Experts' Take On Pearls

Experts of pearls historically treasured or otherwise, have at one time or the other, faced a quite common but still a wise question of the features of pearls. Potential sellers, collectors and buyers ask them what type of pearl they would choose for themselves when given the choice.

The beauty and magnificence of all pearls should be appreciated whether, they are natural or cultured. The metallic radiance of a superior strand of Akoya pearls , the diverse shades of a dark peacock Tahitian black pearl, the size and royal grace of the South Sea pearls and last of all but not the least, the variety available in cultured freshwater pearls are the reasons of uniqueness and high value of this beautiful jewel piece.

For researchers as well as admirers of pearls, the term freshwater brings forth a vivid and amusing association. These pearls are well known for their quirky and unusual shapes and the natural shades that are exclusive to the class of mussel species from which they are harvested. A long time favorite for hobby designers, freshwater pearls have always been an affordable substitute for the more luxurious and costly seawater pearls. As a result of their affordability, average lower qualities and abundance, freshwater pearls have long held a humble rank as compared to the other pearls. This position has however witnessed a change.

Since the past five years, those in the pearl industry have been privy with a most unusual and amazing advancement in the pearl market. They have witnessed the metamorphosis of freshwater pearl from amusing lighthearted trifles to ornaments of unbelievable importance. The finest of them now compete with the best of the seawater pearls. Freshwater pearls even excel to a status that was never considered conceivable for it. A bonus that comes with these pearls is that even though they are the only cultivated pearl totally comprised of solid nacre, they radiate the desired qualities of naturally formed old pearls and they do not become discolored or lackluster over time.

Freshwater pearls are now being considered the world's finest pearls. They possess shine, luster, shape similar to its saltwater cousins and a rare quality of emanating light from within. This light creates a soft prism like shine that hovers translucently on its surface that can truly be defined as a pearl's beauty in its truest form.

So, the next time you plan to invest some money on pearl necklaces or other pearl products, let it not be on Akoya pearls or the black pearls. Select one of the freshwater pearl necklaces and it would bring you much satisfaction and a true and rare visual treat.

To purchase Pearl Necklaces or Freshwater Pearls visit http://www.pearlsofjoy.com

Pearl Farming!

It has been said that somewhere in the 1900's, Kokichi Mikimoto grew a pearl successfully. And now, pearl farms are growing in number with the increase in the demand of pearls. Pearls can be cultivated in to these forms- Nucleated Cultivation and Non-Nucleated Cultivation also called as saltwater and freshwater pearls. While freshwater pearls are cultivated in China, saltwater pearls are predominantly found in Australia.

Saltwater pearls are cultured through the following steps. First the young oysters are collected from wild as till now there is no arrangement of conception of oysters on farms yet (with respect to Australia). These oysters are then transported in holding tanks with the aid of booms. On the ship only, the oysters are cleaned, counted, weighed and then placed in nylon net. Later they are shifted to a saltwater tank.

After some time, these oysters are opened by specialized technicians and their nucleus is inserted with a mantle piece from another oyster. This process is also known as seeding and after its completion they are returned to the nylon panels. These are then transported to farming bases usually found in high tide regions. Then the shells are balanced from culture systems and are taken care by farmers who are experts in husbandry. Usually in the months of June and September, these pearls are harvested from the oysters and collected and sorted as per their shape and size. The oysters are seeded again for a new cycle. The oldest oysters tend to produce biggest pearls as their nuclei grow. Also, a healthy oyster can be seeded up to 4 times.

The farming of freshwater pearls is almost similar but follows the following differences:-

• Unlike saltwater pearls, these are cultivated in mussels.
• Freshwater pearls are not farmed in Australia but China and Japan.

• During the seeding process, only mantle tissue is placed in to the mussel.
• The frequency of production of these mussels is more then saltwater ones, as they can undergo ten cycles.

• The harvest period is a little shorter.

Discount Pearl Jewelry - For Quality Pearls Now

When buying discount pearl jewelry you don’t have to compromise on quality as pearl jewelry comes in various price ranges. Some pearl jewelry stores hype their quality as AAAA quality pearls to jack up prices, where in fact, you may be getting A or AA quality pearls. There is no such AAAA quality grading set by any of the pearl jewelry industry either in US and abroad or by any laboratory or any institutions around the globe. It is simply false and it is a red flag.

First of all it is best to understand the type of pearls and the quality. Most of us perhaps already know that when it comes diamonds, Four C's - Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat are determining factors for the value of any diamond. Then how about pearls?

Value of pearls is determined by the followings:

1. Pearl Nacre - The iridescent internal layer of a mollusk shell. It is a natural substance oyster secretes to protect its sensitive flesh. Thicker layer commands more value because of its greater luster depth.

2. Pearl Color- Surface color or body color - Most irradiated or dyed pearls have surface colors. The natural pearl colors are white, black, champagne, green, gray, aqua and gold. Again within each category there are common overtones.

3. Pearl Size - Pearls are commonly measured in millimeters (mm) in their diameter. Large size pearls carry higher prices. Even 1 mm makes the difference.

4. Pearl Surface - If outer surface is very clean and have very few blemishes such pearls carry higher value.

6. Pearl Shape - The perfect round shape always have higher pearl values but near round or off round are very much common and sold everyday. Some other shapes are potato shape; drop tear shapes, pear shapes and irregular baroque shape pearls and coin shapes etc.

Luster is the hallmark for any pearl quality.

There are various types of discount pearl jewelry made with freshwater pearls, akoya pearls or seawater pearls, Tahitian pearls and South sea pearls. Again each of these types of pearls carry different prices depending upon their quality factors explained above. Some of the online pearl jewelry stores offer discount pearl jewelry at deep discounted prices for the simple reason that have more expertise in selecting high quality pearls and often procure these pearls at very competitive prices directly from the pearl farms.

http://www.pearlprincess.com/discount-pearl-jewelry.php

Kheri

Tahitian Pearl - Enhance Your Beauty

Since time immemorial, man had been on the quest for discovery of new things: things that make him feel good, things that make him look good, and things that make his life good. Various inventions and discoveries have been done to achieve these objectives which have yielded fruitful results and indeed man can lead a happy cheerful comfortable life. One such discovery that has lead to and enhancement in the beauty of man has been the discovery of a precious stone called pearls.

The most common image that flashes across our mind when we hear the word pearls is a shinning white necklace in endorsed by a beautiful girl with a cute smile. Yes white pearls were the most preferred of the lot but with change in time, a change of taste also happened in people and they started to look for different colors of pearls for themselves. The biggest rival to the classical white pearl is the BLACK pearl. Quiet contrasting in color, it is almost equivalent in beauty and styles as the white pearl. These black pearls are also called as Tahitian pearls. However Tahitian pearls are not just in the shades of black but also available in other exotic different colors like blue, gray and brown.

The Tahitian pearls are mostly saltwater pearls which are cultivated in the lagoons of French Polynesia . They can be natural or cultured depending upon the process used to cultivate them. The special black lipped oysters which have dark mantle edges and black colored mollusk is responsible for the Black pearls. During the growing process, a secure and stable environment is provided to the oysters to yield better formed pearls.

The ever growing demand of black pearls has led their artificial creation process wherein the black color is added to the water which results in black pearls. This is mostly done in the case of cultured pearls which are the main source of meeting the huge demand of pearls in the market.

What is better than seeing your loved ones have an over the moon feeling by wearing a black pearl necklace during the evening function, or see your daughter show her collection of pearl earrings with pride to her friends? The huge price tag they carry is a proof of the rare occurrence of the black pearls and equally high demand of it among the Celebes and rich people.

Tahitian Pearl provides an amazing look to the Pearl Jewelry Sets.

Guide On Buying Quality Pearls and Pearl Jewelry

When it comes to buying pearls, every one is looking for quality but quality in general comes with a price. First of all, it is important to know what quality is? There are four types of pearls such as freshwater pearls, akoya pearls or akoya seawater pearls; Tahitian pearls and South sea pearls and each of these types have different quality grades.

When pearls are finally taken out of oysters at their final growth stage, they are hand-sorted according to size, shape and the surface quality. Normally bigger the size, higher is the price, round shape command higher value than off round or potato shapes. Similarly surface of any pearl is noticed for its blemishes and spots. Very clean and without any blemishes, of course weight high in quality grading. Finally comes the nacre (the iridescent internal layer of a mollusk shell) and the luster. Thicker the nacre and high in luster, pearls typically valued high in value. Luster is the hallmark of any pearl type, as no woman would like to wear dull luster quality pearls. No matter if it is Japanese akoya pearls or Tahitian and South sea pearls, luster is the king here.

Although there is no institution or authority or organization who have laid any set standard of pearl grading but on the whole pearl jewelry industry over many years have been using pearl grading from A to AAA. Many jewelers or online stores claim to offer AAAA quality pearls, which are simply false. It is an advertisement trick to woo customers in making them believe that they are buying highest quality pearls, whereas in fact they may be getting lower quality pearls and paying higher price.

The most commonly used and internationally recognized grading system by the pearl jewelry industry in general is A to AAA to determine the true pearl value. In the early 20th Century, Kokichi Mikimoto of Japan had more or less led these grading standards. Strict adherence is often difficult when matching in a pearl strand. But this alphanumeric ranking alone does not have much of significance to a customer and often puzzling, as most importantly, one should look for clean surface, good lustrous quality and color. Identify the type of pearls you are interested in, such as Freshwater pearls, Akoya pearls, Tahitian pearls or South Sea pearls as each of these types come from different type of oysters family and are grown under varying climatic conditions and command different prices.

Buying high grade quality pearl jewelry no matter which type of pearls, gets your money's worth manifold overtime.

Kheri

Buy Quality Pearl Jewelry – Quality Par Excellence!

Know The Specifics About The Famous And Rare Akoya Pearls

When it comes to bestowing gifts to your lady love, nothing can surpass the charm of traditional pearl jewelry. Pearls have always been one of the most charming jewels among the other exotic designer items.

A pearl can be best described as an extremely hard and rounded object which is formed within a soft tissue of a living mollusk. Only those pearls which are judged to be of highest quality are deemed fit to be used in the business of jewelry design. However, there may be varying standards among all the high quality pearls which are used for the purpose of jewelry designing. These can be classified on the basis of their luster, color, size and lack of surface flaw. Out of all these aforementioned attributes, luster of a pearl is one of the factors which play an extremely important role in determining the true standard of this gem.

There are a variety of designs available in pearls, depending upon their size and shape, such as rounded, tear drop, semi-round and button pearls. One such famous category of pearls is Akoya pearls.

Akoya pearls are original Japanese cultured pearls, which are produced by a species of a small pearl oyster that goes by the name of Pinctada fucata martensii. Hence, it is a pretty tough task to even find an Akoya pearl which measures about 10mm in size and needless to say, few of the pearls from this species which actually manage to cross this mark are considered extremely rare and invaluable. However, with the advent of latest scientific technology in the field of pearl farming, a hybrid species of this mollusk is being used in both China and Japan . Over the last few decades, these two countries which are considered to be the chief manufacturers of Akoya pearls.

This hybrid species, which are capable of producing pearls which are much larger in size than their natural counterparts, is a mix of the original Japanese species and another Chinese species which goes by the name of Pinctada chemnitzii.

Although Japan has been renowned for its pearl production till now, the trend is slowly changing with China emerging as the new contender for accounting of the largest production of Akoya pearls. However, majority of the Akoya pearls produced by china are still imported to Japan for processing purposes.

For more information on Pearls visit sponsor site. Pearls of Joy is a leading online retailer for Akoya Pearls and many other things.

Guide to Buying Pearls

Once thought to be the tears of the Gods, pearls are one of nature's perfect gems. They form in oysters and mussels in response to an irritation such as a grain of sand. Layers of nacre are secreted around the grain of sand and eventually a pearl is formed. Pearls either form naturally or are cultured, in which an irritant such as a small bead is placed in an oyster by a human being. Pearls are found in both fresh and salt water.

Pearl quality is affected by several factors including its luster, that is, how the light reflects off the pearl, size, shape, color, and whether any blemishes are present. Pearls are sized in millimeters such as 7.0 mm, for example. If you are not sure whether the pearls are real, try the "grit" test. If the pearls feel gritty against your teeth, then they are real. If not, then they are plastic.

Certain pearls are associated with specific jewelry periods or styles. For example natural pearls, which are very rare, were used in jewelry prior to the 1920s. Freshwater pearls were featured prominently in the delicate styles typical of jewelry of the Arts and Crafts (ca. 1900-1915) period as well as Art Nouveau (ca. 1895-1905 ) and Edwardian or Belle Epoque jewelry. Parrures (necklace, bracelets, brooches, and pendant earrings en suite) made from tiny seed pearls were popular during the early Victorian period (ca. 1840-1865). Later Victorian jewelry styles also featured seed pearls primarily as accents.

Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater pearls are found in rivers in Scotland, Ireland, France, Austria, and the Mississippi River in the United States. They range in size from 3.0 to 7.0 mm in size, and are the least consistent in terms of size and shape. They are also the least expensive. Freshwater pearls are typically irregular in shape, round or oval to pear or button-shaped. The color ranges from white to cream, pale pink, silvery white or lavender.

Seed Pearls

Seed pearls are approximately the size of a small plant seed and are not cultivated specifically for use in jewelry. They form as an "extra" pearl in an oyster where another larger pearl has formed. They are typically whiter in color and range in size from 0.5 mm to 5 mm. (See Victorian Seed Pearl Jewelry).

Salt Water Cultured Pearls

Akoya pearls from Japan are the quintessential saltwater cultured pearl. Less expensive than natural pearls, they are the most common type of pearl used for modern necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Cultured pearls are more consistently symmetrical and round in shape, and are higher quality than freshwater pearls are. They are white in color, often with rose tones. Sizes range from 6.0 to 8.5 mm.

Tahitian and South Sea Pearls

Tahitian and South Sea cultured pearls are the highest quality pearls that are available. They range in size from 9.0 to 13 mm in size. Tahitian cultured pearls are a greenish, bluish, grayish or black color with iridescent or silvery tones. South Sea cultured pearls are white in color with silver or gold tones. Tahitian and South Sea cultured pearls are generally used for necklaces including pendants, earrings, and rings, or occasionally as accents in brooches or bracelets.

Heleigh Bostwick is a freelance writer whose work has been published in Collector's News, Antique Week, and Natural Family Online among others. Visit Marigold Lane (http://www.marigoldlane.com) for more information about jewelry and antiques.

Ruby Auctions

You can buy rubies at ruby auctions. It is easy to locate auctions using google.com and typing in ruby auctions. Probably eBay and www.bidz,com would be the most popular. Also look out for local auctions in your town or city. Scouring the newspapers can sometimes net you an auction at which rubies are up for sale.

Jewelery and gem auctions are usually the best.

Some important points to remember when buying rubies at auctions.

If you are buying from an auction where you can attend, you will likely need to register if you intend bidding. See if you can inspect the rubies that will be auctioned. There should be a certificate to accompany the ruby or rubies or at least some information about them. Quite often these are antique rubies and if so will be a good buy if the price is right. You only need to establish that they are true rubies and not some other lesser quality stone or not even a gem at all.

Firstly you should have some understanding of the value and worth of rubies and also what your bid is going to be. This will depend on your budget and how much you want the rubies of course.

When bidding it is better not to bid at all until the very last minute when all the bidding appears to be done. Provided the price is still within your budget you can then jump in with a bid and not start a bidding war (which only benefits the seller and the auction house).

Online auctions are different. You cannot see the rubies but only a picture of them. It is difficult to asses the quality of an ruby in this case and you would be more interest in seeing a certificate of authenticity which you could compare the ruby with if you did bid and win the bid.

Ensure the auction house has provision for misrepresentation of product and a protection system for the buyer. You don't want to bid and win an expensive ruby to find when it arrives that you have just got at best a poor quality ruby and at worse a worthless piece of glass.

Buying rubies at ruby auctions can be fun but there is no substitute for doing your due diligence.

Further information about rubies is available at http://allaboutrubies.o

Ruby - The Birthstone of July

Ruby is July’s birthstone and is known to have fire and emotion properties. Ruby is also known as being the anniversary gem stone for the 15th and 40th wedding anniversary. Ruby mining began over 2,500 years ago and is still found in areas such as Burma, Thailand, Kenya, Tanzania, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Cambodia, America, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

Ancient Hindus referred to rubies as the “Lord of Gems”. They are well known as one of the most cherished of all gems throughout all periods of history. The intense blazing glow of rubies is thought to have come from its internal eternal flame.

The ruby is an icon for many as everlasting love and is a combination of mineral Corundum which is called sapphire when it is any other color except red. Only the color red is referred to as ruby.

However there are many exquisite shades of red rubies ranging from an orangey red to a more purplish red. The most valued rubies are true red in color.

Rubies are known for being an enduring gemstone and are only surpassed by the magnificent diamond in regards to hardness. Ancient legends say that you should not make faces at a ruby in a museum or overlook it as it will grow dull if not properly appreciated.

Royalty selected rubies believing they could help protect them against evil by anticipating its arrival. Monarchs thought that rubies had the ability to darken when it sensed danger, and then return to its original color once the peril was gone.

The Balas Ruby is a special type of “spinel” which is a hard glassy mineral. Bohemian rubies are derived from rose quartz, while Siberian “rubies” are in reality red or pink tourmaline. Rubies are a truly magnificent gem stone and are great as a gift for anyone.

Published by http://www.MiltonGems.co.uk Find a stunning selection of July / ruby birthstone jewelery. Find more about birthstones here.

Value of Rubies, Part One

To understand the value of rubies it is useful to know something about them. This series of three articles is designed to do just that.

The ruby is a red gemstone that comes In a variety of red, red purples and red orange tones. It is a variety of the mineral corundum (or in other words aluminum oxide) and the red color actually comes from traces of chromium. The name is derived from 'ruber', the Latin for Red color. Rubies are a hard gemstone next only to diamonds the hardest in the world

In fact natural rubies are quite rare and most of the rubies you see today are synthetic. Natural rubies are expensive but synthetic ones can be manufactured for the mass market very cheaply. Nevertheless it is still considered one of the precious gems along side diamonds, emeralds and sapphires.

Natural rubies are mined in many countries of the world including Africa, Asia, Australia, and Greenland. They are most often found in Myanmar (Burma), Sri Lanka, Kenya, Madagascar, and Thailand, but they have also been found in the U.S. states of Montana, North Carolina and South Carolina. The Mogok Valley in Myanmar has produced some of the finest rubies but in recent years very few good rubies have been found there. In central Myanmar the area of Mong Hsu also produces rubies. The latest ruby deposit to be found in Myanmar is situated in Nam Ya. In 2002 rubies were found in the Waseges River area of Kenya. Rubies are being mined at Audilamena in northeastern Madagascar. Sometimes spinels are found along with rubies in the same rocks and are mistaken for rubies. However, fine red spinels may approach the average ruby in value

Of the hues of ruby, a medium toned red or red with slight purple is usually the most desired.

In grading or assessing the value of a ruby, the clarity of the stone and inclusions are taken into account as well as the weight and origin.. Burmese rubies have a deep red to slightly purplish red color. Thai rubies are of a brownish color, which is generally less attractive and therefore commands lower prices.

End of part one of Value of Rubies. part two is at http://allaboutrubies.org

Permission to use this article is granted provided the link to All About Rubies is included.

Michael Moore

Why We Love Rubies: Red Rubies For Wooing, Wining and Dining!

Ruby is the birthstone of those born on the month of July. Although rubies are known for its deep red color, rubies can also come in beautiful undertones of reddish purple. Because of the ruby’s ability to vary in dark and light shades according to light, ruby has found itself on top of women’s most favorite fashion accessory or fashion jewelry list for evening events and soirees.

Ruby is the red member of a mineral family called Corundum. Other colors of the Corundum mineral family include blue (sapphire), pink and many others. Rubies are mostly mined in Asia but Burmese rubies are among the world’s finest. Some quality rubies are also found in Afghanistan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. A ruby’s hardness is just below the hardness of diamond on the Moh’s scale. With diamond at 10, ruby is at 9.

But why do people love rubies? They are excellent gems for red, burgundy and magenta wedding motifs. They go with just about any design of wedding gown or formal dress. They compliment roses in the wedding. In the Eastern social tradition where the color red is often associated with joy and happiness, jewelries such as rings, earrings, necklace pendant in rubies are also popular as birthday presents and gifts to mothers, and wives and even dowries for daughters. In any culture, red rubies simply look seductive and sultry. In the Western tradition, red is often associated with love. Therefore, rubies make excellent declarations of love to your lady too!

The best part why people love rubies is that since rubies can be manufactured synthetically, any man who dreams of wooing his lady with a taste can now definitely do so without having to sacrifice his budget for wining and dining her too!

JB Anthony is the webmaster of http://www.fashionandfurniture.com. To choose from over 30,000 affordable fashion jewelry products and for links to affordable gift ideas, affordable fashion jewelry products, product information, product reviews, new fashion jewelry trends and updates, and affordable product links, please visit http://www.fashionandfurniture.com.

Ruby - The King of Gemstones

Ruby, one of the most valuable gemstone, belongs to the corundum family and is considered to be the King of Gemstones. Only the red variety of corundum is at liberty to command the title of Ruby, while all other varieties are categorized as Sapphires.

Rubies consist of aluminum oxide and chrome, the latter giving rubies their wonderful color. But chrome is also responsible for creating multitude of fissures and cracks inside the crystals. It is, therefore, rare to find rubies of considerably big sizes. The big sized rarity of rubies is almost always used as a solitaire gemstone rings to mark its significance.

Some rubies display a splendid and glorious silky shine called the "silk" of the gemstone which is caused by the fine needles of rutile. Sometimes the rutile forms a star-shaped deposit within the ruby causing a mesmerizing light effect called asterism. Such rubies are called Star- Rubies and are precious rarities.

By far, the use of ruby in the gemstone jewelry industry was often witnessed in gemstone rings and pendants. The popularity of rubies in gemstone earrings is also gaining momentum in recent times.

The red of the rubies is a hot, passionate and powerful color. Rubies are considered as a perfect way to expresses compassionate and powerful feelings. Engagement Rings set in rubies are, therefore, thought to symbolize passionate love.

The value of a ruby depends on its color and attractiveness of the color. Rubies fall into various categories depending on their color and value. The top most category being the "Burmese Ruby". It does not necessarily mean that the gemstone is of Burmese origin; it is merely an indication of a rich, full red with slightly bluish hue of the concerned ruby, which is a peculiarity of the stones from the famous deposits of Burma, now Myanmar. The color is sometimes referred to as "pigeon-blood-red".

Other qualities that are determinants of the value of a ruby are cut, clarity and size, similar to that of other gemstones.

I am Chris Columbus, 27 years old expert in jewelry and diamonds. Check out My favorite Gemstone Jewelry, Ruby Jewelry from http://www.b2cjewels.com

Cultured Pearls - Nature Assisted By Human Hands

All pearls form the same way. An irritant of some sort enters into a mollusk's shell and lodges in its body. To combat the irritation, the mollusk secretes a substance called nacre around the irritant to isolate it. It is this nacre that is applied layer upon layer by the mollusk that forms a pearl.

All pearls up until the beginnings of culturing in the early 20th century were found naturally in nature. Nature still does the work even with cultured pearls, but the irritant is introduced by human hands and the mollusks used to grow the pearl are tended in controlled environments. Cultured pearls are grown in salt water and fresh water:

Saltwater cultured pearls are grown in oysters. Only one pearl is grown per oyster, thus they are more expensive than fresh water pearls. It takes over two years for the oysters to lay enough layers of nacre around the irritant to get a good harvest. Akoya pearls from Japan are arguably the most popular type of salt water pearls, and were the first type of pearl to be cultivated in the early 1920's. They are most usually white with faint rose colored overtones. Other countries that produce cultured pearls are Burma, Philippines, Thailand, Australia and Tahiti. Cultured saltwater pearls are most often white, but also can be cream, pink, yellow, rose, silver, gray and black.

Freshwater pearls are grown in mussels. Twenty or more pearls can be harvested from each mussel, and the time needed to produce a good harvest is less than the saltwater variety. They are generally less expensive than saltwater pearls. Soon after they started saltwater culturing, the Japanese experimented with freshwater culturing. This was done at Lake Biwa in Japan and resulted in pearls that rivaled the saltwater variety, and these pearls appeared in the 1930's. Lake Biwa freshwater pearls were the industry standard until the lake became so polluted in the 1980's that it could no longer be used for pearl farming. China then took up freshwater pearl farming, and after many years of experimenting and experience they became the main producers of high quality freshwater pearls.

While there is no standardized system for grading saltwater or freshwater pearls, value is determined by size, shape, color, luster and surface. Before cultivation and farming, pearls were owned only by the very wealthy. Now their beauty is more available and affordable for all to enjoy.

Alan Beggerow along with his wife Cathleen owns and operates Cathleen's Bargain Basement, an online business that offers custom made apparel and hand crafted teddy bears by Cathleen, and also offers a selection of jewelry, home decor, Asian motif items, and much more. Visit them at http://www.cathleensbargainbasement.com

Alan is also a free lance writer. For further examples of his writings, visit his political and current events blog Random Thoughts at http://www.winkle52.blogspot.com

Pearls, Pretty and Pink - How Pearls Are Valued

The value of cultured pearls is based on five factors.

Cleanliness refers to the skin of the pearl and any imperfections. There may be tiny blisters, irregularities or bumps. Since the pearl was created naturally by a biological animal some imperfections are to be expected. Large irregularities devalue the pearl significantly. If there is only a modest blemish it may be hidden by the setting of the pearl. Or if the pearl is in a necklace or bracelet the drill hole may hide the imperfection.

Shapes in pearls comes in three varieties, round, baroque and symmetrical. The rounder, or more spherical, the pearl the more valuable. Symmetrical pearls can be flattened but evenly shaped, think of a button. Baroque means any pearl that didn't make the grade for symmetrical. Baroque are the most common shape of pearls and a the least expensive. Pearls can't be cut to shape like gemstones, what you see is what you have to work with.

Size matters. Yes it's the bigger the better for pearls. Size is partially determine by the size of the mollusk (oyster), how big the nucleus or seed is, and how long that nucleus has been in the mollusk being covered with nacre, the pearly substance. Tahitian pearls, or South Seas pearls are the biggest because the mollusk grows up to 12 inches in diameter.

Color - the most valuable pearls, with the exception of South Sea black pearls, have a body tone of pure white with an overtone of rose. The more cream colored the pearl, meaning it has tints of yellow, the less valuable. South Sea pearls are valued different because they have a dark body tone overlaid with rainbow colors. These pearls also come in white and gold.

Luster is the reflective glowing attribute of pearls. They're not sparkly like diamonds or colored gemstones, nor do they glisten like opals. When you look at a pearl there is an iridescent factor like a rainbow being reflected back at you. This is called orient. High luster and orient means you have a valuable pearl.

While this has nothing to do with value, don't go looking pearls when you're shucking oysters for dinner. Pearl oysters are non edible.

Dee Power is the author of several nonfiction books and loves gold, silver and gemstones jewelry
http://www.gold-silver-gemstones-jewelry.blogspot.com

The Comeback of Pearl Jewelry

The classic elegance and luster of pearls has become more of a curse than a blessing. They may be considered lovely jewelry but are usually relegated into the background, in stuffy events like weddings, christenings and coming out balls. Pearl necklaces have sometimes been equated with "squares", spinster aunts, grandmothers and the old South. Pearls have had a hard time competing with more edgy jewelry like the luscious and high-class gemstones like diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and even semi-precious stones like opal and garnet.

Pearls have therefore become remnants of the past than beautiful gems that can be used as modern accessories. That has changed. Pearls have made a huge comeback into the modern scene just a few years ago. They did not really leave the fashion world but only had limited and specialized use. Today, pearls can be found in almost all kinds of fashion-related items.

The reason for this is the accessibility of pearls in the form of freshwater pearls. Japan has started this industry in the 1920s by culturing pearls using freshwater mussels. However, it has declined production but China has claimed the production of cultured pearls because of the high demand for them.

Donor mussels are inserted with irritants that form the pearls and some of these mussels can produce up to 40 freshwater pearls. The pearls are not as high-quality as the ones made naturally but the color and shape can be controlled and some freshwater pearls can be breathtakingly beautiful as natural ones.

A pearl strand belonging to Mary, Queen of Scots dating from 1550 is made of freshwater pearls. Scotland has been cultivating freshwater pearls, as well as North America but the extinction of almost 35 species of mussels in Europe and America has left Asia with this booming industry.

Because of its reentry into the world of edgy fashion, more and more pearl companies are striving to provide jewelry ideas for the modern woman. There are many ways that freshwater pearls can be used and integrated into a woman fashion sense. They can be used as accessories. Pearl jewelry today tries to incorporate contemporary design and color into pearl necklaces. The classic pearl necklace and pearl choker has given way to long strands of irregularly shaped freshwater pearls in all sizes and colors. They can be paired with casual wear such as jeans, blouses and short dresses.

Pearl bracelets and pearl earrings come in magnificent colors such as red, turquoise and canary yellow that makes any outfit pop. Other jewelry options for pearls include adding beads made of semi-precious stones or crystals.

Pearls have dominated all aspects of the jewelry trade. Even the mother-of-pearl shell of mollusks is used for inlay work on bracelets with freshwater pearls as accentuating items. Pendants for necklaces and rings are now also popularly made of freshwater pearls. Even younger people have seen the flexibility and the touch of beauty that pearls give to an otherwise ordinary outfit and include these accessories while shopping.

Office women rely on pearl necklaces to give them that polished corporate look. Jewelry designers are coming up with more and more ideas for pearls. Edgy and contemporary jewelry designs have freshwater pearls in them, either as the main piece or an accentuating item. Indeed, pearls are here to stay.

For more fashionable styles of freshwater pearls, pearl necklace, pearl earrings and other pearl jewelry, visit YouPearl Jewelry at http://www.youpearl.com

Pearl Shopping - How To Go About It?

Pearls have been used in designing of alluring jewelry. These were first used as a souvenir to a Chinese emperor. At that time, pearls were well thought-out to be very precious. Usually, the royal families owned beautiful pearl jewelry such as pearl bracelets and pearl necklaces. Rather than, their respective uses in jewelry's and accessories, pearls were also embedded in royal crowns.

In recent times, there has been a dramatic boost in pearl growth. This has resulted in the growth of cultivated pearls, which have bestowed a new significance, as well as, look to the pearl jewelry. It's no more a Herculean task to search for cultured pearls within the economical limits.

Pearl Bracelets can be availed in different sizes, shapes, colors and even with different types of pearls embedded in it. If you are thinking to buy pearl jewelry, subsequently there are few things which you must consider before making a purchase, such as, its shape, type, color and style.

1. Type of pearls:

* If you are looking for an assortment in shapes as well as colors, then freshwater pearls are the best alternatives for you. Though, they lack the considerable luster or shine like the sea water pearls.

• Akoya pearls originated from Japan . In addition to it, they can be compared to freshwater pearls. They are symmetrical with definite shape and sizes. They also have their inherited charm and luster to compete with other varieties.

• Australian Sea pearls and Tahitian pearls are bigger in size as well as expense.

2. Quality of pearls:

Quality of pearl is determined by its shape, luster, size as well as the pearl surface. The most exceptional pearls are those with big size, luster, smooth surface and edges.

• Choosing the right style:

Before purchasing the pearl, do make sure that it complements with your style, individuality and age. For example, those who prefer pearls with their professional outfits should choose smaller and elegant pearls. It would prevent the unnecessary exaggeration of one's personality.

You can wear pearl jewelry anywhere and anytime, round the clock and all the seasons. But it is necessary to take proper care of pearl jewelry to enhance your usage.

Freshwater Pearls are attractive, trendy and stylish and suitable for every occasion. Their beautiful colors and shapes are a favorite for Pearl Jewelry.

Pearl Bridal Necklace Jewelry Is Perfect For Any Woman

It is hard to find jewelry that is as beautiful and elegant for a bride to wear on her wedding day as pearl bridal jewelry. There is something pure about the color of pearls that make them perfect for any woman. The best part about pearl bridal jewelry is that it will compliment any traditional wedding theme.

Keep in mind that pearl bridal necklaces and accessories are not only limited to the bride. You can even wear bridal jewelry if you are a bridesmaid or flower girl. It is so popular for the bridal party to wear pearl jewelry that there are some jewelry dealers who specifically sell pearl earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and tiaras for them.

The most popular pearl bridal jewelry includes pearl earrings along with a pearl necklace to accentuate the pearls in their wedding gown. A beautiful pearl necklace can be paired with pearl cluster earrings as well as pearl hoops. A popular choice for many women today is a simple silver necklace with a single pearl pendant.

There are many types of pearl necklace jewelry varieties to choose from including authentic pearls, cultured pearls, and simulated pearls. Of course natural pearls will cost much more than the simulated types. You can find natural pearls that come in colors that range from a creamy white, pink, grey, iridescent, and even black.

When you are investing in natural pearls to wear on your wedding day the bride should also try on her wedding dress to make certain that the color of the pearls go perfectly with the dress. You will find that cultured pearls are refined to be more even toned. The majority of cultured pearls come in creamy colors which give it a much lighter appeal. The simulated pearls are artificial so you will be able to find some that look very natural while others are obviously not.

Written by Toni Amerson. Find more information on Pearl jewelry as well as Bridal Jewelry.

3 Pearl Options Every Bride Should Know About

In keeping with themes of purity and innocence, pearls are a conventional wedding accessory, both for the bridal party and the bride herself. Lest that leave the bride-to-be feeling deprived of creative options, the following list of pearl variations offers a means of personalizing a long-time tradition.

Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater pearls are the most common alternative to basic pearls and are famous for their diversity in terms of size, shape and color. Perhaps the best feature of the freshwater pearl is that it is quite accessible and so, despite its comparable beauty, is less expensive than a saltwater pearl. Freshwater pearls are usually polished to expose their colors and subtle metallic overtones and can be found in every tone from slightly yellow to pink to glistening black. Dyeing freshwater pearls is common practice and makes for consistent, striking pieces to be included together on a single piece of jewelry.

Keishi Pearls

Keishi pearls are the most unusual pearl you will see, due to their distinctive, uneven contours. Like the freshwater pearl, they come in an assortment of shapes and sizes, but the Keishi pearl is often flat or dimpled and rarely round, resulting in unique surfaces from which to reflect the light. When strung together, Keishi Pearls combine to create a line of exquisite texture and variety.

Coin Pearl

A variety of the freshwater pearl, the Coin Pearl looks just like its name - circular and flat like a disk, but with rounded edges. Coin pearls make great pendants, earring drops and bracelet charms. Like all pearls, the coin pearl can come in almost any color, but is most often found in the classic white. We suggest flanking or alternating the Coin Pearl with small, color-rich gemstones for a subtle match to your wedding's color theme.

Cathy Pitts founded Dasha Boutique, which features customizable, handmade jewelry, in 2003. Go to http://www.DashaBoutique.com today to see artisan-crafted designs that can be tailored to specific stone, metal and size preferences. Orders ship in 2-3 business days.

Look Stunning in Rice Pearl Necklaces

Pearls have been the queen of jewelry for centuries. Pearl jewelry has been, is and will always be a part of every woman's jewelry collection. Pearls accessorize any outfit and are ideal for any occasion.

Pearl jewelry can be worn with formal outfits, casuals, picnic wear, beach wear, party wear, weddings, etc. There is no end to the list. Pearls are so versatile that they can be worn by children, teens, young women and older women. Pearl jewelry adds charm and elegance to the wearer.

There are a variety of sizes, shapes and colors of pearls available today. While pearls can be natural they can be cultured too. Freshwater pearls are popular choice for many. Rice pearls are the variety of pearls which are rice or oval shaped. They are strung together with a hole made through their centre.

Rice pearls are available in different shades. They can therefore be matched to any color dress. Our range of rice pearls are strung together by our expert craftsmen and clasped with 14k yellow gold.

Rice pearl necklaces can be custom made to any size. These necklaces can be single, double, triple or even four strands depending on the customer's preference. Since the size of rice pearls are usually small, rice pearl necklaces in three or four strands will look elegant.

Different color pearls can also be combined to make these necklaces which can be matched or contrasted to a variety of outfits. Choose the right shade of rice pearl necklace and add this precious jewelry to your valuable collection of pearls.

Rice pearl necklaces can add color and grandeur to your outfits. Go on. Choose from a wide range of rice pearl necklaces available with us or give us your own ideals to enable us to create wonderful necklaces to your satisfaction.

Rice pearls: http://www.orientalpearls.net/Rice_or_Oval_Pearls.html

Akoya Pearls at Sale Price Part One

This is part one of a two part series on Akoya Pearls at Sale Price.

Akoya pearls are available at sale prices but you do need to be careful and ensure you are actually getting what you pay for.

Many sites online promote akoya pearls at massively reduced prices and many are genuine but how can you know?

First let's look at what an akoya pearl is.

An Akoya Pearl is a Japanese cultivated pearl from the salt water akoya-gai oyster. These are a speciality of Japanese Pearl Farms.

Pearls were first cultivated in the 1920s and are considered a high quality pearl. They are used for necklaces, earrings, pendants and bracelets as well as in rings. Invariably the setting is of a high quality precious metal such as platinum or 18 karat or more white or yellow gold.

Akoya pearls generally have fewer blemishes and flaws than other pearls and they have a beautiful deep luster.

As they are cultivated, akoya pearls will be more round and perfectly shaped than other types of pearls. This makes them ideal for necklaces and bracelets where the shape is very important. Having a number of pearls on one string, it is important that the size and shape match well to provide a good quality necklace or bracelet.

Sometimes you can get akoya pearls at a sale price but it is important to know what are genuine and what are not.

In part two at http://allaboutpearls.org we will look at how to ensure you are getting good quality genuine akoya pearls.

End of part one of a two part series on Akoya Pearls at Sale Price.

Permission to use this article is granted provided the link to All About Pearls is included
Michael Moore

Info on Cultured Pearls - Cultured Pearl Jewelry

Unlike other gems that are cut, shaped and polished to bring color brilliance and shine, pearls are natural gems. Basically, pearl is a natural product of an oyster’s body defense mechanism. They grow inside their mother oysters with a shimmering iridescence, luster and soft inner glow that are unlike in any other gem on this earth. Natural pearls grow naturally in oysters living at sea without the human intervention. When any irritant or a parasite enters inside an oyster or mollusk then the process of natural coating begins with layer upon layer of nacre inside the oyster.

Natural pearls are rarely found now whereas cultured pearls are very real and genuine. These cultured pearls are formed with the human help when a nucleus is implanted inside the oyster and then the process of coating begins with layers upon layers of iridescent substance called nacre and it takes about 2-5 years to form a complete pearl depending upon techniques and where pearls are grown, sea or rivers among other conditions. Reflection and refraction from the translucent layers truly determines the unique luster quality of pearls. The display of iridescence in pearls is result of overlapping of successive layers.

Difference in cultured and natural pearls can’t be made with naked eyes; however, distinction becomes very prominent when seen through x-rays. Cultured pearls are used in pearl jewelry as well as in cosmetics. One should also be careful about imitation pearls. Cultured pearls are generally in white colors but can be colored-enhanced in various colors.

All the pearls sold in USA and in other countries around the world are cultured pearls and are known by various names such as freshwater pearls, akoya seawater pearls etc. Freshwater pearls are generally grown in ponds, lakes or rivers whereas seawater pearls are grown under seawaters. Freshwater pearls are known by freshwater pearls name only and seawater cultured pearls go by different names such as Akoya, Tahitian and South Seawater pearls depending upon the bivalve mollusks types producing them. No matter freshwater or seawater pearls, quality and price again depend upon the size, shape, luster, color and surface etc.

Cultured pearls are now available in high lustrous quality and much lower prices than ever before.

Buy Cultured Pearl Jewelry - Quality Par Excellence!

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The Freshwater Pearls

Pearls, which are grown from fresh water mussels in bays, lakes and rivers, are known as freshwater pearls. The largest producer of freshwater pearls in the world is China and next follows Japan and United States. The first freshwater cultured pearl farming was executed in U.S by John Latendresse in 1963 in Tennessee.

There are 20 different species from the family called 'Unionidae' of fresh water pearls, which are harvested for commercial purpose every year. Up to 40 to 50 pearls are produced from a single mussel.

Freshwater pearls have different shapes. The shapes of cultured pearls are determined by the quality of water, as well as, the shape of nucleus and its position in the mussel. You would find beautiful Freshwater pearls, which are round in shape and have a high lustrous quality.

Freshwater pearls are cheaper in cost and also have less quality than salt water cultured pearls due to its unique shape, size and color. However, high qualities pearls are round in shape and also are as good as salt-water cultured pearls. There are many color varieties of freshwater pearl such as pink, white, cream and black etc. Among them, white color pearl is the most common pearl and expensive whereas black pearl is gaining its popularity in the field of fashion and design.

Moreover, white pearl though, expensive are considered as classic and traditional whereas black pearls with its deep color are considered as dramatically modern. Some of the factors that result in freshwater pearls to have different types of color are the quality of water and the position of the shell in the mussel. Some pearls are artificially dyed in different colors with the development in the field of fashions and styles.

High quality freshwater pearls are no doubt rare, exotic and flawless in their construction. With its luster, shine and shape like a saltwater pearl, freshwater pearls have a distinguishing character rarely found in any other cultured pearls.

One can find these pearls sold in the market under different brand names. There are various extra ordinary developments happening in the pearl market these days. Freshwater pearls have changed their stature incredibly in fashions and designs. They never wear out of time, as they are truly cultured and composed solidly of nacre in freshwater mussel.

Pearls of Joy is a leading online retailer provides detailed about Pearl Jewelry, Freshwater Pearls and more

Fair Trade and Pearls in the U.S.

Guides for Retailers

The regulations about marketing pearls are listed in the FTC’s Guides for the Jewelry, Precious Metals, and Pewter Industries. The guide is very specific about what retailers should call a pearl. Gems that are created when a mollusk is nucleated must be called “cultured pearls.” “Imitation pearls” are any product that is designed to look like a pearl. “Seed pearls” are a small pearl that measures less than 2 mm.

The FTC goes into specifics to help make sure consumers are protected from nuances between the differences in pearls and pearl products. “Cultured” or “cultivated” must always be used to describe cultured pearls.

Imitation pearls must be referred to as “simulated,” “artificial” or “imitation.” Terms like “faux pearl,” “mother of pearl” or “fashion pearl” cannot be used to describe an imitation pearl. The imitations also cannot be referred to as “part-cultured” or any other term that might mislead customers into believing they are cultured pearls. Imitations cannot be described as “real,” “precious” or “genuine.” They also cannot be described as “synthetic.”

More Guidelines

Only saltwater cultured pearls can be referred to as “Oriental pearls.” Any pearl described as South Sea pearls have to be from the areas generally known for that variety. Biwa cultured pearls have to be from lakes or rivers in Japan, but not necessarily Lake Biwa.

Because to be candidates for faceting the pearls have to be perfectly unblemished, perfectly round and thick nacre, the value of faceted pearls is double of a similar-quality pearl. Demand is particularly high in the United States.

Jewelers are required to tell consumers if a pearl product has been treated or dyed if it changes the value of the pearl, the pearl requires special care or if the treatment may not be permanent. That being said, most cultured pearls do undergo some sort of treatment before they hit the retail market.

More Guidelines

When choosing a retailer, consumers should be sure that they are following the FTC guidelines. Check to see if the pearls are referred to as “cultured pearls” Virtually every piece of pearl jewelry today is made from cultured pearls. If the retailer sells imitation pearls as well, be sure they are marked accordingly.

Author: Kevin Canning
Pearls Of Joy is the leading online retailor of pearl necklaces, pearl earrings and black pearls.

Pearls For Every Occasion

A pearl necklace or bracelet is a fine piece of jewelry that looks good for almost any occasion. Formal functions are ideally suited to the wearing of pearls and no woman's jewelry collection should be considered complete without them.

Pearls are classified by their origins (or the way they were grown) and their shapes. Based on their origins, pearls are either natural or cultured. Most of the pearls today are cultured. Both the natural and the cultured pearls grew inside the freshwater or saltwater mollusks like oysters or clams when a foreign object or particle gets inside the shell. The foreign particle causes the mollusk to produce nacre, the material that gives pearls their smooth, shiny appearance. Nacre coats the particle and the coating becomes thicker over time. In the formation of natural pearls, the foreign particle accidentally enters the mollusks’ shell while in the case of the cultured pearls, the foreign particle is intentionally implanted on live mollusks which are then returned to the water where the pearls will grow into the desired sizes. Pearl culture started in Japan.

In terms of shape, pearls are mainly classified as:

Spherical pearls, which are almost round, are the most valued.

Symmetrical pearls, which are not round, but exhibits symmetry in whatever shapes are formed.

Baroque pearls, which are irregularly shaped and their value depends on the beauty and uniqueness of the shape.

Since nature more or less controls the resulting shape, there are other kinds of less known shapes.

Whatever the type of pearl jewelry you have, be sure to realise that you will never regret your decision to acquire them and that, provided you look after them properly, you should have many years pleasure from wearing them.

Eric Hartwell oversees "The World's Best Homepage" intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on jewelry and visit our associated site Jewelry To Love.

Discount Pearls – Quality Par Excellence

Discount pearls - pearl jewelry comes in various types, sizes, colors and shapes and each piece of pearl jewelry comes with different price tags. The most affordable are freshwater pearl jewelry and then comes the akoya pearls. Some jewelry boutiques or online pearl jewelry stores may jack up the quality as AAAA but in fact you may be paying higher price for a lower quality grade pearls. There are no such AAAA grading among pearl jewelers in the pearl industry. It is simply false. Buying discount pearls doesn’t mean compromising on quality. Go with reliable quality pearl jewelry store and many offer the most genuine prices and exceptional high quality on these discount pearls.

Many online pearl jewelry stores have long-term relationship with pearl farms – the original source and procure the best and the finest superb quality pearls directly from them and pass on these savings to customers. Not only you get good quality pearls but also at much affordable prices with 100% satisfaction and many offers up to 90 days money back guarantee. Buying complete pearl jewelry set - pearl earrings, pearl necklace, and pearl bracelet get you extra savings plus you save money on shipping and handling.

Since pearl jewelry has always been in fashion and pearl necklace is very classic and traditional, it’s hard not to find any pearl jewelry in any woman’s jewelry collection. Women love pearls. In many families it is customary to give pearl jewelry designed with lustrous discount pearls – cultured pearls to brides or hand over as pearl wedding gifts. Pearls have always been considered the blessing gifts. Because of pearl’s natural beauty and lustrous appeal, pearl jewelry as a gift can be worn for many years and passed on from generation to generation.

All discount pearls sold in U.S and other international markets are cultured pearls. Natural pearls are rarity. These discount cultured pearls have very fancy names such as Freshwater pearls, Akoya pearls – Japanese akoya pearls or Seawater pearls, Tahitian pearls and South sea pearls. Depending upon the type of cultured pearls, each pearl category type commands different prices. Luster is the key factor when choosing discount pearls, cultured pearls.

Kheri

http://www.pearlprincess.com/discount-pearls.php

Charm of Exotic Black Pearls - Black Pearl Jewelry

Although Pearls are synonymous with white colors but natural black color pearls produced by the Black-Lipped Oysters or Pinctada margaritifera are very much popular and most sought after now. Natural black pearls have metallic look and are farmed in Tahitian Island and other neighboring French Polynesian islands. Before the days of cultured pearls, black pearls were quite rare and carried higher value. White pearl oysters rarely produced natural black pearls, and black pearl oysters rarely produced any natural pearls at all.

Ever since the pearl farms had started using pearl culturing techniques, there has been tremendous growth in production of all types of pearls such as freshwater pearls, akoya pearls, Tahitian pearls and south sea pearls. The black pearl oysters found in Tahiti and many other Pacific Island areas are used for producing black cultured pearls. Seawater in Tahiti areas is very pristine and favorable to grow black pearls in these oysters. Tahiti’s government applies series of measures throughout the year aimed at improving the quality of exported pearls. It has a key role in ushering the sale and stabilizing the sale while controlling the quality of Tahitian pearls.

Black pearls have the same elegance as white pearls but they have that certain exquisiteness and exotic touch that make them simply irresistible. Since late 80’s, there has been a tremendous jump in Tahitian black pearls sale. In 2006, Japan, Hong Kong and U.S were the three major players in buying large quantity of Tahitian pearls to meet the ever-growing demand.

Tahitian black pearls are used in pearl necklaces, pearl earrings and pearl pendants etc. Black Tahitian pearl jewelry look very gorgeous and exotic as its radiant lustrous appeal makes it more attractive. Black pearl jewelry is also made from freshwater pearls and akoya pearls and are very much affordable. Pearls are often color-enhanced in many colors such as peach, lavender, pink and black etc to meet ongoing demands in the pearl jewelry industry. Women wear all colors of pearl jewelry and black pearls always have unique appeal. One is sure to fall in love with the exotic flair of black pearls.

Buy most lustrous black pearl jewelry - Quality Par Excellence

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Pink Pearl Earrings

Pink or rose tinted pearl earrings are popular because the tint is deemed very feminine and desirable. Pink pearl earrings come in a myriad of styles and designs.

Pearl earrings are made from different kinds of cultured pearls such as Akoya, Tahitian, South Sea or Chinese freshwater, to name a few. The natural hues of the pearls are the result of the kind of oyster it is cultivated in.

The temperature and condition of the water (freshwater or saltwater. for example) will also determine the dominant color of pearls. The beauty of this gem lies in the fact that it has lucent overtones that are evident over the top of the pearl's main body shade. These overtones tend to add depth to the main body color, giving the pearl a certain glow and intensity.

Most pink pearls are actually white with rose tints. These pearls are used to make pearl earrings. The pinker the natural shade of the pearl used to make earrings, the more expensive the earrings. Pink pearls can also have various overtones ranging from peach to lavender. Pink pearl earrings are believed to be a very desirable alternative to typical white pearls.

Pink pearls have the ability to set off different skin tones and clothing styles. Pink pearls are available in necklaces, rings and bracelets, but the most sought after piece of pink pearl jewelry are earrings. Dangling pink pearl earrings are especially popular worn traditionally by many brides. While necklaces provide a breathtaking mix of shades and colors, earrings are usually composed of a maximum of two pearls (if moderate in size) or four pearls (if tiny) all of the same shade of pink.

Pearl Earrings provides detailed information on Pearl Earrings, Pink Pearl Earrings, Cultured Pearl Earrings, Black Pearl Earrings and more. Pearl Earrings is affiliated with Freshwater Pearl Necklaces.

White Pearls - Always Classic, Always In Fashion

During ancient times and even today in our present modern era, it is a common belief among many that a gift of white pearls ensured the happiness of married couples. It will be a big surprise not to find a single woman not wearing pearl jewelry in any weddings. Brides and bridesmaids love white pearl jewelry and white pearls are the perfect wedding or anniversary gifts.

For some good reasons, white pearls are the favorite of women in the U.S and Europe. In many Asian and middle-eastern countries, gold jewelry is the preferred choice during wedding times or for investment and social esteem. Cultures and traditions often define fashion and trend when it comes to weddings and choosing perfect wedding jewelry or gifts.

White pearls are very famous for its natural luster and purity. The iridescence that some pearls display is caused by the overlapping of successive layers in a pearl, which breaks up light falling on the surface. White pearls are predominately of freshwater pearls and akoya pearls types. White pearls compliment all styles and color of dresses from casual to classy. High quality white pearls are very round in shapes and have perfect clean surfaces.

When choosing for quality white pearls, it is important to keep in mind the nacre thickness, luster, surface texture, shape and size etc. Before the days of cultured pearls, all natural pearls were generally of white colors with a creamy or pinkish tinge. White pearls could have one or more overtones. White pearls can also be colored enhanced with peach, lavender, yellow, green, blue, brown, purple, or black etc. White pearls have become very affordable now.

White pearls are mostly available in freshwater pearls and akoya pearls or akoya seawater pearls type. Many celebrities or in Hollywood movies one often finds female movie stars wearing lustrous white pearls and it is very common to find working women wearing white pearl jewelry at work places. Women look very elegant and graceful wearing white pearls around their necklines. High quality pearl jewelry designed with lustrous white pearls are passed on from generation to generation and for some it is a family tradition.

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Which Pearl-Size Jewelry Is Better Than Others?

All the pearls available and sold in the market are all cultured pearls and grow naturally in oysters. We humans have no control over its growth but generally longer the period it takes to harvest, oysters tend to grow larger sizes. But its not the thumb rule. Their harvesting time varies from 2 to 5 years. Harvestors keep checking the oysters many times during its growth period. There are various types of pearls, Fresh water pearls, Akoya sea water pearls, South sea water pearls and Tahitian pearls.

Pearls are measured in millimeters thru diameters. Pearls come in various sizes generally from 3mm to 24mm but the most popular sizes are between 6mm to 8mm. Lower sizes does not mean they are always cheaper than the large ones because a very good quality small size pearl may command a higher price than the lower quality of 8mm or more. Sizes 6mm-7mm are generally preferred by young girls and are very popular. Sizes 7mm-8mm are equally popular in demand and are preferred choice by many working women and professionals alike.

Size 8mm or bigger usually are in higher price range and very good choice for career women and go also well with evening gears. But again, it all depends upon individual choice, taste, style and above all affordability. Size alone is never a sole factor when it comes to buying. The color, quality and the type of pearls such as Freshwater pearls, Japanese Akoya seawater pearls, Tahitian pearls or South Sea pearls also are other important considerations.

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Colored Pearls - Classic Feminine Ornament

Colored pearls are found in natural as well as cultured pearls and in seawater and freshwater as well. Usually pearls are associated with white color, but some white pearls have overtone colors. Pink overtone is rare and so expensive too. You will find cream, silver, golden, mauve, orange etc. colours in pearl collection. Freshwater pearls can be grown in a variety of colors. Pearls are also found in dark colors like a dark yellow color pearl is very rare to be found and thus valuable. Freshwater pearls are smaller in size and are found in different shapes.

While choosing colored pearls their value is judged by the tone of the color. By referring to the tone of the colour it means the intensity of it, that is the value varies from light to dark. Large round spherical pearls are very rarely found and are highly valued too. Freshwater pearls offer a variety of pearls and make beautiful jewelry. The most remarkable feature of the freshwater pearls is that they are affordable. Black pearls are also very much liked and quite expensive too.

Initially pearl was considered as an asset of the rich and famous but it is finding popularity just because of its affordability. Possessing a pearl jewelry is a matter of pride for women from ancient times. Generally the color ranges in shades of pink, orange and yellow and of course black. With the increase in demand, pearls are even dyed now so that the customer has the pearl of his own choice of color.

Colored pearls are popular generally with young and those who like to wear pearl jewelry on special occasion to enhance their beauty. Colored pearls can be carried off very gracefully with the type of outfit chosen to wear along with it. Dark colored pearls are associated with the bold and extrovert women while light colored pearl reflects the woman to be soft and delicate.

Black Tahitian Pearls - Cultured Or Natural?

Pearls have been one of the best pieces of natural beauty from time immemorial. Apart from their natural counterparts, there is yet another category of pearls which is gaining the popularity among the masses. These cultured pearls can easily be identified from natural pearls by carrying out an X-ray examination.

The cultured pearls can be of either types i.e. nucleated or tissue nucleated cultured pearls . The nucleated variety of cultured pearls are believed to be pre-formed as they depict characteristics where they tend to follow the shape of the shell nucleus in which they are originally implanted.

Yet another method, through which a nucleated cultured pearl can be differentiated from a natural pearl, is by studying their different structure. A cultured pearl differs immensely in respect of its structure from a natural pearl.

There is a wide range of cultured pearls available in the market today. Among these the most popular are the Tahitian pearls , which are more popularly known as black pearls. Black pearls are immensely favored by the people because of their rarity as their mass production is not possible. The Tahitian pearls derive their name from the Tahiti Island which is found in the region of Pacific Ocean . Out of the several variants of pearls, such as fresh water pearls, Japanese and Chinese Akoya pearls and Chinese cultured pearls, Tahitian pearls are considered to be the most rare and valuable ones.

The mass production of cultured pearls is mainly limited to two countries i.e. China and Japan , which almost enjoy a monopolistic situation in the production and sale of cultured pearls which are always in great demand among people from all over the world. Also, the Tahitian cultured pearls can be best described as a category of pearl concretions which are secreted inside the black-lipped Pinctada Margaritifera which is produced mainly in the lagoons of French Polynesia . These Tahitian pearls can be easily classified on the basis of their shape, diameter, qualities and range of color which could very easily range from pale gray to anthracite black.

These cultured pearls are believed to have a consistent pearly layer over their surface and thus, these pearls do not reveal the nucleus of the pearl in any manner. Tahitian pearls are available in both the variants- natural and cultured variants. However, finding a natural black Tahitian pearl is an extremely rare case with the success rate of one out of every fifteen thousand oysters

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Pearls: Natural or Man Made?

The fact that such beauty can occur naturally is what makes pearls so valuable. It's hard to put a price on something so singular.

Real pearls fall into two categories: natural and cultured.

Natural pearls are formed by oysters completely without interference from the human world. Real pearls are nature's miracle.

Cultured pearls are also formed by oysters, but they are prompted to grow by pearl growers.

Non-naturally formed pearls or man-made pearls are not created in an oyster shell at all. They are made in machines, and while they can be an attractive addition to one's jewelry box, the hold no value. Man-made pearls are also called faux pearls, fashion pearls, simulated pearls or manufactured pearls.

Man-made pearls are created from various materials including glass, plastic, ceramic, shells and they are normally varnished with a lacquer mixed with fish scales.

Any jewelry expert can tell right away if a pearl is real or fake. They can usually tell the difference by looking through the drill hole. But the average consumer has no way of really telling the difference. Some recommend the "tooth test". The "tooth test" is a layman's pearl authenticity test. You simply rub a strand of pearls across your front teeth. Real pearls will have a "gritty" texture, while fake pearls will feel very smooth.

But the only sure-fire way to determine the authenticity of a pearl, for those who aren't in the know, is an X-ray machine. An X-ray will be able to determine the difference between a real and naturally produced pearl and a pearl that was cultured.

Not everyone can afford a real pearl necklace. And while there is no question as to which one is better: real or fake, it really depends on your budget. There are some exquisite man-made pearls on the market to make any woman proud to display.

Dakota Caudilla, journalist, and website builder Dakota Caudilla lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.gorgeous-gems.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

Pearls – that Defines Your Personality

A pearl is a hard and round gem, which is used mainly for jewelry. Pearls are reaped from mollusks, an animal with soft body and hard shell. Each and every pearl has its different shape, color and size.

A pearl is produced when an irritant such as sand gets inside the oyster. There are different types of pearls available in the market. Akoya, Freshwater, Sothsea and Black Tahitian pearl. Akoya pearls are more popular and refined from saltwater mollusks. Freshwater pearl are just like Akoya pearls but not expensive as Akoya. Southsea pearls are very precious and available in a range of light colors. Black Tahitian pearl is very large and its cultivation process is very difficult, that why it is very costly.

The basic qualities of a pearl are luster, color, size, lack of surface flaw and symmetry. Pearls have eight different shapes: round, semi-round, button, drop, pear, elliptical, ornate and ringed.

The most expensive pearls are round pearls and such pearls are used in the formation of necklaces or strings of pearls. Button pearls are like round pearl and are used in a necklace Baroque pearls are also used for making a necklace and ringed pearls are used for rings.

You have to follow certain tips for proper care of your pearl jewelry. Keep it away from beauty products. Clean it with a soft cotton cloth. To avoid scratches, don’t mix it with other ornaments.

There are numerous sellers of pearl jewelry online that offers different shopping advantages. It is also very speedy as well as suitable process for making your selection at proper prices.

Author presents a website on pearls. This website provides information about meaning and types of pearls, important steps followed while purchasing pearls or pearl jewelry and online services for purchasing pearls. You can visit his site on pearl jewelry