(Long Island, N.Y.) When a guy friend contacted me for my best Valentine’s Day gift suggestion, I had my hands full. Sure, diamonds are a girl’s best friend but the thing is; he just bought her one—an engagement ring. Wondering how he was going to possibly top that, he was determined to “wow” his bride-to-be on Valentine’s Day. I asked him to give me some time to think.
Pearls. The brilliant idea I recently whipped up: He should surprise her with something stunning, classic, unique and totally unexpected—pearls. (I must say I was pretty darn proud of myself for that suggestion.) He immediately fell in love with the thought but confessed he didn’t have clue about how, where and what to buy. And as it turns out, neither did I, but I promised to find out so long as he shared said ‘pearls of wisdom’ with my husband– who I hope gets the “hint, hint”.
Once I decided to dive in and do some research, it became perfectly clear that diamonds will always hold a special place in my heart, but I’m now sizing up some shiny, new studs called Ear Candy I spied from HONORA— a leader in pearl fashion trends.
For over 60 years, the name HONORA has represented quality and value in the jewelry industry and has specialized in supplying the very best Freshwater Cultured Pearls since they arrived on the market over 20 years ago. They’ve become one of the world’s largest pearl producers since the Freshwater revolution began in the late ‘80s. To address some quality and spending concerns, I turned to Joel Schechter, CEO of HONORA to help demystify the purchasing process.
How can you identify quality when buying pearls?
Schechter: The beauty of pearls is that the quality is staring right back at you. You want to consider the size, luster, shape and cleanliness when buying any cultured pearls. Regardless of size and shape, fine pearls will all have beautiful luster and a clean surface that anyone can notice.
Can pearl quality be linked to market value?
Schechter: Rarity plays a large part in market value and the cleanest, brightest and roundest goods are the most coveted. Pearl size and shape are other major factors when determining the value of a pearl. Even minor changes in size can play a major role in price. The closer to round a pearl gets, the more desirable it is. That being said, if you are willing to sacrifice in shape, you can get incredibly clean and lustrous pearls at an amazing value.
Freshwater Cultured pearls–can you explain what they are exactly?
Schechter: Freshwater Cultured Pearls are the closest possible thing to natural pearls that are available today. They consist of over 90% nacre (layers of pearl “skin” deposited around the nucleus) which is the highest amount of any cultured pearl. A single mollusk can create up to 40 freshwater cultured pearls. This unique way of cultivating pearls allows for an unimagined “Pearl Palate” of colors and shapes.
Why did HONORA choose to specialize in this type of pearl?
Schechter: We believe that Freshwater is the future of Cultured Pearls. The incredibly affordable nature of Freshwater has offered a genuine product to consumers who never had access to high quality pearls because of price. The wide range of shapes and allows for pearl looks that people have never seen before.
How does HONORA Freshwater Cultured Pearls differ from others available in the market?
Schechter: Long standing relationships with Cultured Pearl Farmers have allowed us to focus on bringing the top 3% of the pearl harvest. HONORA’s value, color combinations and designs simply cannot be found anywhere else.
So, what’s the most important thing a buyer needs to know when purchasing pearls?
Schechter: Prices and quality can vary significantly from store to store, and similar looking pearls from different countries can have big price differences. There is no standardized grading system like we have in diamonds. Always buy from a reputable source as branded companies like HONORA tend to have the highest quality control, strict grading standards and universal pricing.
What’s hot right now?
Schechter: Right now, it is all about color. The affordable nature of Freshwater has allowed us to create a color palate that has never been seen before in pearls.
To give my newlywed friend (and hubby) a place to start, what are your two best selling items?
Schechter: Our larger stud earrings have been incredibly popular over the last year, especially 10MM. They are extremely accessible and the wide range of colors also means that there is a perfect pair for everyone. Our multicolor strands are also red hot, the most popular being the Rainforest Collection.
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Hint, hint: You can visit the store: 30 East 57th Street at Madison Avenue or pinpoint where to buy nationwide www.HONORA.com
