Tips to get the perfect pearls
Throughout history pearls have been worn by the rich and glamorous, and given as rare and expensive gifts. Traditionally worn by new brides on their wedding day, they have long been a symbol of love, purity and perfection. Nowadays pearl jewellery is available to more people than ever before, and you no longer need to be royalty to afford it. Pearls of all shapes, sizes and colours are ‘cultured’ on farms and with so many varieties to choose from any bride-to-be can find the perfect pearls to suit her wedding gown. In fact there are so many varieties that it’s not easy to know which to choose, so here are a few pointers of what to look out for:
Pearl type – The two types of pearl are saltwater and freshwater. Saltwater pearls are found in oysters in the sea, and are usually larger and more regular in shape than the freshwater variety. They also usually cost more for this reason. Freshwater pearls are farmed in lakes and rivers, usually smaller and often less regular in shape, though they come in a large range of different colours.
Size – When buying pearls, size really does make a huge difference. The bigger the pearl, the more desirable it is and the more expensive it will be. Saltwater pearls are usually the bigger variety, and are therefore more highly sought after.
Nacre – Pearls take years to form inside an oyster shell. When a foreign object gets into the shell the oyster produces nacre, which builds up in layers forming the pearl. The thicker the coating of nacre, the longer the pearl will last as jewellery. Some cultured saltwater pearls are made with a ‘beaded’ large nucleus used to speed up the process and ensure a round shape. Natural pearls are formed entirely of nacre, which is why their shape is often less regular.
Luster – No pearl is perfectly shiny like glass but they do have a certain reflective sheen to them, called the lustre. Pearls that have this shimmery effect on the surface are the most desired.
Colour – The natural colours of pearls are various shades of white, pink and lilac although cultured pearls are often dyed so they are available in almost any colour. A pearl necklace made of matching naturally-coloured pearls will cost more than dyed ones, as it can take a long time to collect enough matching pearls for a whole string.
Shape – When we think of pearls, we usually picture them to be perfectly round and smooth. In reality round pearls are rare, and these round pearls are highly in demand and so can be very expensive. Small cultured pearls are more likely to be round and some larger ones are formed around a bead to create an artificial round shape. Irregular pearls are still used to produce unique pendants and earrings.
Matching – It can be difficult to find enough matching pearls to make a whole necklace, so a string of regular pearls will cost more as it is rarer and more desirable.
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