Why is it that the pearl is placed so highly in value among gemstones, and why do so many women favor it so? Diana Vreeland, the editor-in-chief of Vogue in the sixties and herself a fashion institution in her own right, captured it in one statement: “Nothing gives the luxury of pearls.”

How Pearls Come About

The pearl holds the distinction of being the only organic gemstone in the world. It is organic in the sense that it is produced by an animal. Bivalve mollusks like oysters and abalones have the ability to produce pearls.

The pearl is actually the result of how such mollusks deal with irritants. When a foreign body finds its way into the mollusk’s shell, the mollusk quickly coats this foreign body with nacre. The process goes on and on until the mollusk finally finds the presence of the foreign body inside its shell to be tolerable enough. The end-product, the foreign body that has been coated with nacre, is the pearl.

Before, the process of finding pearls is very laborious. The art of culturing pearls have not yet been discovered. People have to gather mollusks by the shores of rivers and lakes or dive deep into the sea to get natural pearls. Not all shells yield pearls, however. In the olden days, ownership of pearl jewelry, even just a single pearl, indicated great wealth. Pearls were indeed worth a fortune simply because it can take years to come up with enough pearls to string together a single-strand pearl necklace, let alone an entire set.

In the late 1800s, however, a Japanese man named Kokichi Mikimoto figured out how to culture pearls. This is done by farming and nurturing oysters and then artificially inserting irritants into their shells. His brand of cultured pearls became known as the Mikimoto pearls, and the process became standard across the world.

Classifying Pearl Jewelry

There are many ways by which to classify a pearl. A pearl can either be natural or cultured. Natural pearls are those that the oyster made on its own, while cultured pearls are those produced through the artificial introduction of irritants in an oyster’s shell. A pearl can be freshwater or saltwater. Saltwater pearls are produced by oysters bred at sea while freshwater ones are those bred in rivers or lakes.

Pearls are also classified according to shape. The most desirable pearls are the perfectly round ones, but these are relatively rarer and more expensive. Asymmetric pearls are not perfectly round, but they have a beauty of their own. Baroque pearls are most unusual in that their shape is highly irregular. They are the least valuable of all pearls.

Colors also vary among pearls. The most common color among pearls is white, with some pinkish ones and golden ones. However, because of new technologies involved in the cultivation of pearls, there are now so many colors available among pearls. Aside from the traditional white, pink and gold, there are now black pearls, blue pearls, green pearls, reddish pearls, brownish pearls, and many others.

Buying and Caring for Pearl Jewelry

Buying pearl jewelry is an investment. It is an inheritance of elegance that one can pass on from generation to generation. Buying genuine pearl jewelry is not that difficult to do. When purchasing pearl jewelry, the piece should come with a certification of authenticity. If you are in doubt about whether the strand of pearls you are about to purchase is fake or not, the simplest way of testing it is to rub two of the pearls gently against each other. If the pearl flakes fall off or if there is a visible scratch, it is a fake.

Pearl jewelry demand special care. They should be washed regularly in mild soap and water, and rubbed gently with soft cloth. They should never be cleaned with detergents that contain ammonia because ammonia can dissolve nacre.

When wearing pearl jewelry, they should be the last articles put on in the process of getting dressed – after the makeup has been applied and the perfume sprayed on. In this way, the chemicals contained in the makeup, perfume and other skin products will not make the pearls dirty.

It is very important to store pearl jewelry properly. Pearls are very delicate and if they are rubbed the wrong way, they can get scratched. Scratched pearls become diminished in luster. The proper way of storing pearls is to put them in a lined compartment of their own in one’s jewelry box. If that is not possible, they should be put in a bag made of soft, non-abrasive cloth, and then stored in the jewelry box.

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Pearls Size
Pearl size is mostly determined by two factors: the size of the implanted nucleus and the thickness of the nacre that grows layer upon layer around the nucleus. A large cultured pearl that lacks nacre thickness has a low value, and tends to discolor and crack fairly easily. A pearl with a thick nacre coating will retain its luster and beauty for a lifetime when properly cared for. For pearls of similar quality, the most important other determinant of price is the size of the pearl. The size is generally measured in millimeters.

Pearls Shape
Perfectly round cultured pearls are the rarest. Although most cultured pearls are nearly round, only about 1% is perfectly spherical. To check a strand for roundness, roll it across a flat surface. The strand should move evenly and smoothly.

Pearls Luster
Luster refers to the surface property that imbues cultured pearls with their shine and beauty. When checking pearls for luster, view them while standing with your back to a source of light. The sharper your reflection on the surface of the pearl, the higher is the luster and the better the quality.

Pearls Color
Pearls come in a variety of shades, with the major classifications being white, pink, silver, cream, gold, and black. Choice pearls also have a secondary color, or “overtone”, around the surface of the pearl. These overtones are usually rose, green or blue. The color should emanate from deep within the center of the pearl. All the pearls in a strand should be consistent in color.

Pearls Surface
Just as with any product of nature, all cultured pearls have minor imperfections. A quality cultured pearl is free of large pits or blemishes.

Akoya Pearls
Akoya pearls are cultivated using Pinctada Fukata oysters. Although most Akoya pearls are cultivated in Japan, they are also cultured in the tropical waters off the coast of Korea and China and southward as far as Sri Lanka. Akoya pearls are from two to ten millimeters in size, and their shape is typically round or off-round. Colors range from pink to white and yellow. Typically pearls are harvested after about eighteen months to three years of cultivation, reaching about 0.5 mm in diameter after eighteen months in the host oyster. Akoya pearls are renowned for their high luster and rich color.

Tahitian Black Pearls
Tahitian Black pearls are cultivated from Pinctada Margaritifera oysters (black lip oysters) found in French Polynesian waters. Black South Sea pearls come in a wide range of colors from silver / gray, blue, and red / eggplant to dark green, with peacock being the most valuable. Cultivation time averages about two years. Tahitian pearls have long been highly prized by many cultures for their exotic colors and brilliant luster.

1.) Color
Although you may think of pearls being creamy or off-white in color, pearls actually come in a wide array of colors. Pearls can range in color from rare black pearls to pure white pearls, and every color in between. By far, the most popular colors for pearls are white, cream, yellow and pink. Tahitian pearls are black, blue, grey, or even silver in color, and tend to be more expensive than the afore-mentioned lighter colors, but it should be kept in mind that no color is considered better than another. When choosing a color of a pearl, consider your personal tastes and even skin tone to determine what color of pearl is the best pick for you.

When examining pearls, place the pearls on a white or off-white background to best see the true color. Often, stores will place the pearls on a black velvet tray to provide the most impact, but the dark color could prevent you from seeing the true quality of the color.

Most pearls are natural colors, but some are dyed. Dyed pearls are generally less expensive than naturally colored pearls, so take the color into careful consideration when buying.

2.) Luster
The luster of the pearl is the quality of the reflective surface on the outermost layer of the pearl. This luster is quite important when choosing a quality pearl, and generally speaking, the higher the luster is an indication of a higher quality pearl.

3.) Coating
Pearls are made of different layers of nacre, a solution the oyster secretes to protect its delicate interior from an irritant, often a simple grain of sand. The coating of the pearl is the outermost layer of nacre and should be thick enough to protect the pearl. Usually, coating and luster go hand in hand, with the thickness of the coating directly affecting the quality of the luster. Pearls with a thin coating are more likely to chip, are not as durable, and often appear dull.

4.) Surface
The surface of the pearl should be smooth without any ridges, bumps, or pits. The higher quality of a pearl will have a smooth surface that will enable the light the light to properly reflect and showcase the color and luster of the pearl. Also, avoid any pearls with blemishes on the surface.

5.) Shape
Although most pearls are round, that is not the only shape of pearl available. That being said, round pearls should indeed to completely round. The different shapes of pearls available are:

• Round
• Semi round
• Off round
• Baroque

Generally speaking, round pearls are worth the most, with semi round, off round, and Baroque being valued less with each category. Usually cultured pearls are considered round with freshwater pearls more odd shaped.

6.) Size
Size in pearls is measured in millimeters. In pearl necklaces where each pearl is approximately the same size, the measurement is limited to a range, such as 7×7.5mm, meaning the pearls in the strand are between seven and seven and one-half millimeters in size. Usually, the larger the size of the pearl, the more expensive the price tag. However, the other factors still come into play.

7.) Setting
Pearls are set by drilling through the pearl to tie on a strand for a necklace or top mounted for other pieces of jewelry. When choosing the setting, ensure the setting itself is of good quality and the pearl is appropriately set. This is critical when choosing a necklace, since a pearl that is drilled off center will cause it to hang awkwardly on the strand.

Before beginning your search for the perfect wedding ring, it is best to ask yourself a few questions.

Do you know about the four C’s?

The four C’s are the criteria professionals use to determine the value of a diamond.

“Clarity takes into account the number, character, and visibility of flaws within the stone. These are often referred to as inclusions. The fewer inclusions, the better the quality of the stone.”

Carat is the size or weight of the diamond. The larger the stone, the higher the cost. An advantage to buying antique engagement rings is that in the 1930s and 1940s jewelers often compensated for a smaller sized diamond by setting it in an intricately designed white gold, square-shaped box. These made the stone appear larger.

“Color is a matter of taste. Modern-day standards put a higher value on a clear diamonds, as a rule. In the past, buyers wanted their diamonds to reflect a rainbow of colors, soft pinks, yellow, or green tints. While colored diamonds are still available today, they were considered more valuable in the past. It is also important to note that many of the modern colored diamonds are artificially altered to enhance the color.”

Cut is also a matter of taste and another reason antique engagement rings may be the best answer. Over the years, the preference of cut has changed. Additionally, a laser now cuts most diamonds; whereas older stones were normally cut by hand, giving them a more customized, romantic look.

What is the difference between an antique ring and an estate ring?

Antique rings normally refer to rings that are over 50 years old. Rings less than 50 years old and purchased used are considered as estate rings.

What are the styles of different eras?

Victorian Era (1835-1900) – Victorian era antique engagement rings featured diamonds or pearls set in yellow or rose gold. The ring styles varied from simple elegance to intricate detail. Many settings featured rows of diamonds that were cut with an extra facet in the bottom of the stone. This was known as a mine cut.

Edwardian Era (1900-1920) – With the invention of the oxyacetylene torch, platinum became the preferred metal for the period. The wedding bands were often crafted with lacy and pierced shapes, milgraining, filigree detail, and scrollwork. Rose-cut diamonds and sapphires were the preferred stones.

Art Deco Era (1920-1930) – Art Deco antique engagement rings feature a streamlined geometric look. They also reflect Egyptian, Asian, and Native American cultures. These rings were often made of platinum featured colorful, contrasting gemstones as well as diamonds.

Where can antique engagement rings be purchased?

Antique engagement rings can be purchased in a number of places: antique stores, estate sales, pawn shops, auctions, and there select vendors online and larger cities who specialize in the purchase and resale of antique jewelry. No matter where you purchase your engagement rings, remember to get a full description of your purchase in writing and look to vendors who offer a written returns policy. You may also ask if the jewelry comes with a certified gemologists report, which provides optimal proof that the jewelry is as described.

Conclusion

When purchasing an engagement ring, it is important to consider all your options, including antique engagement rings.

For the above purpose, visiting Thepearlsource.com is absolutely the right decision. This website is one stop resource of pearls on internet because they do not only sell various kinds of pearls but also provide educational information about pearls. They have huge collections and selections of high quality pearls such as South Sea Pearls. As you know, this variety of pearls has unique and dazzling colors, large size, and unparallel beauty which then make the pearls are so expensive. However, if you buy Pearl Stud Earrings at this website, you will be able to get huge discounts. This website offers 60% up 80% discount for all of their products so you will certainly save money on them. This huge discount makes this website as a reputable wholesaler of Pearl Rings on internet.

Therefore, if you are interested in buying pearls on internet, you certainly need to consider this website. So, why don’t you visit this website to find further information?

In ancient myth, pearls bring love aura for those who wear it. For that reason, pearls become on of famous accessories which are popular as bridal jewelry. Most of the couple chooses pearl pendants as their favorite accessory. The other reason of choosing pearls as the best bridal jewelry is because it gives more glamour and luxury sense. For bridesmaid, most of couple chooses pearl ring. It is considered the common gift when a man wants to as a woman to get married.

Moreover, PurePearls.Com has more bridal jewelry and also pearl rings to order. The example of the product is Tahitian pearl ring. What makes it look pretty and luxurious is because the material is coming from pure pearl and it adds with classical design. The color of the pearl is soft and it is prefect for special occasion just like marriage. Besides, they can choose a black pearl because it gives more exotic sense and you can choose it based on the theme of your marriage. The different of each bridal pearl is on the location where it found. Each pearl in different location has different characteristic and it depends on you in deciding the best pearl. This site is a good information center for finding the best pearl accessories. It is also considered that pearl is expensive accessory and I’m sure you want to get the best pearl and don’t want to be disappointed in the future.

Cultured pearls are probably easier to match, but natural pearls are more valuable. For the cultured variety, pearl farmers keep the special oysters in confinement. Foreign objects are purposefully entered into the mantle and the process of encystation begins and eventually many layers of nacre form a pearl. This pearl can be harvested and a new irritant is placed in the mantle. This can be continued for the life of the mollusk.

Natural pearls are found in the pearl oysters, which are found in tropical seas, mostly in Asia. Quite a large number would have to be found to be able to make a matched string, which would explain their greater value.

Freshwater pearls are just that. They are formed in the pearl mussels which are found in many rivers of Asia, Europe and the United States. They, too, can be cultivated in pearl farms, and can be matched or not. It might well be that the pollution in American rivers will have some effect on the occurrence of pearls, as might the depletion of water supplies in some states. In Florida, environmentalists say that a dispute about water with Georgia and Alabama, is about more than water needs for humans or the survival of some endangered species of mussels. The mussels are a vital indicator of the health of the Apalachicola River.

It can be quite exciting to find a pearl in one’s fresh oysters at a restaurant, but usually these are not perfectly formed.

The abalone of Japan, California and some other Pacific regions are a good source of mother of pearl. Natural mother of pearl can be tinted to almost any desired color. It has many uses in architecture and modern ceramic tiles. In the good old days, most shirt buttons were made of mother of pearl, but these are now mostly plastic. There are, however, a few fine quality clothing companies which still use mother of pearl shirt buttons. On fine instruments, such as saxophones and guitars, mother of pearl can be used for decoration or for the key touches.

A string of matched pearls has always been considered an appropriate adornment for a bride, but for those who can afford such a luxury, they can be everyday wear. I remember one elderly lady who wore hers everywhere, even while dressed casually at home! She informed me that the beauty of the pearls was maintained by the constant slightly oily polishing movement against her skin.

Although there may be imitation materials available, which can be made to look like mother of pearl, there is no substitute for the beauty of that created by nature.

This was the main reason why pearls fetched such extraordinary prices in the past. Imitation or fake pearls are also widely sold in inexpensive jewelry, but the quality of the iridescence is usually very poor, and generally speaking, fake pearls are usually quite easy to distinguish from the real thing.

You need to understand what sort of pearls you are buying, if you buy Pearls that come from Pearls farms you need to understand how they are picked up, these sort of pearls are carefully selected from long-established pearl farms. And then range in size from under 1mm to 20mm giants. Usually this farm pearls are harvested in the cooler winter months, after about two years of cultivation.

Like natural pearls, cultured pearls grow inside of a mollusk, but with human intervention. Cultured pearls are sold by their size in millimeters. Saltwater pearls originate within a saltwater mollusk. Saltwater pearls can be either natural or cultured.

Obviously it is not a surprise for anyone to understand that natural pearls are more expensive and if you are really interested in getting the best pearls in the world, well, you need to Travel all the way to Japan.

When you buy a Pearl you need to ask about the origins and their shapes. This is the way they get classified.

So where do Pearls come from ? Well [earls are formed inside the shell of certain bivalve mollusks: as a response to an irritant inside its shell, the mollusk creates a pearl to seal off the irritation. Pearls come in eight basic shapes: round, semi-round, button, drop, pear, oval, baroque, and circled.

Pearls where before only for fashion, but now you can find pearls have also been crushed and used in cosmetics, medicines, or in paint formulations. Pearls with the smoothest surfaces are the highest-quality, most sought-after pearls.

Regarding buying Pearls as part of Jewelry, you need to know the following: almost all pearls used for jewelry are cultured by planting a core or nucleus into pearl oysters. Abalone from along the Pacific Coast, primarily California, produce both blister and free pearls and their shells are used for inlay in jewelry and other items.

Try to find a company or design that offers these same finer-quality of any Japanese cultured Pearls at a fraction of traditional-store prices. It is not easy but for sure it is possible. Pearls are a great present for many people out there, you will never look out of fashion with a nice Pearl Jewelry necklace, and for sure always buying some high quality pearls is a wise investment. Pearls are perfect for gifts and for that special and romantic occasions

Density of Pearl Jewelry

Diamonds, which have been compacted for eons deep in the earth, are the hardest gemstone in the earth. Pearls, on the other hand, are cultivated within the shells of oysters. These creatures of the water produce the nacre of the pearl, the lustrous coating that gives pearl jewelry its luminosity. Unlike diamonds, pearls are soft, so you want to take the steps necessary to keep these gems looking their best.

Pearl Jewelry Isn’t for Every Occasion

Although a simple gold wedding band will withstand the rigors involved in working with your hands, your pearl ring won’t. The same holds true for your pearl necklace and pearl earrings. So don’t wear your pearl jewelry when you engage in physical labor, work in the yard, or work out at the gym. The dirt and perspiration will shorten the life of your pearls. Similarly, even though the pearls come from the ocean, it doesn’t mean that your pearl jewelry will thrive when you swim in the ocean, surf, or scuba dive. Pearls certainly don’t have to be locked away and work only for special occasions, but you should take care that they aren’t damaged by the elements.

Chemicals Can Be Toxic to Pearl Jewelry

Just as some people are allergic to chemicals, pearl jewelry can be “allergic” to hairsprays, perfumes, and lotions. The chemicals contained in such products – even those touted as “natural” – can shorten the lifespan of your pearls. This isn’t to say that you should style your hair or apply your fragrance if you’re going to wear your pearl jewelry. Rather, keep the “last on, first off” rule in mind. When you’re dressing, your pearl jewelry should be the last item you put on, just before you head out the door. When you return, your pearl jewelry should come off first, before you kick off your shoes and relax for the evening. By following this rule, you’ll limit your pearl jewelry’s exposure to chemicals and prolong the life of your jewelry.

Keeping Pearl Jewelry Clean

Like all jewelry, pearl jewelry becomes dirty over time. You can gently clean your pearl jewelry yourself with a very slightly damp soft clean cloth. It’s important that you don’t use any type of scrubbing devise, like a sponge or a toothbrush, and that you don’t use soap or detergent. After cleaning, lay your pearl jewelry on a clean, soft cloth to dry.

You can also have your pearl jewelry professionally cleaned. Many jewelers who specialize in pearl jewelry offer cleaning services for Akoya pearls, Tahitian pearls, and freshwater pearls of every color – such as white, pink, and black pearls.

Re-Stringing Pearl Necklaces

If you have an Akoya pearl necklace, a Tahitian pearl necklace, or a freshwater pearl necklace, and you wear it regularly, it’s advisable to replace the silk string every two or three years. Re-stringing your pearl necklace helps ensure that it won’t break and that you won’t lose one or more pearls.

By all means, enjoy wearing your pearl jewelry. And, with some common sense care and cleaning, you’ll be able to enjoy it for years to come.

The Akoya Pearls are those that are grown in the salt waters of the oceans. These kinds of pearls are more popular for their round shape and high luster. High quality Akoya pearls are more popular among the people because of the luminous luster it emanates. The most sought after color of the Akoya pearl is white. Among the white pearls the pearls which have a slight pink overtone are costly due to the looks. These pearls suits most of the skin type of the people.

Tahitian pearls are the other types of pearls that are famous for their black color. These pearls grow in oysters that are black tipped in the salt waters of Tahiti. Other than black there are colors like Blue, gray, and peacock green. High quality Tahitian pearls have high luster and are perfect round in shape.

The other type of pearl that is popular is the South Sea Pearls. Among the south sea pearls the golden color is rare and costlier. Other colors like white, cream, and silver are also available. South sea pearls are considered noble ones because of the nacreous coating they have in them.

Fresh water pearls are the other kind of pearls that are available in the market. The shapes of freshwater pearls differ greatly. Round, off round and nearly round shapes are available in freshwater pearls. Some of the colors available in freshwater pearls are white, peach, pink, peacock green, and black. There are many websites that sell these pearls individually and jewelry made out of these pearls. If you ever plan to buy jewelry that is made of pearls it is always better to look at the models available in these websites before you proceed to the actual brick and mortar store. If you like what you see in the website then you can even purchase them online in the online stores available in the websites. All you need to purchase is a credit card or an account with third parties like PayPal. Some of the rare stones can be even bought online. Auction sites are also available to purchase these jewelry.