|
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Did You
Know? Natural pearls are sold by carat weight, but cultured pearls are sold by their size in millimeters.
Saltwater oysters only produce one or two pearls at a time and a freshwater mussel can produce as many as 50 pearls at a
time.
|
|
Caring
for Your Pearls
Pearl Shapes
Pearl
Characteristics
Pearl
Classifications
Today most of us wear cultured pearls, created by humans who insert a bead or other object into an oyster or clam. The clam realizes this is a foreign particle and initiates a
defense mechanism to isolate it. It does this by coating the foreign particle with nacre, the patina that gives pearls their unique appearance, otherwise known as Mother of Pearl.
The shape of the object inserted will determine the shape of the pearl.
The depth of the coating depends on factors such as the type of clam/oyster, the type of water it lives in, and how long the substance is left in place before being removed. As the thickness of this coating increases, so does the quality and durability of the pearl. Pearls are one of the organic gems, called that because they are created by
a living
creature.
|
|
|
|
|
Even cultured pearls with thick coatings
are more fragile than most other gemstones, so handle them with care.
-
Always
apply your makeup and perfume
before putting on your pearls. Be
sure to take off your pearl rings
before you apply hand and body
creams.
-
Wipe
your pearls with a soft, lint-free
cloth as soon as you take them
off. The cloth can be
dampened with water or it can be
dry. If damp, allow the pearls to
air dry before putting them away.
-
Dirty
pearls can be cleaned with a mild
soap and water solution. Never
clean your pearls with solutions
that contain ammonia or harsh
detergents.
-
Don't
put pearl jewelry in an ultrasonic
cleaner. Don't
use abrasive cleaners or rub
pearls with abrasive cloth. Both
can wear away the nacre coating,
leaving you with a plain looking
bead.
-
Don't store your pearls openly with other jewelry, because they can be easily scratched when other jewelry pieces rub against them. Store them in their own slot in your jewelry box, or keep them in a soft bag made from chamois or another non-abrasive material.
-
Pearl necklaces should be restrung periodically so that you're sure the silk or nylon cord holding them is in good shape.
|
|
|
Natural Pearls
Natural pearls are formed when a foreign substance, like a small rock or particle of sand, enters the shell naturally, without human intervention, and will vary in shape depending on the shape of the piece being coated. They are considered rare and expensive. They are usually sold by carat weight.
Cultured Pearls
Like natural pearls, cultured pearls grow inside of the shell, but with human intervention. A shell is carefully opened and a foreign substance is inserted. Shapes of the objects vary, depending on the final shape that's desired. Cultured pearls are sold by their size in millimeters.
Saltwater Pearls
These pearls originate within a saltwater mollusk. They can be either natural or cultured.
Freshwater Pearls
The term freshwater pearl refers to a natural or cultured pearl that grew inside of a freshwater mollusk—one that lives in a river or a lake.
|
| |
|
|
Spherical Pearls
are round, which is traditionally the most desirable shape. The rounder the pearl, the more expensive its price tag.
Symmetrical Pearls include pear shapes and other shapes that have symmetry from one side to another, but are not round.
Baroque Pearls are irregularly shaped. They are generally the least expensive category of pearls, but are unique and often quite beautiful.
|
|
|
|
|
As there is no official grading system for pearls (like the 4Cs for diamonds), there are several characteristics that determine their value.
Luster: The surface shine that gives pearls their unique glow is known as its luster. The sharper the reflection of light on a pearl’s surface, the more luster it has.
Surface
Blemishes: Like gemstones, pearls have imperfections. These blemishes or marks on the pearl’s surface should be minimal.
Shape: Pearls that are perfectly round are extremely rare and naturally the most valuable. While most pearls appear to be round, only about 1% are actually perfect spheres. If you want to know if a strand consists of perfectly round pearls, just roll it on a flat surface, like a counter or tabletop. If it rolls smoothly and evenly, the pearls are round.
Color: Pearls come in a wide range of shades, and the major color classifications are white, pink, silver, cream, gold and black. Finer quality pearls have an overtone, which usually appears toward the outside edge of the pearl. This can be rose, green or blue. Regardless of the color or shading, look for pearls with a deep, rich color that seems to come from within the gem.
Size: All other factors being equal, the size of a pearl is the most important factor in determining its value. However, a larger pearl is not necessarily more valuable if it lacks nacre thickness. A pearl that does not have many layers of nacre will crack and discolor over time, diminishing its value. Only an expert can determine the true thickness of a pearl’s nacre. Pearls are available in a wide range of diameters (measured in millimeters), from 6.5mm up to 15mm or more in the case of Australian or Tahitian pearls.
Orient: The many layers of nacre on a pearl produce rainbow-like colors that appear to move on the pearl’s surface. This motion effect is very rare and only appears in a small percentage of round pearls.
Availability also affects a pearl’s value. Saltwater cultured pearls generally have higher prices than freshwater cultured
pearls.
|
|
|
|
|
