Thursday, September 03, 2009

Add-A-Pearl Necklaces

I love my add-a-pearl necklace! My Grandma started it for me when I was a little girl and I remember mailing it back and forth each year around my birthday to have another pearl added to my necklace!

I wear my necklace now with thirteen pearls on it in graduated sizes (we stopped at my 13th b'day) nearly every day! It is my favorite piece of jewelry!

Growing up, I was allowed to wear it only for special occasions and holidays. And, now my Mom has begun necklaces for my two little ladies! They absolutely love wearing these and I've allowed them to wear them to church or for a special event.

What a treasure these are! The memories of them, the love behind the gift - and I love pearls anyway. They are simple and yet very elegant and they go with everything!

Do you have a favorite piece of jewelry with a tradition or special family memory behind it?

24 comments:

Sheri said...

This is such a special tradition!

Bevy @ Treasured Up and Pondered said...

Actually I do - my engagement ring. It was a wish of mine to wear something heirloom... well, you can read about it here :http://treasuredupandpondered.blogspot.com/2009/06/and-with-this-ring.html

I'm hoping that this is what this ring will become... something of special memory and also to be handed down in time.

Wendi said...

I don't have a special piece of jewelry for myself. While in China I did purchase a pearl necklace for each of my nieces (4) to give to them when they become engaged. For Megan a pearl necklace, earrings and a bracelet was purchased.

The add a pearl necklace is a wonderful, special idea. I just love gifts that keep giving!

Mom said...

Grandma and I were just talking about these the other day! (And I think it will be time to add pearls when we are there at Christmas.) I'm so glad that you and your little ladies enjoy these.

My favorite heirloom jewelry is my Granny's wedding ring which I wear on my right hand. It often catches my eye when I am typing or playing the piano and reminds me of her!

Love you, Mom

Cheryl said...

what a neat tradition your gram started. How special to have a piece with such meaning behind it; and now your little ones have their very own too.
I too love pearls. Like you I think they are very simple, but elegant.
I have a pin my daddy gave me for my very first Mother's Day. It is a bird with eggs in a nest. I wear it every Mother's Day.

angie said...

How wonderful that your girls can wear this necklace at special occasions throughout their childhood and on their wedding day, if they so choose.

I have a crystal necklace given to me by my great aunt. She was never married and had very little material possessions, yet she gave so freely. I can wear it with so much since they crystals reflect the color I am wearing.

I have thought of starting a charm bracelet for my daughter and adding approporiate charms to mark milestones in her childhood.

Rachel said...

I was given my grandmother's strand of pearls when she passed away. They were my favorite thing to see her wear! She also always wore Royal Secret perfume and now the strand of pearls bears that scent- even years later! I wear them on special occasions, and sometimes get them out of their silk bag just to smell them and remember her.

Juhyun said...

Such a great idea!
But how can I add a pearl?
My daughter's birthday is coming...

Carol @ Pure Sugar said...

Oh, that is just wonderful! I love that idea. I have a charm bracelet. My grandparents used to buy a charm anytime they travelled. I'm thinking of buying Laura a bracelet and charm for her 1st birthday and adding one each year. Also, I have the opal earrings and necklace set that my grandfather gave to my grandmother for their wedding. We share an October birthday, so this is extra special.

Anna said...

That's so sweet! We don't have any traditions like that, but I do have two necklaces that my grandmother gave me when I was younger. Now they are for my daughter for special occasions.

Anonymous said...

My aunt and uncle did the very same thing for me! I remember mailing it back and forth to "add on" pearls. Both of them have now passed away, so it's extra sentimental!

Kim from Philadelphia

Mary Ann said...

That's a special tradition! I was raised Mennonite so there's no jewelry in my family. :-)I do have one ring from Andy's great-aunt but haven't worn it yet.

Chrissy said...

My engagement ring is on it's third wearer...me! It's the tradition in my husband's family that the first son to be married gives this particular diamond to his betrothed. The setting has been changed each time. It was passed from my mother in law to me when we got engaged. I get teary eyed when I think there'll be a day that my little man will find his one and only and ask me for the ring...

Jennifer Porter said...

What a precious tradition.

Anonymous said...

I have a dear sweet friend who started that tradition when her first-born granddaughter was born. She adds an inch every year @ Valentines, with the plan of having a full necklace @ 18 yrs. old. Fortunately or unfortunately, she now has 5 granddaughters!!! She should have met yours first :-)

Anonymous said...

Pearls are very special to me. My son is a June baby, and June's birthstone is pearl.

For Mother's Day when I was pregnant my husband gave me a gold baby bootie charm necklace with an emerald in it because my son was due in May. Well, he was born late, in June, and my husband had to exchange the charm for one with a pearl.

I've always wanted a pearl ring, so maybe I will get that for Mother's Day one year!

Unknown said...

I have to do this w/ my daughter. She's my only girl after 3 sons. So special!

Monica Wilkinson said...

Juhyun,

I'm sure a local jeweler near you will know what an add-a-pearl necklace is. You will need to take it in to the jewelers every time you want a pearl added on, as far as I know - it isn't something you can do yourself.

Hope that helps,
Monica

The Gaertegang Homestead said...

How neat!! I love the idea...Did they get these from somewhere near them..or would it be from somewhere we all could check..in case we wanted to get one for the special little girls in our life?
My favorite piece of jewelry is my wedding ring. It really is so special to me...even 10 years later!

Davonne said...

Off topic, but I'm wondering how the chore charts are going now that the newness has had a little time to wear off. Are the girls still doing their chores without complaint, or have you found that you've needed to revise anything? I'm still thinking about making one for my four-year-old daughter, which is why I'm asking :-)

Jenny said...

This is a great idea, Monica. I might have to do this for my girls' b-day in November!

Ginger said...

Monica, when I was in college in the early/mid '80s, the craze was add-a-bead gold mixed with pearl and add-a-bead cloisonne. I have one of each and a cloisonne bangle bracelet to match. They are special because my parents let me pick them out at Jewelry Warehouse in Columbia, near my college, on a birthday and on my graduation.

Monica Wilkinson said...

Davonne,

Hi! The chore charts are still working great! I wish that new cards were a bit easier to add - and that I was better at enforcing the dinner time chores, but those things are my fault - not the fault of the chart!

My ladies check their charts (with reminding) and do their chores.

Have a great week!
Monica

Adam Pash said...

That came out sooo nice! Very pretty Pearl necklace love it!