An add-a-pearl necklace is a wonderful gift for a little girl of any age. Below are answer to a few common FAQ about add-a-pearl necklaces that will help you decide if this is a tradition you want to start with your family.
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The day my daughter was born, my mom brought an add-a-pearl necklace to the hospital. I love that the necklace and the collection of pearls she's received will always tell a story of the people who have loved her over the course of her childhood.
From one mom to another, below is some info to help you decide if an add-a-pearl necklace is a tradition you want to start with your family.
Below you'll find that answers to these five frequently asked questions about add-a-pearl necklaces:
- Why is an add-a-pearl necklace such a great gift?
- How do we start an add-a-pearl necklace and how does it work?
- When is the best time to give an add-a-pearl necklace?
- When can my daughter (niece, granddaughter, Godchild) start wearing her add-a-pearl necklace?
- How can I make an add-a-pearl necklace a family tradition?
Why is an add-a-pearl necklace such a great gift to give?
Gift giving doesn't always come naturally for everyone. Suggesting your partner, parents, or in-laws buy your daughter an add-a-pearl necklace is a way to help them with gift-giving throughout your daughter's entire childhood. This makes a great daddy-daughter or grandparent present because it is an easy ongoing gift.
Once your daughter has her add-a-pearl starter necklace ($80-$110), she'll need additional pearls to help the strand grow. For example, every birthday and Christmas my ladies get a pearl from Grandma & Grandpa.
Gifting a pearl becomes a meaningful default gift for friends and family who are stumped when shopping for presents for your little lady. Gifting a pearl will also the perfect default gift when your daughter hits those hard-to-shop-for teen years!
How do we start an add-a-pearl-necklace and how does it work?
Giving this thoughtful gift is as easy as 1-2-3.
1. Shop at a local jeweler and select a starter necklace.
While you can find starter necklaces on Amazon, I'd recommend you find a local jeweler to make your purchase. You will be able to pick the material for the starter necklace. One of my daughters has a gold necklace while the other has silver, making it easy to know which belongs to whom.
Shopping local makes future gift giving stress-free and easy. When a friend or family member wants to give a pearl, you can simply let them know your jeweler of choice. Most jewelers will keep your child's name on file along with the correct pearl size making gift giving simple and seamless.
2. Pick a pearl-size for the add-a-pearl necklace.
If you check out starter necklaces online you'll see a variety of pearl sizes. I would recommend sticking with 5mm or 6mm, both are lovely and easy to find. My two girls both have a classic 6mm size. I like the look and thought the necklace would fill faster!
3. String the add-a-pearl necklace once or twice a year around the holidays.
When purchasing the add-a-pearl necklace, ask if your jeweler charges a fee for adding pearls to the necklace. If they do, consider safely storing pearls received throughout the year and have them added as a cluster once a year. In the past, my local jeweler would charge $10 for adding 1-100 pearls. Each year around Thanksgiving, I go in with the girls' necklaces to have any pearls they've received over the year be added.
When is the best time to give an add-a-pearl necklace?
An add-a-pearl necklace is a great hospital gift, a lovely baptism present, a wonderful birthday surprise (at any age), and a beautiful first communion gift.
Can I gift a "little girl" pearl necklace or do you have to build a pearl necklace from infancy?
While my girls got their baby pearl necklaces at birth, I had a friend growing up who got one as a Sweet Sixteen birthday gift. That's how I first discovered this awesome family tradition. There is no wrong time to start!
When can my daughter (niece, granddaughter, Godchild) start wearing her add-a-pearl necklace?
An add-a-pearl necklace is pretty whether it has 3 or 13 pearls. Your little lady can start wearing the necklace as soon as you feel comfortable it is not a choking hazard. Be sure to sit down and talk to the child about how special and important the necklace is to ensure they treat it with respect and don't break it.
We've started letting our girls (six & eight) wear their necklaces for special occasions. Last year, the girls wore their necklaces to church on Christmas Eve. You could tell how grown-up they felt. It was very empowering.
If you're not 100% sure your lady is ready, consider letting your little one wear their necklace with supervision.
How can I make an add-a-pearl necklace a family tradition?
Over the course of the next two decades, it is my intention to track the course of the necklace in a simple scrapbook. so my daughters can be reminded of the people who've loved them over the years.
Now, don't get all "I'm not crafty" on me. (No one is asking you to be Martha Stewart.) It is three easy steps:
Take Photos. Every time my daughter gets a pearl I take a photo of her and the person presenting the gift.
Take Notes. Write the date, her age, and a short blurb about the occasion on a notecard.
Get a Scrapbook or Photo Album. I would recommend you do something simple to ensure you follow through long-term. A photo album with slots for notes is sufficient.
Note to Tech Moms: You could also do this electronically by starting an ongoing Word doc with notes and a dedicated folder (or tag) on your computer to store pearl photos.
Here are a few of photos in my two girls' add-a-pearl albums.
Here is a recent photo of the girls each wearing their kids' pearl necklace at a special school concert...
The minute you become a parent you realize the truth in Einstein's statement:
Time is an illusion. — Albert Einstein
I hope someday to see those add-a-pearl necklaces on their wedding day.
Yesterday my girls were babies, today they are full-fledged girls, tomorrow they'll be women. I intend to enjoy the adventure.
If you have any questions about add-a-pearl necklaces, let me know. Let's chat in the comments.
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