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For centuries, pearls have been incorporated into jewelry design. In many families, they are considered precious possessions. There are a plethora of types, colors and shapes from which to choose. They may also be produced naturally or cultivated without losing their value. Beyond all of these attributes, when seeking to make a purchase, it is wise to know the criteria for evaluating the quality of pearl necklaces. There are six primary criteria employed when evaluating quality, regardless of whether it has been naturally produced or cultivated. These include the thickness of the nacre, luminosity, size, color and shape. The pearl is also carefully screened for any noticeable flaws. One criterion is not more important than another, as quality is usually assessed overall. However, a serious problem in one of the criterion can devalue the whole. Oysters residing in saltwater bodies of water, such as oceans, or seas are the source for saltwater pearls. Although capable of producing some irregularity, more often than not, they are used for matched sizes of necklaces because of their consistently round shapes. For this reason, they are sometimes considered more valuable than the freshwater variety. Also referred to as Akoya because they are formed by the Akoya oyster, they are usually available in cream, soft pink or white. They primarily come from China, Japan and Southeast Asia. Tahitian pearls are also commonly referred to as black pearls. This group is rarely ever pure black, but more a dark greenish black in color. They may also produce blue, brown and deep grey colors. They can only be produced by specific types of oysters that are indigenous to the saltwater bodies located throughout the South Pacific, including the Sea of Japan. South Sea pearls are grayish silver and are only produced by the white lipped oyster. Due to the large nature of the oyster, the pearls formed are large as well. This group is particularly known for its beauty and can command high prices in the marketplace. The fact that this group produces such a large variety, they tend to be used more for a choker style necklace, as opposed to long strands. They are also commonly used for bracelets and in single pendant settings. It is both believed and proven that cultivation can produce the perfect pearl. This has resulted in significantly diminishing the search for natural shell producers. However, the best quality cultured product can command a price as high as the rarer natural one. In addition to the main groups, there are a number of rare varieties. In all these cases, as with the main groups, the color and shape are impacted by the type of host mollusk. Two prime examples are the Abalone and Conch varieties. Both totally mimic the interior shell colors of their host organisms. All rare varieties are only naturally processed. It is rare, if not impossible to find a pearl devoid of any flaws. Often, these are barely visible to the naked eye or only by those expert in evaluation. Overall balance in each of the criteria is the goal. Brokers suggest looking at pearls in natural morning light, as opposed to artificial or direct sunlight. It is not advised to examine pearls while inside a glass case or against a colored field. Therefore, it is suggested to view them against bare skin. Even a modicum of knowledge about the criteria for evaluating the quality of pearl necklaces can prove to be beneficial when making a purchase. Learn more about the four main groups of pearls used for pearl necklaces now in our guide to exquisite akoya pearl necklace options. |
Posts Tagged ‘pearl necklace’
Pearl Necklace - Determine The Quality Before You Buy
Wednesday, December 21st, 2011Pearl Jewelry - The Object Of Beauty
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009| Scentsy | Flameless Candles | Wickless Candles |
Pearl jewelry are preferred by many because they are simple and yet elegant adornments to complete any outfit for every occasion. Pearl is considered the symbol showing deep love and is the birthstone for June. It has become a metaphor for something very admirable, very fine, very rare and very valuable. It is valued as objects of beauty, not just because it’s timeless and elegant, but hip and modern as well. A pearl is a hard, roundish object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. It is secreted by the epithelial cells of the mantle, a curtain of tissue between the shell and body mass. It is made up of calcium carbonate, which is also a common substance found in rocks and shells of mollusks. Calcium carbonate found in pearls is in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. A pearl is formed when an irritating microscopic object or a parasite is caught up inside a mollusk’s mantle folds. The mollusk, irritated by the intruder, secretes the calcium carbonate and conchiolin to cover the irritant. As long as the mollusks live, the encystation (or the secretion process) continues, the pearl keeps on growing in size. Nacre, the mother of pearl, is an inner shell layer that is strong, iridescent and resilient. Nacre secretion around the irritant creates a pearl inside the body of the mollusk. Some mollusks have a porcellaneous inner shell layer, instead of nacre. This type of mollusk produces an even higher value pearls. There are freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls. Freshwater pearls, as the name suggests, are a kind of pearl that comes from freshwater mussels. Saltwater pearls are produced by several species of marine pearl oysters. Pearls from the sea are valued highly than freshwater pearls. Valuable pearls are those that occur in the wild, but these are scarce. An because of its scarcity, culturing or farming of pearls has become successful. Cultured pearls are pearls grown in pearl-producing mollusks. Though produced with the aid of human intervention, they are also considered genuine pearls as they do not differ from their natural pearl counterparts. There are freshwater and saltwater cultured pearls. Cultured freshwater pearls are produced by making small incisions to the mantle organ of the host mollusk. Saltwater cultured pearls are cultured in a saline environment. To produce this, a rounded bead of freshwater mussel shell is introduced into the gonad of the host oyster. Pearls come in a various shapes. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth. Other shapes is rice-shaped, pear-shaped, irregular (baroque) or button-shaped. Pearl gemstones are valued for their luster, translucence and for the delicate play of surface color. The quality of pearl, or pearl grade, is determined by its size, luster, shape, color, orient, and surface perfection. Luster depends upon the reflection, refraction and diffraction of light from the translucent layers. A pearl’s luster is finer if it has thinner and more numerous layers. If successive layers overlap, the light falling on the surface breaks up and the pearl displays iridescence. The largest pearl was discovered by an anonymous Filipino Muslim diver in Palawan, Philippines in’34. It was found from a non-nacreous giant clam. The pearl has a china plate like gloss but is not pearly as it did not come from a pearl oyster. It has a weight of– lbs. or 6.4 kilograms. It is known as the “Pearl of Allah”. A pearl is an organic gem and is the oldest known gem. For centuries, it was considered to be the most valuable. It is the only gem created by a living creature and the only gem that requires no cutting or polishing before use. Though it is delicate, it has been successfully used in jewelry for thousands of years. Author Fred Gagnon is an expert on providing tips and information on jewelries. He owns a wide collection of beautiful, glamorous and stylish jewelries. To learn more about jewelries, accessories, precious metals and gemstones, visit Black Pearl Earrings and Hip Hop Jewelry. |
The Sheer Elegance Of Freshwater Pearl Necklaces
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009| Scentsy | Flameless Candles | Wickless Candles |
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A pearl is a beautiful stone of mother nature that is quite popular and mostly worn by the upper class. Pearls, because of their origins, are precious and rare. The rarity of pearls is due to the fact they don’t appear in oysters every time; it takes a lot of effort, patience, and manpower to get enough pearls to make a pearl necklace. Because of this, pearls are quite pricey and not always available. Pearls are popular in all cultures and seen as a symbol of the privileged. This amazing rock is available in a vast assortment of uniqueness, for instance: Freshwater Pearls, Seawater Pearls, Akoya Pearls, South Seawater Pearls, Tahitian Pearls, Black Pearls and Synthetic Pearls. The price of these pearls is moved via quality, size, rarity and popularity. No matter what type, pearls are all quite delicate and have to be cared for; any deficiencies can reduce the quality and ruin its natural luster. Before recent, these precious rocks were considered to be appropriate for only the wealthy people but in today’s times, manufacturer’s have made pearls affordable for most individuals. There is an old adage that states wearing pearls will be successful in their lives; many still believe this to be true. Most woman’s jewelry, of every form, have the ability to hold a pearl, but, necklaces are the most preferred as pearls glow and illuminate the neck. Women in today’s times hold a vast collection of necklaces according to their own style and essence. Because of the huge choice in chains and neck-type jewelry, pearl necklaces are sold in a vast array of styles, for instance: a pearl rope, pearl collar, opera necklace, matinee necklace, princess necklace, and pearl choker to name a few. These various types are really specific to specific occasions. Also, partial and stylish pendant necklaces are available as an alternative to the costly full-chained pearl necklaces. These pendants are available in shapes , for instance: heart, round, and oval. Pearls are typically quite important to brides to be because of the shimmer and elegance they produce; pearls match excellently with the bride’s gown. Pearl necklaces and pendants are a great present for loved ones as well. Pearl necklaces are very popular at parties because they can be formal and casual at the same time. Pearl necklaces are typically worn by celebrities for instance Oprah Winfrey. Most jewelry stores who have this level of customer has a wide range of them. Many of these privileged individuals have these necklaces made exclusively for a specific individual; these can cost much more than any other piece of jewelry there is. In today’s world original pearls are very rare and usually the ones you see in stores are somewhat fabricated. Though altered pearls are manufactured using the same process as authentic ones, the originality in size and shape make them precious and very expensive. Pearl necklaces are crafted throughout the world in countries like: China, Italy, Japan, and Taiwan. The countries listed previously have a good reputation when it comes to pearl necklaces and have led the world in the manufacturing of pearl necklaces for many years. About the Author:
Jim is a columnist with more than 10 years editorial experience. Jim is engaged as a columnist with our b2b site and is considered the company expert on pearl necklaces. Visit our useful website for more information on Pearl Necklaces and Freshwater Pearl Necklace.
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Types of Pearl Necklace
Sunday, August 16th, 2009| Scentsy | Flameless Candles | Wickless Candles |
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Aside from diamonds, pearls also make a significant glow and are very popular among jewelry enthusiasts. One particular type of pearl jewelry that has continuously captured a lot of interests is the pearl necklace. What makes a pearl necklace uniquely attractive is that it can go on for several generations and won’t go out of style. Furthermore, pearl necklaces are perfect matches on almost any types of attires and on any occasions. Wearing a pearl necklace simply gives more emphasis on a woman’s fine display of prestige and elegance. A pearl necklace has 6 different types to choose from. These necklaces have different lengths and are used on various specific events. The choker, dog collar, princess, matinee, opera, and rope are the different types of a pearls necklace. The dog collar pearl necklace has a length measurement of 10 to 13 inches and is considered as the smallest of the group. It is the one that is usually worn closest to the neck and is often used on various casual occasions. The choker pearl necklace measures to about 16 to 18 inches in length and is very suitable for any types of formal attires in formal occasions. The princess pearl necklace has a length reaching to about 17 to 20 inches. This is often referred to as the favorite pearl necklace among teens and young adults in their early 20s. This particular type of pearl necklace is often used in night outs that can surely bring out the royalty of a princess. The matinee pearl necklace is the one that is often seen on business suits and corporate attires. Business meetings are better delivered with a matinee pearl necklace as it can significantly add power and charm. This type of pearl necklace has a length measurement of 20 to 24 inches. Opera pearl necklace on the other hand reaches to a length of 28 to 34 inches. Opera pearl necklaces are often used on special occasions like grand weddings and formal birthday parties. The longest type of pearl necklaces is the rope pearl necklace which has a length of 45 inches and over. This type of pearl necklace is the perfect match for pant suits which is most effective in bringing out royal elegance and style. Pearl necklaces are also available in various color like gold, pink, white, black, cream, and white rose. The most popular colors are the white and white rose pearls as they can be worn by any range of skin tones. But if you happen to have a darker skin tone, golden colored pearl necklaces are the best choice for you. Pearls also come in two different diameter ranges. The first one has a size of 6-8 mm which can be worn on almost any types of occasions while the second one is 10 mm. The smaller type of pearl is suitable on almost any kind of occasions while the larger size is more appropriate on special occasions. Read more about pearl earrings and you are sure to get excited. About the Author:
There are great choices of pearl earrings that you can get without leaving the comforts of your home. Read more about it and choose the pearls that are meant for you.
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