jewelry from doing that and really love them.

I still want to get a silver or blueish pearl someday so I'm sure I'll do it a few more times. I usually have my pieces set into a necklace setting.

I did buy the cinderella carriage cage from ebay once but it tarnished so I won't be doing that again.
The jewelry I've bought at the Japan Pavilion has never tarnished.

I look for the hairiest oyster I can find and choose that one. First you pay for the oyster beforehand and you are given a number.
When your number is called, you show them the oyster you picked. They perform a cute ceremony and open the oyster.
Once you have your pearl you can choose to get it mounted in one of their jewelry settings. That can take some time - I've had it take over an hour more than once so I just continue on my way through World Showcase and return to pick up my piece later. It can't be worn for a minimum of 24 hours after you pick it up so any glue used will be dry.

I always bring my own necklace chain from home since I've got several.

I'm planning on my DD13 wanting to do it on our June trip. She did the pick a pearl when she was 10 and loves her dolphin setting.

It's fun to do and I think it's worth it.

 

[hooch11bear]

This is one of our favorite things to do. I think we did 3 of them last year. I let my DD pick mine out, and it was a 9mm white pearl. I got a ring made, but I actually got the setting at DTD. I didn't really like any of the settings they had in Japan. The one setting that I did like they didn't have in my size. One year I got twin pearls and got earings made. It's a nice souvenir to have and something we do every year.

My DD didn't really want any jewelry. They showed her a little glass bottle that she could buy to keep her pearl in. It had blue sand in it with a little cork in the top. It is really cute. She has it on her jewelry stand in her room. It's a nice way to keep it safe and remember how much fun we had.

 

[shell8558]

Really love doing this with my daughter ! We go to the Japan pavillion and pick our pearls there . It is usually always crowded - however on our recent trip in February we were the only ones in there . My daughter picked a dark blue pearl - it actually looks black and it is just beautiful !!! We had it set in a necklace and we both wear it . I have also had necklaces made in the past . All of my pieces have held up well and I love the memories that my daughter and I have made while doing it!

 

[heathere3]

The very first time I did this, I got twin 7mm silver pearls. Needless to say, I'm hooked!

One piece of advice: I learned this trip that you can exchange a pearl for one of the same size in another colour
My original twin silver pearls were stolen, and I've been trying to get two silver ones ever since. This trip, I decided to make "regular" earrings and find a pair to match. When I explained, they told me I could exchange one to match the lone silver pearl I did have. Totally made my day!

 

[Diegosmom]

Cant wait for my son to pick another when we go in June...He is only 6 but has plans to make a necklace for a wedding gift to his future wife...(he already has his wife picked out cause she said so...lol teaching him young to listen to the woman lol)

 

[FortForever]

My daughter picked a dark blue pearl - it actually looks black and it is just beautiful !!!

Want!!

One piece of advice: I learned this trip that you can exchange a pearl for one of the same size in another colour

I wish I had known that. I would love to have a darker color one.

Looking at the cheapo pearl cages today on eBay, I noticed that they are mostly all for pearls under 7 mm. If I remember correctly, at Japan that was their guaranteed minimum size. Mine is 7.5 mm.

I would like to have a real silver cage, but wanted something cute like a sea turtle, starfish, or frog. I guess I will have to get something more grown up.

 

[1Grumpy9]

Has anyone ever gotten a black pearl? That's what I wanted to pick.

I have only done it once and got a 7.5 white pearl with a pinkish tint on it. I didn't buy any mounting for it, but plan to eventually.

I haven't gotten a black pearl at WDW, but my first ever pick-a-pearl that I picked in Las Vegas at the hotel we were staying at (no longer there), I picked the ugliest, hairiest oyster and it was a 7.5 mm black pearl. I had it set in a ring, but I don't like the ring setting, so I have to wait for it to pop off the setting and get it done in a necklace. The pearl sat too high and I was afraid that I would knock it off the ring.

My second pick-a-pearl in Vegas I got a pinkish colored pearl. The two that I have gotten at WDW (one at Epcot and one at DTD), they have been white and around 7.5 mm.

Looking at the cheapo pearl cages today on eBay, I noticed that they are mostly all for pearls under 7 mm. If I remember correctly, at Japan that was their guaranteed minimum size. Mine is 7.5 mm.

I would like to have a real silver cage, but wanted something cute like a sea turtle, starfish, or frog. I guess I will have to get something more grown up.

My DBFF just got back from WDW and picked a pearl at Japan and it was a 9 and it barely fit in the cage that she picked but it would fit in the one that we picked out in Feb. So she switched them around. The silver ones will be less money. I have spent around $200 for the one gold setting from Vegas and $150 for the other gold setting I got from DTD. The one from DTD is a crown and that also comes in silver.

 

[FortForever]

I haven't gotten a black pearl at WDW, but my first ever pick-a-pearl that I picked in Las Vegas at the hotel we were staying at (no longer there), I picked the ugliest, hairiest oyster and it was a 7.5 mm black pearl. I had it set in a ring, but I don't like the ring setting, so I have to wait for it to pop off the setting and get it done in a necklace. The pearl sat too high and I was afraid that I would knock it off the ring.

I would love to have a black one. I could just buy one, but I want to PICK a black one.

I thought the same thing about the rings .... they were all set too high. I looked at them at Japan, as ring was my preferred jewelry, but none were set deep.

My DBFF just got back from WDW and picked a pearl at Japan and it was a 9 and it barely fit in the cage that she picked but it would fit in the one that we picked out in Feb. So she switched them around. The silver ones will be less money. I have spent around $200 for the one gold setting from Vegas and $150 for the other gold setting I got from DTD. The one from DTD is a crown and that also comes in silver.

I have no preference between silver and white gold. I would just like more cage choices in the quality materials. I'm 49, but like jewelry that's a bit more fun ... like the sea creature pearl cages. It just stinks that they make them so small. None of the WDW pearls would fit in any of them. They do have Cinderella's carriage that would fit, but I'm not a princess type person.

 

[FutureMrs.Incredible]

It's salt. But they warn you to never clean it that way again. It's only for the initial cleaning.

I love the Japanese ladies at P-a-P. They pose for great photos also!

Oh, its salt?! I guess I had forgotten... And I haven't cleaned it like that since. I'm loving the idea of the cages though!! I want to do it again next time, but get a Cinderella's carriage cage. I saw some on eBay. They do have them at the Japan Pavilion, right? I thought I saw someone mention it. Does anyone know the price?

 

[DisneyFive]

Can't wait to do this with my kids this year! My wife will probably want to do it too. I think they'll LOOOVE it.

Thanks to the PPs about the suggestions for a setting. I think we'll check out EBAY beforehand for some options.

It's one of the special things on our agenda that will help make this upcoming trip unique versus our others.

Dan

 

[stindall]

THis may have already been asked but if I pick a few pearls but don't want the settings but change my mind later, can I come back and have them set?

 

[pmaurer74]

Want!!



I wish I had known that. I would love to have a darker color one.

Looking at the cheapo pearl cages today on eBay, I noticed that they are mostly all for pearls under 7 mm. If I remember correctly, at Japan that was their guaranteed minimum size. Mine is 7.5 mm.

I would like to have a real silver cage, but wanted something cute like a sea turtle, starfish, or frog. I guess I will have to get something more grown up.

I noticed that too. I just got mine from EBAY today and they said up to 8 and I have seen the carriage for 7-8. Like PP said I think you can exchange the pearls

 

[stindall]

Also if anyone wants to see the settings EasyWDW has them in this post. It's from last year though so no idea on price change, I can't imagine it has, if so not much.

 

[1Grumpy9]

I would love to have a black one. I could just buy one, but I want to PICK a black one.

I thought the same thing about the rings .... they were all set too high. I looked at them at Japan, as ring was my preferred jewelry, but none were set deep.




I have no preference between silver and white gold. I would just like more cage choices in the quality materials. I'm 49, but like jewelry that's a bit more fun ... like the sea creature pearl cages. It just stinks that they make them so small. None of the WDW pearls would fit in any of them. They do have Cinderella's carriage that would fit, but I'm not a princess type person.

The one cage that a larger pearl will fit is the spiraled one. That is the one my friend used for her 9. I don't have a picture of the setting of my most recent one, but I have a picture of my crown.

 

[iheartjuppy]

We picked two 7.5mm pearls and they said we couldn't get the Cinderella carriage in Japan/Epcot, and that several of the necklace settings wouldn't work either. We went with the flower setting and had to get a larger one for the pearl size.

 

[FortForever]

The one cage that a larger pearl will fit is the spiraled one. That is the one my friend used for her 9. I don't have a picture of the setting of my most recent one, but I have a picture of my crown.

That's gorgeous! Did you say you got that at the Japan pavilion?

Can anyone verify that they guarantee at least a 7 mm pearl at Japan? I don't understand why their settings are all made for smaller pearls if that is the case. I'm not sure why I am even thinking that. I must have read a sign or something.

 

[AliceinMaryland]

We picked two 7.5mm pearls and they said we couldn't get the Cinderella carriage in Japan/Epcot, and that several of the necklace settings wouldn't work either. We went with the flower setting and had to get a larger one for the pearl size.

That's strange. My pearl is a 7.5mm and it fits in the carriage I got in the Japan Pavilion. If I knew how to post pictures, I would!