Clutches for Less

Posts Tagged ‘freshwater 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.

For centuries, women have worn pearls on their wedding day and the tradition does not appear to be ending. Today’s bride looks as lovely as ever wearing the latest in pearl fashions: the illusion freshwater pearl necklace. Many have seen this necklace become world-famous from the popular romantic comedy Tin Cup with Kevin Costner and Renee Russo. Since this movie’s release, brides across the world have reached for the illusion pearl necklace style representing true love and romance.

The illusion freshwater pearl necklace has become a new classic for today’s generation. It is a pearl necklace that will have many memories attached to it – a first kiss with a groom, dancing with their father – perfect to pass on for that special girl’s wedding day. The illusion freshwater pearl necklace is dainty and feminine, making every woman feel just a bit more like a princess on her wedding day.

It’s easy to see why the illusion freshwater pearl necklace would become so popular. The “illusion” style gracefully accents your neck and brings attention to the bride’s face, neck and shoulder. The illusion freshwater pearl necklace is a classic necklace style that compliments many bridal gown styles – from the dressiest of gowns to the more casual beachy wedding style dresses. The illusion freshwater pearl necklace style can vary – from a tiny gold or silver chain to a jeweler’s thread that literally is invisible so that the pearls seemingly “dance” upon your neck and collarbone. The style is the same in one respect for each woman in that the pearls are showcased in this illusion style with the extra space between each of them. Unlike the traditional pearl necklace, here you are able to truly admire each and every pearl’s beauty and loveliness. Sometimes truly less is more.

A popular style among brides is to add a touch of self-bronzer of even body glitter to their collarbone to further draw attention to their illusion freshwater pearl necklace. This is a necklace most often seen worn short and right up along a woman’s collarbone. The style compliments bridal gown necklines and permits women to “show a little skin” in an appropriate but still sexy way for their wedding day. Even your Great Grandma would agree, given the option of having an illusion freshwater pearl necklace.

This pearl necklace is an ideal accent as brides can wear it for their wedding day and then put it on for day or night, remembering their wedding day. An illusion freshwater pearl necklace looks lovely on every blushing bride and is a great way to treasure your special day. Each day you put it on again will remind you of your first kiss as man and wife and your first dance with your father. Eventually you will pass this beautiful necklace on to a beloved family member for her wedding, knowing it will be her “something borrowed.” Pearls are truly romantic and the illusion freshwater pearl necklace is the new bridal classic!

One of the first thing to learn about pearls is that there are two major categories - saltwater pearls and freshwater pearls. Besides the obvious differences, what are the underlying characteristics of each of these types of pearls? We will look at these types of pearls to get a better understanding of their differences.

When it comes to classifying saltwater pearls, it is most obviously any pearl created in a saltwater environment. Saltwater pearls come from oysters that are usually kept in lagoons or bays. There are three types of pearls most commonly created in saltwater – akoya, Tahitian and South Sea pearls. Most of the saltwater pearls found on the market today are cultured. Natural saltwater pearls are a rarity.

Now, what are some of the characteristics of saltwater pearls that differentiate them from freshwater? First, saltwater pearls tend to be more round than freshwater pearls. Because they are bead nucleated, saltwater perals are more symmetrical and round. Even though this nucleation process results in a nice round pearl, it gives them a hard bead center. This means that they do not have nacre as thick as freshwater pearls.

Saltwater oysters only create one pearl each, so they are more expensive than freshwater pearls. The benefit of this however is that saltwater pearls tend to be of a higher quality. Saltwater pearls also are known for their incredible luster, or shine. In a high quality saltwater pearl, you should be able to see your reflection. Their symmetry and shine makes them the perfect choice for a pearl necklace or bracelet, when many pearls are strung in a row.

Freshwater pearls have a reputation of being of a lower quality than saltwater pearls, mostly because they tend to be much more inexpensive. Creation and cultivation of freshwater pearls has come a long way however to let them compete more heavily with saltwater pearls. Freshwater mollousks live in lakes or ponds, and that is where freshwater pearls come from. Most of the world’s freshwater pearls are created and harvested in China and they have improved their methods over the years.

The first thing that comes to mind when someone thinks of freshwater pearls is their sometimes odd shape. Freshwater pearls can be found in many shapes such as drop, rice, round and semi-round which makes for some unique pieces of jewelry. The wide variety of colors that freshwater pearls can be is one of their main points of attraction. They can be found in white, cream, rose, blue and pretty much every color in-between. Many saltwater pearls cannot be found in these colors naturally. Now, while freshwater pearls come in many colors, they do not have the high shine that saltwater pearls have.

Freshwater pearls occur in nature differently than saltwater pearls. Instead of using a bead, a piece of tissue is used to nucleate the mussel. This is why freshwater pearls tend to be less symmetrical than saltwater pearls. The benefit of using tissue instead of bead is that the pearl is 100% nacre. This makes freshwater pearls much more durable to scratches and chipping. This tissue nucleation also makes a single mollusck capable of producing up to thirty pearls at one time.

It’s clear that there are major differences between saltwater and freshwater pearls. Each pearl has characteristics that give them their own unique appeal to consumers. The market for freshwater pearls is definitely on the rise as their quality and image improves. In the end, buying saltwater versus freshwater is really dependent on which qualities in a pearl are most important to you. Keep in mind that more expensive doesn’t always mean better. While saltwater pearls tend to be of a higher quality, freshwater pearls are on the move. You can easily find a beautiful and affordable necklace, bracelet or pair of earrings with high quality freshwater pearls. So, before heading out to the stores, decide what is important to you in a pearl and you will be sure to find the perfect piece!

When most people think of pearls they picture perfect large round spherical gems, creamy white in colour with a shimmery iridescent surface. The reality is that pearls are usually irregular in shape, each one is different and to find one that is completely round is almost unheard of, not to mention trying to make a whole necklace of pearls that are all more or less the same. Natural pearls are the rarest and most highly valued variety, but nowadays most pearl jewellery is made from cultured or farmed pearls, which are grown on pearl farms across the world by inserting a bead nucleus inside an oyster or mussel shell to encourage the formation of a pearl. Aside from whether a pearl has formed naturally or been farmed the other major varieties are the saltwater or freshwater pearl, which both have their own different properties.

Saltwater pearls are found in pearl oysters which live in the ocean, and produce the classic round white or cream pearls that have remained so desirable and sought after throughout history. Comparing farmed pearls, saltwater pearls are often rounder than those grown in freshwater farms as they are made by inserting a bead into the oyster to encourage the shape. Cultured saltwater pearls like the Japanese Akoya pearl are usually more expensive than the freshwater ones as they are bigger and more regular in shape. Although there are still some natural saltwater pearls, they are becoming more and more rare due to pollution in the seas.

The most common type of pearl available today are freshwater pearls, which are mostly produced in China using freshwater mussels and come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes and colours. The natural colours of freshwater pearls are various shades of white, pink, cream and lilac but they are often dyed to produce a whole rainbow of other colours for jewellery. Freshwater pearls are easier to farm succesfully than saltwater pearls, making them cheaper to buy as jewellery, though it is rare for them to be perfectly round and a necklace of cultured freshwater pearls will hardly ever be all the same size and shape.

Throughout history pearls have been worn by the rich, and given as rare and expensive gifts. Traditionally worn by brides, for thousands of years they have 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 are grown 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 can be difficult to know what to look for, so here are a few things to look out for:

Pearl type – There are two types of pearl, saltwater and freshwater. Saltwater pearls are found in oysters in the sea, and are usually larger, rounder and clearer than the freshwater variety. They are also usually more expensive because of this. 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 it comes to pearls, size really does matter. The bigger the pearl, the more desirable it is and the more expensive it will be. Saltwater pearls are generally larger than freshwater, and are more highly sought after.

Nacre – Pearls take years to form inside the shell of an oyster. When a foreign object is introduced into the shell, the oyster produces layers of nacre, which gradually build up forming the pearl. The thicker the nacre coating, the more durable the pearl will be. Some cultured saltwater pearls are ‘beaded’ with a larger 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 the colour of your choice. 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 that they are all perfectly round and shiny. In reality this is rare, and these round pearls are highly in demand and so can be very expensive. Small cultured pearls tend to be more rounded and some of the larger ones have been formed around a bead to coax it into a round shape. Irregularly shaped pearls are also used to produce unique pendants and earrings.

Matching – It can be hard to find enough pearls of the same size, shape and colour to make a whole necklace, so a string of regular naturally coloured pearls is more desirable and will be more expensive.

Not so long ago, a lot of people considered pearl jewelry to be a thing of the past, something that was to be found only about the necks of grandmothers and rich women with outdated fashion sense. But this attitude to pearls is changing fast. From the catwalk to the red carpet, the Sex and the City movie to the White House, classic pearls are becoming popular again. It could be the current trend for retro fashion, or that a few of the most up to the minute fashion icons have taken their love for pearls public, but whatever the reason pearls are definitely back with a vengeance.

Great news for anyone who was getting a little tired of so much ‘fake’ jewellery on the high street and wanting to go for something a bit more classic. But how do you know you’re getting the real thing and not just imitation pearls? And aren’t pearls a bit of an expensive frivolity, particularly when we’re in the middle of a recession? Well in fact, with so many varieties of cultured pearls available to buy, you can pick up a genuine pearl necklace for a really quite reasonable price. You just need to know the best sort of pearls to look for.

Real celebrity-style big saltwater pearls like those that Michelle Obama is often seen in will be pricey, but there are many varieties of pearl which don’t need to break the bank. Natural pearls usually cost considerably more than cultured pearls, and are far more highly valued as they are much rarer. Cultured freshwater pearls are usually the cheapest variety, they are much more common as they are grown in pearl farms and they come in the largest selection of sizes and colours. Saltwater pearls take longer to cultivate, and usually have a bigger, more regular shape, which is why they are rarer and more sought after. It’s easy to tell real pearls from fake ones as the fakes rarely have the correct lustre or weight, and are smoother to the touch. Genuine pearls have a slightly rough feel to them, and perfectly round pearls are very rare, so if you find a cheap string of perfect ‘pearl’ spheres, check it out before buying it!