Pearl jewellery

A freshwater pearl is a pearl that is cultured in a mussel in a lake, whereas the traditional cultured pearl is cultured in an oyster in the ocean (salt water pearls are called Akoya pearls). Freshwater cultured pearls are less expensive than the Akoya pearls.

Pearl characteristics:

The value of a pearl is determined by its Lustre, Surface, Shape, color and Size.

Lustre:

Lustre is the most important factor in choosing pearls. The inner glow of the pearl combined with the surface brilliance defines lustre. The higher the lustre, the thicker the nacre or secretion from the oyster and the stronger the glow.

Surface:

The smoothness of the pearl's surface, from clean to heavily blemished, is the next consideration. Cracks or breaks in the nacre are considered damage. Because pearls are grown in an oyster and are organic gems they are almost never flawless.

Shape:

Similarly, it is very rare to find a perfectly round pearl. The rounder the pearl, however, the more valuable it is. Slightly off-round, semi-baroque and baroque pearls are not as valuable as perfectly round pearls.


Color:

Cultured pearls range in color from white to black with various mult-colored overtones. The color of the pearl is really the wearer's preference.


Size:
Cultured pearls are measured in millimetres. All other factors being equal, the larger the pearl the rarer and more valuable it is.

Pearls are currently back in fashion again. Modern twists show pearls being interspaced on gold or silver wire, floating on special synthetic cord or as traditional pearl necklaces with suspended interchangeable pendants often in materials like jade, peridot and lapis lazuli. The variety of new pearl designs, interesting new shapes, sizes and colours, make them the perfect jewel essential to the noughties. Pearls are also the perfect gift for anytime of year, for any age group.

Rules of care pearls"

The most important way to prevent damage to your pearls is by following the golden rule of putting your pearls on as the last thing you do when finishing your grooming. Put the pearls on after you have applied make up, perfume and hair sprays, never before. Don't spray your perfume on the neck area where the pearls will actually sit and avoid touching your pearls when you have just applied hand cream. If you need to reapply hair spray at some time, slip the pearls off for a moment and put them well out of the damage zone.
Likewise make pearls the first thing you remove after a night out, before you wipe your face and neck with cleansers or facial wipes, or night creams.
Don't touch your pearls with your fingers if eating bar snack foods which sometimes have chilli style powders on them. Such spices can damage the surface of pearls. I once damaged my new Mabé pearl earrings when eating chilli style taco biscuits at a party. One earring still has a minute little speckle spot where the chilli powder rested. I was lucky the spot is so tiny, but the spice speck literally burnt into side of the pearl.