Some of the most luxurious and gentlest of materials used
in jewelry are Pearls. Pearls are usually categorized by their origins and
shapes.
Depending on their origin, the type of water and the type
of mollusk a Pearl grows in its color may range from white to many shades of
cream, pink, brown, gray or black.
Pearls are considered to be organic jewelry, or jewelry
that is created by living organisms or from previously living ones.
Natural Pearls
Natural pearls are formed when a piece of sand or other
particle that ends up inside a shell of a river or marine mollusk (select types
of oysters and clams.) To protect itself from the intrusion the mollusk coats
this particle in layers of a material known as nacre, or mother-of-pearl, like
an onion skins. This process of layering eventually builds the particle up to
form a beautiful pearl. Natural pearls vary in shape depending on the shape of
the piece being coated. Natural pearls have always been considered rare and are
quite expensive. They are usually sold by carat weight. Most natural pearls on
today's market are vintage pearls.
Cultured Pearls
Just like Natural Pearls, Cultured Pearls grow inside a
mollusk, with the only exception being that the piece that start the growth of
the pearl is manually placed inside a carefully opened mollusk. Cultured pearls
are sold by their size in millimeters.
Saltwater & Freshwater Pearls
Saltwater Pearls originate within a saltwater mollusk,
while Freshwater Pearls grow inside a mollusk that lives a river or a lake.
Both Saltwater and Freshwater pearls can be either natural or cultured.
In general there are three shapes that pearls are
categorized in: Spherical, Symmetrical and Baroque.
-
As the name implies, spherical pearls are round, which is traditionally the
most desirable shape. The more perfect the round shape of the pearl, the more
expensive its price.
-
Symmetrical pearls include pear shapes and other shapes that have symmetry from
one side to another, but are not round.
-
Baroque pearls are of "irregular" shape and are (in general) the least
expensive category of pearls. Their shapes are unpredictable and each pearl is
unique and quite beautiful.
Pearls are usually suggested as a gift for the following
holidays and special dates:
-
Modern birthstone of June.
-
Freshwater Pearls are given to couples on the 1st wedding anniversary.
-
Stone for the couples celebrating their 3rd, 12th and 30th wedding
anniversaries.
-
Serves as the birthstone for the Sun signs of Gemini and Cancer.
The quality and value of Pearls is in general identified
by five factors: 1) the brilliance or luster of their surface, the iridescence
of it surface, 2) absence of any spots, bumps, cracks or surface cleanliness,
3) the general shape of the pearl, with perfectly round pearls bringing higher
value, 4) their color, where the rose tints are more valuable, 5) and last but
not least, their size.
Because of such high regard for this beautiful stones
they were used in burial of the ancient Egyptians. Greeks believed that they'll
bring happiness in marriage and stop newlywed women from crying. Romans used
Pearls as the supreme symbol of wealth, while the medieval knights wore them
for protection in battle. They were prized so highly that during Renaissance
some places in Europe allowed only nobility to wear them.
For centuries Pearls have been the symbol of purity,
wisdom, romance and wealth. Both cultured and freshwater Pearls are believed to
bring wearers luck, money, love, good luck and safety to the children. As
healing instruments Pearls have been used in Asian medicine for centuries as
cure for indigestion, heart trouble and even fever.
Chinese legends said that Pearls fell to Earth from the
sky during battles between dragons, while some myths speak of Pearls as the
tears of gods.
The natural saltwater Pearls have been found in the
Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Manaar in the Indian Ocean, the coast of Sri Lanka
and the Red Sea.
The natural freshwater Pearls have been found in the
rivers of Scotland, Ireland, France, Austria, Germany and US.
The most famous cultured seawater Pearls are Akoya from
Japan and China, and are also produced on the coasts of Polynesia and
Australia.
The cultured freshwater Peals are mostly grown in Japan,
China, US.
Even cultured pearls with thicker coatings are more
fragile than most other gemstones, so you must handle them carefully to keep
them in the best condition.
-
Wipe your pearls with a soft, slightly dampened with water or dry, lint-free
cloth as soon as you take them off. If you use a damp cloth, allow the pearls
to air dry before putting them away.
-
Extensively stained pearls can be cleaned with a mild soap and water solution
(try Ivory flakes).
-
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.
-
As with any jewelry, your pearls will stay cleaner if you put them on after
you've applied your makeup and perfume, and if you take it off before you apply
hand, body creams and hair styling products.
-
Don't store your pearls with other jewelry, because they can be scratched
easily when metal or gemstones rub against them. Keep your pearls separately in
a soft bag made from chamois or another non-abrasive material.
-
Your fine pearl necklaces should be restrung periodically so that you're sure
the silk or nylon cord holding them is in good shape.
