Choose the right necklace

1. Pearl Collar Necklaces — 12 to 13 inches long

Pearl collars are usually made up of three or more pearl strands and lie snugly on the middle of the neck. Very Victorian and luxurious, pearl collars go best with elegant V-neck, boat neck or off the shoulder fashions.

 2. Pearl Choker Necklaces — 14 to 16 inches long

A pearl choker is perhaps the most classic and yet versatile of all the single strand pearl lengths. A simple pearl choker can go with virtually any outfit from casual to fancy evening wear, and just about any neckline imaginable. A 16 inch pearl choker necklace is the most popular length for pearl necklaces. See our Akoya Choker Length Pearl Necklaces.

3. Pearl Princess Necklaces — 17 to 19 inches long

The princess length pearl necklace is best suited for crew and high necklines. It also compliments low plunging necklines. It's perfect support for a pendant or pearl enhancer. An 18 inches pearl princess necklaces is the second most popular length for pearl necklaces. See our Akoya Pearl Princess Length Necklaces. Wealso have 18-inch Tahitian and Southsea Pearl Necklaces.

4. Pearl Matinee Necklaces — 20 to 24 inches long

Longer than the pearl princess necklace, and just a bit shorter than an opera length pearl necklace, the matinee pearl necklace is the right choice for casual or business dress. See our 20-inch Matinee and 24-inch Matinee Pearl Necklaces

5. Pearl Opera Necklaces — 28 to 34 inches long

The pearl opera necklace is the queen of all lengths. When worn as a single pearl strand, it is refined and perfect for high or crew necklines. When doubled upon itself, it serves as a versatile two strand pearl choker. See our Opera and Rope Length Pearl Necklaces.

6. Pearl Rope Necklaces — Over 45 inches long

Dripping with elegance and sensuously sexy, the pearl rope was a favorite of Coco Chanel. For those looking for the complete pearl wardrobe, this length is a must. Pearl Oasis can make a "convertible" pearl rope necklace that allows you to change from rope length to a shorter necklace and bracelet. See our Opera and Rope Length Pearl Necklaces.

Choose the right Pearl Size

Pearls can range anywhere from under 1mm to giants of 20mm or more. As you can see, pearls are usually measured in millimeters, and are measured through the diameter. For most round pearls, the most popular size resides somewhere between 7mm and 7.5mm. Of course, size isn’t the only factor to be considered when buying pearls. While you could pay off a small home if you were to sell a 20mm pearl, there are a number of other elements that make for a valuable pearl. For example, a clean, round 7mm pearl with good luster is more valuable than a baroque pearl that is dull, even though it may be 9mm.

However, since there are so many important factors to consider when you want to buy pearls, size is normally a good jumping off point for your decision making.

On a petite woman, a strand of pearls between 5 and 6mm is not only more affordable (as they are more available), but it usually looks much nicer when strung in a single on a petite frame, or on a taller woman in double, and even triple strands.

The size of 6 to 7mm is a nice size to look luxurious but still remain affordable. Strands in this size look very beautiful, and are considered to be a terrific value. These are the perfect pearls for the young professional, or for casual wear. Generally, this size offers the largest selection, so you should be able to locate some pearls of fine quality, still within your price range.

For something truly elegant, for evenings and fancy occasions, the favorite size tends to be 7 to 8mm. Necklaces in this size simply look gorgeous. At 40% larger than strands of 5 to 6 mm, they show their appealing qualities just that much more, without flaunting. Social outings and evenings at the theatre are perfectly accessorized in this size strand of pearls. However, buying a strand in this size can be quite the challenge. While pearls of smaller size are more likely to be of consistent quality all the way around the strand, it is more challenging for jewelers to come up with the pearls they need for a consistent 7 to 8mm strand. Therefore, you should be careful to have a look at what each pearl looks like in a strand of this size, to ensure consistent beauty and quality.

If you really have a soft spot for big pearls, keep in mind that anything above 8mm is considered to be “high end”, and may set you back a pretty penny. This is because these larger pearls are more difficult to find and jewelers can’t always guarantee their availability. Larger pearls are naturally not for everyday wear. They should be for special occasions, or if you really need to add something to a power business suit, or a lower cut dress.

Many factors determine the size of a pearl as it is being formed. The most important factor is the type of pearl itself, as well as the location in which it was formed.

A saltwater pearl, for example, the Akoya, will usually range from 5mm to 8.5mm. Conversely, a Tahitian pearl can grow up to 13mm; though the largest one was 25mm in diameter!!

Pearls that are larger than 10mm are almost always black Tahitians, white South Sea pearls, or even large freshwater pearls.

When shopping for pearls, begin with the size, then you’ll be ready to face color, luster, surface, and all of the other aspects involved in pearl grading.