Tell me about pick-a-pearl ( :

[scrhsa]

Pick the ugliest and hairiest oyster you can find. I got two out of mine. It was great fun. They were close enough in size that I had them mounted into earrings. I got the glue version and it was only 9 dollars in '14.

 

[Shroog]

Pretty sure TL = Typhoon Lagoon.

I've picked an oyster from the store in Japan Epcot and had it set every trip beginning in 2009. I treasure each piece.

As you might expect, gold settings cost much more than silver.

In 2009, I had my 7mm golden pearl drilled with a 14K bail. In 2010, I got a swirl cage pendant that has since tarnished badly. It is a beautiful 7.25mm white pearl, and I'm thinking about bringing it this fall to have a white gold pendant bail drilled into it.

I picked twins in 2011, 6mm golden pearls that I had made into 14K studs to match the 2009 pendant. In 2012, I got my favorite piece--a white 7.25mm pearl set in a silver open clam shell.

I've paid for some really useless souvenirs at WDW over the years, but IMO the pearl jewelry pieces I acquired at Pick-A-Pearl have been great buys since I can wear them for many years.

One piece of advice if you're looking to keep costs down--bring your own chain. You can usually do better elsewhere on silver and gold chains plus you'll have more sizing options, especially if you shop on-line.

Hope your DD picks a great one, OP, and enjoys doing it as much as I have over the years.

Excuse me if this is a stupid question-I know nothing about pearls and jewelry, etc, but what is having them drilled with a bail for? I don't know what that means exactly and what it is for. I am going to have my daughter do this when we are there in September, and trying to figure out the best options for the pearl. I have heard many people stating their cages have tarnished, so is there a certain type of material that wouldn't tarnish, or is this drilling with a bail the best option? Thanks!

 

[JerseyJanice]

Excuse me if this is a stupid question-I know nothing about pearls and jewelry, etc, but what is having them drilled with a bail for? I don't know what that means exactly and what it is for. I am going to have my daughter do this when we are there in September, and trying to figure out the best options for the pearl. I have heard many people stating their cages have tarnished, so is there a certain type of material that wouldn't tarnish, or is this drilling with a bail the best option? Thanks!

Drilling for a bail is when they make a hole part-way into the pearl, then embed the bail into it. With a pearl strand, they drill the pearl completely through so it can be strung.

Gold does not tarnish. It costs more, obviously, but it lasts without any tarnishing. The open clam shell pendant I have is silver, but it's oxidized and I wear it a lot so it hasn't tarnished at all in the four years I've had it. Oxidized silver is when it's blackened in the crevices.