The Makings of a Pearl

Pearls begin when a grain of sand, another piece of pearl , or any other irritant contained in the oyster’s shell. To protect itself the oyster secretes multiple layers of a calcium carbonate substance called nacre around the foreign object to isolate it from the rest of the oyster. After a few years, the original irritant is covered in a silky coat and that is a pearl.

Both natural and cultured pearl are born and grow inside live oysters. The difference between the two is that natural pearls are formed by nature, or by chance, and cultured pearl are made by man’s assistance by injecting an irritant into the oyster. Today, most pearls are cultured.

How to Buy Pearls

When buying pearls there are six key factors that one must consider:

LUSTER – Luster is the brightness, sheen and/or glow of the pearl . What constitutes a bright luster is the combination of surface quality and the inner glow of the pearl. With high quality pearls a glow will seem to emanate from within the pearl, especially when light reflects from its surface. Pearls that appear dull, too white, or chalky are not high quality pearls.

SIZE – Usually, the larger the pearl the greater its value is.

SURFACE- A clean surface is a sign of a high quality pearl. The more flawless a pearl is the greater value it will have. A pearl should be clean of bumps, cracks, and blemishes.

SHAPE – The shape of a pearl can be round, oval, pear shaped , half round, button-type (one axis flattened), circled, or baroque. The chances of an oyster producing a perfectly round pearl is very low and the value of a pearl is adjusted accordingly. Although, asymmetrical “baroque” pearls have appeal of their own and are generally less expensive, making them attractive to buyers on a budget.

COLOR- when purchasing a pearl always look for a brilliant color. The color range of a cultured pearl is black to pink. When deciding on what color you want your pearl to be it is best to choose according to your own skin tone. Overtones of green, blue, and pink can complement the right skin tone color, but look unattractive on the wrong skin tone. There has been somewhat of a general consensus that pink and silver white pearls complement fair skin tones, while cream and gold pearls complement darker skin tones.

UNIFORMITY – When selecting more than one pearl, uniformity matters. Since every pearl produced is one of a kind the more uniformed a strand or pair of pearls the greater its value.

Types of Pearls

Akoya Pearls – Akoya pearls come from the Akoya oyster, which usually come from Japan or China producing a saltwater cultured pearl. Akoya pearls are the most difficult to grow due to the low survival rate of the host oysters, only 5 out of 10 will survive the nucleation process.

Baroque Pearls – The name baroque refers to irregularly shaped cultured pearls that are very lustrous and quite attractive. Because of the shape these pearls are usually offered at a lower cost.

Biwa Pearl – Originally named after a lake in Japan these pearls are the first cultured pearls without nucleus, or with an organic nucleus, obtained from a freshwater mussel.

Freshwater Pearls – Produced in great abundance these pearls are the most moderately priced of all pearl because they are cultivated from freshwater mussels rather than saltwater oysters. What determines the tone of a freshwater pearl is the original shell the pearl was cultivated in. States the most famous type of freshwater pearl is the Biwa pearl, which are grown mostly in Japan, China, and the United

Keshi Pearls-The word Keshi in Japanese means “poppy seed”. Keshi pearls are sub-products of a pearl that range in size from very small to tiny. They form accidentally on many cultured pearl oysters.

Mabe Pearls – Mostly grown in Japan, Indonesia, or Australia these pearls are not grown within the oysters body, but rather against the inside of the shell of any kind of oyster. These pearls are mostly used in settings that hide their flat back and reverse side.

South Sea Pearls (also called White South Sea Pearls) – These pearls are cultured in warm salt water in tropical or semi-tropical oysters in the South China Sea, which include the Polynesian Islands, Borneo, Australia, Indonesia, and other Pacific countries. The diameter of these pearls usually ranges from 9 to 14 millimeter.

South Sea Shell Pearls - South Sea Shell Pearls are made of a 100% natural South Sea oyster shell. The pearls have the weight, feel and luster of genuine South Sea and Tahitian pearl. Perfectly round shape with a beautiful AAA surface quality they are hand knotted on silk cord at a very affordable price.

South Sea Tahitian Black Cultured Pearls  – Grown in a variety of large oysters that are primarily found in the waters of French Polynesia, the unique color and large size of these pearls demand a high cost. The color of these pearls can range from gray to black with green or blue with iridescent overtones. These are the largest of all pearls, usually ranging from 8 to 14 millimeters.

Care of Pearls

Pearls are very soft and need special care and attention. You should never store your pearls in a jewelry box next to other jewelry, because both the box and other pieces of jewelry can damage pearls by scratching and nicking, so keep them in a fabric lined box or fabric pouch.

Skin produces acids that can harm your pearls, so if worn regularly pearls should be wiped down with a soft cloth after every wear. A pearl necklace will gradually absorb acid from the skin that will eat into the pearl causing it to lose its luster. Wiping pearls of with either a wet or dry, soft cloth will prevent dirt from accumulating and keep perspiration, which is slightly acidic, from eating away at the nacre. If you desire you can even use a drop of olive oil on your cleansing cloth to help maintain your pearl’s luster.

Along with being soft and easily scratched, pearls can be damaged by chemicals and heat. Only use jewelry cleaner is clearly marked safe for pearls. Never use ultrasonic cleanser. Never use dish or wash detergents, bleaches, baking soda or ammonia based cleansers. Never use toothbrushes, or any other abrasive materials to clean your pearls. Always take off your pearls before you use any cosmetics, hair spray, and perfume. Avoid heat and dry air because both can cause pearls to turn brown, dry out, and crack.