Buy Pearl Earrings – Understanding Pearls
There are many different colours and types of pearls on the market today that even pearl connoisseurs get a little confused! Those that want to buy pearl earrings just don’t know where to start. With this in mind, here is a useful guide to help you along the way and give you some background into the world of pearls.
Tell Me About Tahitian Pearls – Are They All Black?
You would think that these pearls come from Tahiti but actually they don’t, and they’re also not exclusively black in colour. Tahitian pearls are also bought in colours other than black, such as blue, green and grey. And they’re grown in the lagoons of small islands that are part of a group known as French Polynesia.
Cultured Vs Natural Pearl Earrings
If there is an oyster or mollusc on the seabed and something makes its way inside, like a parasite, then this is how natural pearls are formed. To protect itself, the animal coats the irritant in nacre – a combination of organic substances that also makes up what we call mother of pearl. It takes time for the nacre layers to build up, but when the newly-formed pearl is retrieved, it proves that it is worth the wait.
Cultured pearls are formed in the same way as natural pearls, with one big difference: they get their start not by chance, but deliberately, when man intervenes with nature. Man’s input is such that he will place something inside the oyster which speeds up the pearl-making process. At the end of it all, you have some beautiful cultured pearls that end up in the shops for you to buy pearl earrings or pearl necklaces etc.
Are Saltwater Pearls Better Than Freshwater Pearls?
Many people would say that the quality of cultured freshwater pearls are better value than the saltwater versions. Not so long ago, cultured pearls didn’t have the same quality and lustre that they have today, but thanks to improved culturing techniques, these pearls are now stunning items to buy and treasure.
With so many colours to choose from, freshwater cultured pearls are now the best option for people who like to express themselves through colourful jewellery. Universally flattering lavender pearls are very popular right now. For others, it is the appeal of white pearls which makes them purchase. Stunning black pearls, which are treated with dye, are rising up the style stakes too, and many people like the fact they are a little out of the ordinary.
Overall, freshwater pearls are more plentiful than other pearl types, thus they are generally more affordable. So, for all the pearl fans out there, there has never been a better time to buy pearl earrings.