The Chanel long strands, mixing pearls, the famous CC logo, and sometimes different charms, are considered a fashion classic. The pearls feel relatively lightweight to me – not sure if they are plastic or glass. For the price, in the region of $1,000 and up, I would expect the finest faux glass pearls, but I’m really not certain.

Here is a strand I had (and sold), a 35 inch Chanel strand that could be worn wrapped/looped twice:

And then there is this strand, a 14k white gold chain necklace accented with 20, 6 mm round pearls and diamond set gold boxes. Each box has three 1 point diamonds front and back. There is a total of 80 round cut diamonds of approximately .50 carats. H-I colour, SI clarity. It’s 30 inches long and can also be worn doubled, choker style. 

 This one is available on my web site, www.intotemptation.com for $975. But … no logos, no designer cachet. Just a very classic, wearable piece of fine jewelry – for less than the price of similar costume.

So would you rather have the designer piece? Or the fine jewellery?