For thousands of years pearls have been worn by the rich and glamorous, and given as rare and expensive gifts. Traditionally worn by new brides, for thousands of years they have been a symbol of love, purity and perfection. Nowadays pearl jewellery is available to more people than ever before, and you no longer need to be royalty to afford it. Pearls of all shapes, sizes and colours are 'cultured' on farms and with so many varieties to choose from any bride-to-be can find the perfect pearls to suit her wedding gown. In fact there are so many varieties that it can be difficult to know what to look for, so here are a few things to look out for:
Type of pearl – The two main types of pearl are saltwater and freshwater. Saltwater pearls are farmed in the sea, and are usually larger and more regular in shape than the freshwater variety. They are also usually more expensive because of this. Freshwater pearls are farmed in lakes and rivers, usually smaller and often less regular in shape, though they come in a large range of different colours.
Size – When it comes to pearls, size really does make a huge difference. The larger the pearl, the more it will cost. Saltwater pearls are usually larger than freshwater, and are more highly sought after.
Nacre – Pearls take years to form inside the shell of an oyster. When a foreign object is introduced into the shell the oyster produces nacre, which builds up in layers forming the pearl. The thicker the coating of nacre, the more durable the pearl will be. Some cultured saltwater pearls are ‘beaded’ with a larger nucleus used to speed up the process and keep the pearls as round as possible. Most freshwater pearls and all natural pearls are formed entirely of nacre, which accounts for their more irregular shape.
Luster – No pearl is perfectly shiny like glass but they should have a sort of reflective quality to them, called the lustre. Pearls that have this shimmery effect on the surface are the most popular type.
Colour – Pearls in their natural state come in various shades of white, pink and lilac although cultured pearls are often dyed so they are available in almost any colour. A pearl necklace made of matching naturally-coloured pearls will cost more than dyed ones, as it can take a long time to collect enough matching pearls for a whole string.
Shape – When we think of pearls, we normally imagine them to be perfectly round and smooth. In reality round pearls are rare, and these round pearls are highly in demand and so can be very expensive. Small cultured pearls tend to be more rounded and some of the larger ones have been formed around a bead to help the shape develop. Irregular pearls are also used and made into unique jewellery and pendants.
Matching – It can be difficult to find enough matching pearls to make a whole necklace, so a string of regular naturally coloured pearls is more desirable and will be more expensive.
Find Hawaiian Jewelry
- Did You Pay Too Much For Your Jewellery (When looking at your jewellery, do you ever consider what it's worth? By the value of your jewellery I mean the price you could sell it for now, rather than the price you actually bought it for. Trying to get that number is no simple task, simply because there are a number of factors that [...])
- Bridesmaid Bracelet Real Crystal Jewellery (From solitaire engagement rings. Are you a wedding coordinator? As a wedding coordinator, you are all in-charge in the success of the wedding of your client. From place of event, gown and up to the Crystal Jewelry they will be wearing. The bride wanted that her bridesmaids must have the same bracelet to beautify their [...])
- How to Buy Pearls - The AAA to Z of it (Whether it’s their romantic aura, their subtle beauty or simplistic style, you have decided it’s time to add a beautiful piece of pearl jewelry to your collection. Before running out to your favorite jeweler and snatching up the first thing you see, get informed about the investment you are about to make. There are several [...])
- What Jewellery To Get This Christmas? (Because there are so many different types od jewellery out there it can be very difficult indeeed to decide on what piece to get your partner. These are just a few ideas if you havent managed to get your lvoed one a gift yet. ( you are running out of time) Proposal? Of [...])
- Jewellery In the Film Industry (Many films have jewellery in them and some are even based upon jewellery. These ones are just some of my favourites. Titanic Although I personally find this boring to be very boring and dull, there is no doubt it made an impact on the world when it was released. The film is [...])
- Akoya Pearls – Affordable, and Luxuriouis (Pearls can bring to mind tropical islands surrounded by warm seas where oysters are in abundance. There are many different types of pearls out there on the market, but the Akoya pearl is probably the most recognizable. The Akoya parls is a high luster white pearl that is used mostly for long strands. The Akoya [...])
- No chance of giant pearl from UK’s biggest ever oyster (An oyster bigger than any found before in the UK turned up in a fish marked in Plymouth last weekend. The giant shellfish, which has been dubbed 'Shelly', measures 7” across and weighs 3lb. The oyster has been given a new home in the local aquarium, where it’s become a bit of a tourist attraction. [...])
- Choosing Real Crystal Jewelry (From cheap princess cut engagement ring. Any Genuine Crystal Jewellery would be synonymous to the word "forever" because that piece of treasure is designed to last for an eternity. Unless stolen or lost, Crystal Jewellery are meant to stand the test of time and generations. Knowing this for a fact, many people choose this [...])
- Earrings Are The Number 1 Choice – Particularly Pearls (To women, earrings are a necessary addition to accentuate the face shape and it is easy to see why we choose to buy pearl earrings above other types of jewellery. Pearl earrings can look stunning on ladies of all ages and it doesn’t matter what face you have, pearls complement it perfectly. Of course, something [...])
- Think About Jewellery Presentation (Everyone likes to be presented with stunning jewellery at any time during the year, but the occasion is made so much more special when the gift is given with love and stunning wrapping paper. Presentation is everything and if you’re looking at cubic zirconia pendants, the most important thing is to make sure the [...])
