Born in water, organic and natural in their beauty (without cutting or carving),
pearls symbolize purity and love.
They are often given as a symbol of romance on the 3rd and 30th wedding anniversaries.
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Natural Pearls are produced in two dozen types of mollusks, including oysters, mussels and shellfish. They can form naturally in both saltwater and freshwater.
Natural pearls are created when a mollusk is invaded by some tiny organism (such as a worm, crab, fish, etc) and as a defense mechanism, the mollusk coats the invader with layers of nacre. Nacre is basically microscopic calcium carbonate crystals – the same material that creates the inner lining of the mollusks – and will eventually form into a round, or semi-round marble-like form. The organism is essentially fossilized in the nacre.
Cultured Pearls use the same life process as natural pearls, but involve human intervention, where the mollusk is impregnated with an invader (often a grain of sand or mother-of-pearl seed) in the flesh and then placed at the proper ocean depth for 1-3years to complete their natural process. Cultured pearls are tended to and protected in optimal conditions. Saltwater pearls are cultured in a specific oyster. Freshwater pearls are cultured from mussels.
The process of culturing pearls started in China around 1900. Three (3) Japanese researchers succeeded and one was Kokichi Mikimoto. If you have ever heard of “Mikimoto” pearls, this is where the name comes from – one of the most desirable names in pearl jewelry.
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Pearl Value Factors
Size
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Pearl Lengths
Collar – snug, mid-neck 12-13”
Choker – close up to neck
Princess – mid length
Matinee – Perfect for plus size women
Opera – Can be doubled for versalility
Rope – Also called Savtoir
Akoya Pearls
Japan and China
South Sea
Australia, Indonesia and Philippines
Tahitian
French Polynesia
Other Pearl Types Include:
Abalone
Blister
Conch
Keshi
Mabe
Melo
Pearl Shapes
Round - Perfectly spherical, or very nearly so. (These are primarily saltwater pearls, although the Chinese have recently succeeded in creating round freshwater pearls).
Potato – Semi-round and often lumpy.
Button – circular shaped, often with a flatter side, and drilled through the center.
Lollipop - A button that has been drilled across the larger dimension of the pearl; lollipop pearls tend to be flat on the back and domed on the front.
Rice - Very small, oval and drilled lengthwise.
Nugget - Usually a little more square than rice or potato pearls (more like a pebble) and almost always have a flat side.
Drop - Teardrop, pear or peanut shaped and drilled at the narrowest end (either lengthwise or widthwise).
Coin – Flat, large and circular, often about the size of a dime, with the hole drilled end-to-end. Some newer coin shapes are flat, but instead of circular, they are squares, ovals, pears and hearts.
Keishi or “Cornflake” - Flat and highly irregular. These pearls are formed when an oyster expels a bead nucleus, but continues to make a pearl.
Stick - Long and thin with many irregularities
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CARING FOR PEARLS
Never use bleach, detergent or powdered cleansers. They can harm the surface of the pearls.
Never use a toothbrush or rough cloth to wash or smooth the pearls. They can scratch the surface and damage the nacre.
Gently polish pearls after each wear with a wet soft cloth and place in a lined jewelry box or cushioned area after drying. Pearls are a soft gem and should be stored away from other items that can scratch them.
Do not store pearls in such a way that they will rub against one another.
Pearls will get brittle and crack when they are dehydrated. Never keep the pearls near heaters or in places that get strong exposure under sunlight. Places that remain extremely dry (like a safe deposit box) are also not a wise choice for pearl storage.
Take your pearls off when applying cosmetics, skin care products, hair sprays or perfume. These beauty aids are composed of chemicals and acids which can harm the pearls. Wait a few minutes after applying these items and make sure the skin is completely dry before wearing your pearls.
Never wear pearls while swimming or bathing. You don’t want to get the silk string wet.
Pearl rings should be taken off when washing hands or doing dishes. When taking off a pearl ring, grasp the shank (the metal part) rather than the pearl. This will prevent the pearl from loosening and coming into contact with oily skin.
