I bought this in black, white and gray and enjoy it a lot.  It's great for work, but can be paired with jeans.  Baroque pearls sure aren't the nicest, and I don't care for them in pastels or single colors, but this works.

I can wear this with just about any outfit, but I do check to make sure there isn't any black/blue clash.  Most of the black pearls have a deep blue luster, though they're definitely black in color.  If there is no blue in my outfit, I generally wear something else.  Your mileage may vary, of course, since pearls aren't identical.

I can't find any knots on the strand.  In fact, I can't even see the cord, but the pearls are strung tight and sturdy.  Nothing is hanging loose.

I would not recommend these for gifting, simply because individual taste plays into this item too much.  But if you're shopping for yourself, and you see these on sale, well, you're worth it!