Pearls are smooth, strong layers of nacre that have a lustrous appearance and are employed in making elegant jewelry. They are created by a mollusk as soon as an irritant touches it within the oyster’s shell. Regardless of the hassle is a piece of food, parasite, grain of sand, the mollusk will release the nacre for protection. The nacre layers generate to form the Pearl.
What are Pearls, and how do you buy the right one
Natural Pearls
In terms of natural pearls, the mollusk originates from an organism in the water. They can be generated in saltwater or freshwater. Natural pearls are scarce. The majority of natural pearls have been harvested beforehand such that they are very costly and hard to find. If you’re in the market for pearl jewelry, you’ll probably be looking at cultured pearls.
Cultured Pearls
For cultured pearls, the mollusk (often a tiny bead) is put in manually. There are two major categories of cultured pearls: they are freshwater and saltwater. Freshwater pearls are cultivated in rivers, lakes, ponds, mussels, and reservoirs.
Most freshwater pearls originate from China, while Saltwater pearls are cultivated in bays and inlets all over Asia and Australia. There are three main species of saltwater pearls: South Sea Pearls, Tahitian pearls, and Akoya pearls. Generally, saltwater pearls are believed to have more value than freshwater pearls.
Natural versus Cultured Pearls
Natural pearls are very scarce rare, and costly, while cultured pearls are available everywhere and budget-friendly. Jewelry in the market today is made almost only with the aid of cultured pearls. Natural pearls are produced without human effort, whereas cultured pearls demand human action. Natural pearls are virtually every antique and are traded at auctions for big price margins.
What are Saltwater Pearls?
Saltwater pearls are made by mollusks implanted within an oyster that resides in saltwater. Initially from oceans close to Tahiti, Indonesia, Thailand, and Australia, saltwater pearls can be cultivated in some parts of Asia, including Japan, China, and Vietnam. Akoya pearls, Tahitian pearls, and South Sea pearls are all categories of saltwater pearls.
Cultured saltwater pearls differ in their from approximately 2mm to 15mm. They’re often round in shape and whitish or cream in color (unless for Tahitian black pearls). The shine of saltwater pearls depends on the category together with the specific pearl strand. Thus, it’s crucial to check the pearls closely before buying them.
What are Freshwater Pearls?
Unlike saltwater pearls, freshwater pearls are cultivated in mussels in lakes, rivers, and ponds. Most freshwater pearls can be found in China, and you’ll spot a few jewelers markets whose pearls are Chinese freshwater pearls.
Often white, freshwater pearls are made in a myriad of pastel colors such as pink as well. Most freshwater cultured pearls have a round shape, but oval and teardrop shapes are common too.
Freshwater pearls provide so much shine but are often slightly less lustrous than saltwater pearls because their nacre is thicker. The way of cultivating pearls has improved, and the difference in its brightness is not that noticeable.
How to choose the appropriate Pearl
STEP 1: Choosing the Right Pearl Type
So, you’ve preferred that you want to purchase a delicate pearl necklace (or a set of earrings), but presently you’re undecided regarding the type of pearl necklace you should buy??
There are four main types of Pearl to select from:
Akoya Pearls
Freshwater Pearls
Tahitian Pearls
White or Golden South Sea Pearls
Each Pearl has its unique pearl color, budget parameters, beauty, and size ranges.
STEP 2: Choose the Perfect Pearl Size
The most famous sizes exist within the 7.0-9.5mm range, the most common and well-used pearl size to buy. The bigger the pearls in size (all other attributes like Luster, Shape, and Surface Quality being considered), the higher their value.
STEP 3: Select the Right Necklace Length
The most renowned and well-used pearl necklace length is known as the 18-Inch “Princess Length” pearl necklace. It is viewed as the “Modern Classic” length ought to rest about 1.5 to 2.0-inches beneath the hollow of the throat – that suits a comprehensive set of necklines and outfits.
STEP 4: Set Your Budget
For fine cultured pearl pieces, you should register a baseline of $100 or so for even the smaller-sized Akoya pearl stud earrings set in 14K Gold, and the same can be applied to Freshwater pearls.
Every pearl type has a particular pricing tier, and just like diamonds, you can expect prices to skyrocket tremendously with each millimeter size increase. The price difference between a 7.0-7.5mm Akoya pearl necklace and a 9.0-9.5mm size is quite huge.
STEP 5: Know pearl grading factor
Pearl Quality Factors
Pearls are classified based on origin, graded according to size, luster, surface clarity, shape, nacre thickness, color, and how well they match. Here’s a quick summary of pearl quality factors to begin with:
Lustre
It is the combination of surface brilliance and an intense shine; the luster of a high-quality cultured pearl ought to be bright, not dull. Your reflection should be viewed right away on the surface of a cultured pearl; whichever Pearl appears too chalky or dull shows that it has low quality.
Shape
Since cultured pearls are cultivated by oysters and are under the control of Mother Nature, it is very scarce to spot a well-round cultured pearl – and these are viewed to have more value. While the majority like the perfect spheres of classic pearl jewelry, baroque pearls — those with an irregular shape — are now very often seen in fine jewelry. Freshwater pearls from freshwater sources like rivers and lakes are most commonly baroque.
Size
The average cultured pearls available today are sold between 7 and 7 1/2 millimeters, measured by their size in millimeters. The bigger the Pearl, the more value it has.
Surface
The neatness of the cultured pearl surface denotes the absence of irregular cracks, spots, bumps. A cultured pearl with a neat surface will possess more value than a bumpy, spotted, or cracked one.
Color
Rose Silver/White Cream Gold Blue/Gray cultured pearls are found in colors from rosé to black. Even as color is a matter of choice, rosé or silver/white pearls often look best on fair skin tones, while cream and gold-tone cultured pearls fit darker complexions.
STEP 6: Finding the Right Vendor
Fine pearl jewelry is an item that’s purposed to touch the heart of who we’re giving it to. In most cases, these gifts can serve as a beautiful surprise for an anniversary, birthday, graduation, or Holiday event. Thus, do your research before settling for any seller.
