Clutches for Less

Posts Tagged ‘Tahitian pearls’

With the holidays fast approaching, the countdown has begun and holiday stress is in full swing. No matter how many lists you make and how many times you look them over, there is always doubt about your purchases. Everyone wants to be sure they buy the perfect gift for the special people on their holiday list. Making trip after trip out to the busy stores can be stressful enough; you don’t need to second guess your selections. So, this year try holiday shopping the stress free way – online.

What could be better than sitting in the comfort of your own home in your sweats with a cup of hot chocolate perusing the stores on your computer screen? Online shopping has increased in popularity, and the security measures and reliability are now much better. it is easy to browse the inventory of literally hundreds of stores and see pictures of every item. Many online stores are offering great holiday discounts as well to encourage more customers to shop online. You can often times find free shipping and online only items at deep discounts.

One great holiday gift option for all the women on your list is jewelry. Jewelry stores can often times be a high-pressure sales environment. Lots of times you might leave with a piece of jewelry that you aren't even sure is what you wanted. Shopping for jewelry online can really relieve a lot of this stress. You can take your time browsing inventory of many different stores, comparing styles and prices with no pressure. It’s also very easy to research the company and how reliable their service and products are. Just be sure to check what date you need to order by to guarantee holiday delivery, and familiarize yourself with the return policy.`

A very popular jewelry gift item this season is pearls. This classic gemstone has made a comeback into the top fashion trends. There are so many options out there but you really can’t go wrong with any pearl. A great option is a pearl gift set. Choose either a sleek and sophisticated Tahitian pearl or a traditional white Akoya pearl and run with it. You can find some beautiful gift sets that include a single strand necklace and a pair of earrings. If you want to go simple, this is the perfect gift set to choose. There are even some great alternatives to a classic white pearl like lavender or peach.

If you want to step it up a bit this holiday season, add on to the gift set idea. Find the perfect gift set base, like a strand of Tahitian pearls with single stud earrings. Then shop around the same site for a bracelet and ring to match. If you chose a single strand necklace, choose a similar style bracelet. Let’s say you found the perfect strand of peacock colored Tahitian pearls large in size. A perfect addition to a gift set would be a single strand bracelet with the same color pearls but a little bit smaller in size. To round out the set, throw in a large Tahitian pearl set in an 18 karat gold setting. No woman could resist a gasp when she opens a gift box filled with beautiful Tahitian pearls.

Another great choice is the more classic Akoya pearl. It’s very popular right now to layer pearls together for a bold look. A great idea is to shop around online and find the perfect long strand of white, peach or lavender Akoya pearls and buy multiple strands. Pair these strands with a simple drop earring that has one pearl hanging down. This simple look is a great addition to any jewelry collection. She can wear both the necklaces and earrings with both business attire or out on the town. Wrap them together in the same gift display box for a sure-fire hit.

Go to any jewelry store and peruse their pearl collections and it’s easy to see how many different colors of pearls there are. You can find pearls in white, cream, pink, purple and black with overtones of green, brown and blue. While personal preference is the basis for deciding which color pearl is best for you, it’s important to understand why pearls are the colors they are.

Oysters secrete nacre to cover a nucleus in their tissue - this is what most pearls are made of. The thickness of the nacre is the first thing that determines the color of the pearl. The thicker the nacre, the richer the color of the pearl. The main factor that determines a pearl's color is the type and color of the mollusk that produced it. Different mollusks produced different colors of pearls for a variety of reasons.

Freshwater pearls are found in a wide variety of colors naturally. The colors are produced for many different reasons including environment, type of mussel and the location of the nucleus inserted into the tissue. Manganese is one element found only in freshwater mollusks and causes changes in the pearl’s color. The Manganese will darken freshwater pearls causing a silver-grey effect making a beautiful and unique colored gemstone.

Some pearls’ color, like that of the South Sea pearl, is based on the color of the oyster’s mantle tissue that it came from. The South Sea pearl is produced by the Pinctada maxima mollusk. This mollusk comes in two different types - the gold lip and the silver lip. The silver lip creates white, silver and rose colored pearls while the gold lip produces yellow, gold and champagne colored pearls. The gold colored South Sea pearls are very rare and possibly the most valuable

Tahitian pearls or black South Sea pearls have a rich, dark coloration. Tahitian pearls are produced by the Pinctada margaritifer mollusk. This mollusk is also known as the black lip oyster. The mantle of the black lip oyster is very dark which causes the pearls it produces to be black in color. Not only is the color of the mantle tissue a factor in what color the pearl will be but it also depends on the color of the donor tissue grafted into the oyster. Different donor tissues can cause the pearl to have lavender, green, blue and ‘peacock’ overtones. These pearls are coveted because of their luster and iridescence.

Even though cultured and natural pearls come in a wide variety of colors, pearls are sometimes dyed. A lot of times, freshwater and akoya pearls are dyed dark colors to give them the appearance of a Tahitian or South Sea pearl. The dyes are organic and don’t harm the stone but it is important to be aware of this when shopping for pearls. If the color of a pearl looks too beautiful to be true, it may be! You can spot a dyed pearl by looking down the drill hole with a magnifier. Even the color of Tahitian pearls can be tampered with. Sometimes heat is used to alter their color and achieve a chocolate color which has become very popular in the jewelry world.

Melo pearls are also called Vietnamese Orange pearls. They are a different kind of pearl altogether. They don’t come from oysters or other mollusks, the way other pearls do. They come from predatory sea snails that populate the coasts of Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand. The process is the same as for normal pearls - a foreign substance is introduced to the inside of the gastropod shell and a pearl is formed over time.

The difference is that the pearl produced is non-nacreous. It is a natural calcareous concretion, which means that the chemical process that takes place inside the snail is different from the process that takes place inside an oyster for a traditional pearl. The result is a pearl without luster – the surface of the pearl is much like a piece of porcelain.

Though some clams produce non-nacreous pearls without luster, the thing that makes a Melo pearl unique is its color and its flame-like pattern. Because in most cases a pearl takes on color attributes of its shell host, the Melo pearls come out in varying shades of orange. They can range from dark orange to the palest shade of orange (almost white) and have an interesting flame – like design that occurs naturally. This can be caused by lamella, which occurs in thin layers over the surface of the pearl.

These types of pearls are very rare, about as rare as Tahitian pearls, (also known as Tahitian black pearls or sometimes just called black pearls) and current research shows that unlike the Tahitian pearls, Melo pearls have yet to be cultured successfully. In fact, some say that the color fades with time, leaving a non-lusterous orb.

Since so many people are keen to research and study these pearls, so enterprising fisherman are harvesting them and selling them to the highest bidder. Veteran fishermen in Burma say that the likelihood of finding a Melo pearl is one per one thousand Melo snail shells. Even though dealers and traders are keen to get their hands on one of these beauties now, the Melo pearls have traditionally been used practically. In fact, certain religious sects treasure the shell of the snail more than a pearl that would be found in it. The shells became horns used in religious ceremonies.

As for the Melo pearls, up until buyers had an interest in them, the people in these costal villages would create ashtrays and dishes out of the shells and would give the round Melo pearls to their children to play marbles with. As for the non-spherical pearls, they may have been used for other purposes, or they may have been tossed back into the sea.

While you might not be able to buy a Melo pearl necklace at this time, you can soothe your urge for a special and rare pearl by looking into Tahitian pearls, which come in stunning shades of black; or South Sea pearls, which come in warm gold colors.

There are so many different varieties of pearls out there in the world and it’s sometimes difficult to tell them apart. It starts with the basics; pearls are either freshwater or saltwater, obviously depending on where they are grown and harvested. The various types of pearls get broken down from there. Among the known types of pearls are Tahitian Pearls and Akoya Pearls.  Among the lesser known types of pearls are the South Sea, Cortez and Keshi pearls. They are all different and unique in their own ways.

The South Sea pearl is among the largest in the world with an average size of about 13mm. The actual oysters these pearls are harvested from are also massive in size. They can grow to be 12 inches in diameter and produce pearls anywhere from 9mm to 20mm in size. Unlike akoya oysters which can accept more than one nucleation, the South Sea pearl oyster can only accept one nucleation at a time.

There are a few reasons why South Sea pearls are so large compared to other pearls. The large size of the actual oyster is the first reason for the large pearl size. Because the oyster is so large, it allows for more room for the pearl to develop. Another reason for the large size is the size of the implanted bead. The bead that the oyster is implanted with is much larger than that of other cultured pearls. This large original bead implant causes the oyster to deposit nacre around the nucleus at a much quicker rate than other oysters. Environment is another reason why South Sea pearls get to be so large. They live in very warm, clean water filled with plankton which helps to speed up nacre production.

There are a few characteristics of South Sea pearls that make them so unique. Besides being a generally large stone, they have unusually thick nacre. Typically, an akoya pearl has a nacre of 0.35mm to 0.7mm while a South Sea pearl has nacre ranging from 2-6mm. This makes them very hard and much more durable than other pearls. South Sea pearls also have a unique satiny luster caused by the warm waters of their habitat. South Sea pearls also have a very beautiful array of colors like white, silver and gold that are rare in other pearls.

Another lesser known pearl is the Cortez pearl. One of Mexico's prized gemstones, Cortez pearls come fromt he warm waters of the Gulf of California. Cortez pearls come from two different species of oysters – the “Panamic Black-Lipped Oyster” and the “Rainbow-Lipped Oyster”. These oysters produce very unusual colors and a gorgeous iridescence unique to the Cortez pearl. It takes about 2 years to produce these beautiful pearls, but is definitely worth the wait.

Cortez pearls typically range in size from about 8mm to 14mm and have nacre about 0.8 millimeter to 2.3mm thick. Like the South Sea pearls, Cortez pearls are hard and more durable than their more classic counterparts. A unique feature of the Cortez pearl is its shape. Most Cortez pearls are irregular in shape, or Baroque. Cortez pearls can be round or near-round in shape but this is a very small percentage of any harvest. Color is another reason why these pearls are so loved. They have an intense rainbow-like opulence with colors ranging from cool whites to silver, bronze and black. The black Cortez pearls often have a “peacock” appearance with overtones of green, purple blue and gold.

Another of the lesser known pearls is the Keshi pearl. These pearls can be either freshwater or saltwater which is a rare characteristic. The way that Keshi pearls are created is an interesting process. When an oyster rejects and implanted nucleaus before the culturing process begins, a Keshi pearl is created. The pearl sacs eventually create a pearl without a nucleus. There is no nucleus to guide the growth and development of the Keshi pearl, so they are usually small and irregular in shape.

Keshi pearls, because of their origin, are 100% nacre. This causes the pearls to have a very high luster and come in a wide variety of colors. Many times, a Keshi pearl has a greater luster than the highest quality cultured pearls. When pearl farming began, Keshi pearls were abundant and created very unique pieces of jewelry. Today, Keshi pearls are much rarer because many pearl farms x-ray their oysters to determine if an oyster has rejected its implanted nucleus. One of the wonderful things about Keshi pearls however is their unpredictable shape. This irregular shape paired with a wide variety of colors from white to ivory, gold and black allows jewelers to create some truly unique pieces of jewelry.

The earliest mention of pearls comes over 4,000 years ago in Chinese history books. There is no official date of when the first pearl was taken from a shell but they are mentioned in nearly every culture’s history. Because this is one of the oldest gemstones known to man, it comes as no surprise that some pearls have managed to stand above the rest and make their own footprint in the history books. Some of these famous pearls are known because of their size, who wore them or who discovered them. All of the pearls remembered in history have something unique that gives them legendary status.

One of the first famous pearls is the Abernathy Pearl. It was found in 1967 in the River Tay in Scotland by Bill Abernathy. Abernathy was a professional pearl diver and was in the river doing just that. The River Tay is known for very odd shaped mussels which can create very beautiful pearls. The people of Scotland scoured their rivers for centuries trying to find pearls. Many freshwater pearls were found but none quite like the Abernathy Pearl. The pearl that Bill Abernathy pulled out of the river was 44 grains or about 14 carats. A natural freshwater pearl of this size is an extremely rare find.

Another pearl that history notes is Big Pink Pearl. This pearl was found by a diver in California’s Salt Point State Park. The Guiness Book of World Records lists this pearl as the largest natural abalone pearl ever found. Abalone pearls are often considered some of the most beautiful pearls in the world. They are very asymmetrical and have an intense luster with a multitude of colors. The Big Pink Pearl weighs an amazing 470 carats and is valued at $.7 million dollars in 1991.

Perhaps one of the most famous freshwater pearls is the Hope Pearl. It is the largest saltwater pearl ever discovered weighing in at 450 carats. The Hope Pearl is a white drop-shaped pearl measuring an astonishing 2 inches by 4 inches. This pearl is named for Henry Philip Hope who acquired this pearl sometime in the 19^th century. He also at one time owned the magnificent Hope Diamond. The Hope Pearl is housed and displayed at the British Museum of Natural History.

A pearl found off the coast of Panama in the 16^th century makes its own mark in history. Known as La Peregrina or “The Pilgrim” this pearl was at one time, one of the most celebrated gemstones. Weighing about 65 carats, La Peregrina was known not only for its size but its gorgeous white coloring and near perfect and unique pear shape. After the gem was discovered it was taken directly to King Phillip II who gave it to his bride, Queen Mary of Spain, as a wedding gift. The pearl was passed down through royalty until Richard Burton bought it for Elizabeth Taylor in 1969. Taylor, who is a known pearl lover and one who actively popularized Tahitian pearls, owns La Peregrina still today.

Even though pearls are made of a thick nacre coating, they are one of the most fragile gemstones on the market. You have to handle them carefully and care for them properly. There are a few things you can do to ensure that your pearls will stay beautiful and last for years.

A few easy steps each day can help to keep your pearls clean. First, don’t put on your pearl jewelry until after you have applied makeup and put on perfume. Before applying lotions, remember to remove pearl rings or bracelets. This will help keep your pearls free from residue. If your pearls become dirty, they can be wiped down with a very soft cloth and a mild soap. Don’t ever use an abrasive cleaner or harsh cloth; this could scratch the pearl’s surface.

Pearl jewelry, especially “>necklaces, comes in close contact with the skin on a daily basis. Acids from the skin can absorb into the pearl coating making it look dull. This can be avoided by wiping your pearls with a soft cloth every night after removing them. Another way to avoid dullness and chipping in your pearls is to be sure to never put them in an ultrasonic cleaner. If you take your jewelry into a shop to be cleaned, make sure they do not clean your pearls in their automatic machine. Since pearls are so fragile, putting them in an ultrasonic bath can cause them to chip and even break.

Another way to keep your pearls as beautiful as the day you bought them is to store them properly. Do not toss them next to other jewelry in a box; they can chip very easily this way. The best way to store your pearls is to put each individual piece in a soft jewelry bag. Storing your pearls properly will ensure they stay perfect and beautiful.

A pearl’s color is often times the most captivating thing about a pearl so it is important to follow the proper steps to keep them that way. Do not ever store your pearls in an area of high heat such as on top of or near a fireplace or radiator. Also, never use steam to clean your pearls. High heat can cause pearls to discolor, often in just a few short hours.

You might think that storing your pearls in a dark and dry area is the best but is actually the contrary. Pearls are gems of the water and they love constant moisture. The best thing for your pearls is to actually wear them! Still store them in a soft bag by themselves but the moisture and oils from your skin can help keep your pearls looking beautiful.

Pearls are fragile, but they are very simple to take care of. If you follow this easy advice on how to clean and care for your pearls, they can easily last for years. It is a popular tradition for mothers to pass down their pearl jewelry to their daughters for their weddings They make great heirlooms and with proper care, your most loved pieces can be passed down to your children to be enjoyed for decades.

Some of the most beautiful pearls in the world come from the waters surrounding Tahiti and the French Polynesian Islands. On the market, they are called Tahitian Pearls and can range in size from 8mm to 18mm. A typical classic saltwater pearl is about 6mm in size. That means a Tahitian Pearl can be more than twice the size of their classic white counterparts! Their size, beautiful colors and luster are what makes them among the most sought after pearls in the world.

Tahitian Pearls are produced in the black-lipped oyster found exclusively in the Polynesian Island waters. One interesting things about Tahitian Pearls is that they don't actually come from Tahiti. Tahiti is the largest island in French Polynesia but, most of the pearl farms are found in lagoons off the shores of the other islands. These are very large oysters that can grow up to 12 inches wide and weigh over 10 pounds. The huge size of the oyster results in the larger-than-average sized gems that Tahitian Pearls are known for.

Another legendary characteristic of Tahitian Pearls is their color. Most Tahitian Pearls are thought to be black in color but, they can come in a range of beautiful colors. In addition to black, these pearls can be brown, gray, green, blue, and purple. They have an iridescent overtone that makes them a sought-after gem for jewlery settings. This overtone is often referred to as “peacock” because of its multitude of colors.

The amazing pearl produced by the black-lipped oyster is not its only desirable qualilty. These oysters were hunted nearly to extinction in the 1900's merely for their shells. Now, repopulation and conservation efforts have been put into place to prevent extinction and promote growth. This protection is needed because Black-lipped oysters usually do not start producing pearls until they are about 3 years old. Usually this gives them enough time to produce a sizeable pearl. The normal growth time until harvesting for a Tahitian Pearl is two years.

Very much like other saltwater pearls, Tahitian Pearls are bead nucleated. This means a bead is inserted into the oyster which is then covered in its nacre. The difference between other saltwater pearls and Tahitian Pearls is that the nacre of Tahitian Pearls is very thick despite its bead center. Thick nacre, high quality and beautiful color is what makes Tahitian Pearls so valuable.

After the pearls are harvested and distributed to the market, jewelers must grade the pearls. There is no universal grading system for pearls but there is a system widely accepted by reputable dealers. Tahitian Pearls are usually graded using the A-D system. In this system, an A pearl is flawless with a perfect luster and a D pearl has inclusions over 60% of its surface and a dull luster.

If you are looking for a beautiful and exotic piece of jewelry, the Tahitian Pearl is the perfect choice. By shopping these rare, black beauties you can find an accessory that is sure to be a constant conversation piece that lasts for years. The even better news is that because of mass farming and production, these rare pearls have become more readily available to the general public. Most anyone can find a piece of Tahitian Pearl jewelry that fits into their budget

Maybe it is their romantic aura, or their subtle beauty, but you have decided to buy a beautiful piece of pearl jewelry to add to your collection. Before running out to your favorite jeweler and snatching up the first thing you see, get informed about the investment you are about to make. Just like any other gemstone, there are quite a few things to know about pearls that can help you not only get the best deal, but the right pearl for you.

First, let me start by saying that there is no official grading system industry wide for pearls. There are however, 2 different systems that reputable pearl dealers hold themselves to. The first system is the AAA-A system which allows jewelers to grade their pearls. In this system, a grade of AAA means the pearl is of the highest quality. The pearl should be nearly flawless and have a very high luster. If a pearl has an AA grade it should have a high luster, but might have slight defects. An A-grade is the lowest grading for a pearl. This type of pearl will most likely have a lot of flaws and be lacking luster.

The second widely accepted system is the A-D system, also known as the Tahitian system. This is the system often used to grade Tahitian or South Sea pearls in overseas markets. In this system, a grade of A means the pearl is of the highest quality with high luster and is virtually flawless. The grading goes down from there, with a B pearl having a high to medium luster and a few defects. A C-graded pearl will probably have over 50% defects on the surface, and will possess only a medium luster. Any pearl given a grade below D is not considered usable for jewelry.

Because these two grading systems are not industry-wide, it is important that you feel as though you can trust your jeweler. Make sure you ask for the pearl grading in writing - any reputable dealer should readily provide this. This way, you have the pearl quality in words as opposed to simply the grade they felt was appropriate. Another thing to look for when grading apearl is its nacre, or its surface thickness. The thicker the nacre, the more durable the pearl will be over time. A good, thick nacre begins at about 0.5mm so keep this in mind and use it as a guide when choosing pearls.

It's important to examine the pearl's surface carefully before you purchase. A high-quality pearl will have a shiny, bright apperaance. A high-quality pearl should be lusturous enough for you to see your reflection in it. Lower quality pearls have a more milky or chalky appearance. Also, check the surface of the pearl to make sure it is smooth and free of discoloration or other defects. The perfect pearl should be round, smooth and shiny.

The next thing to consider is the pearl's color. This is an area where personal taste should overtake how valuable the pearl is. There are colors of pearls that are rarer than others in nature but this should not be the determining factor. When purchasing pearls, color should be based on personal taste and what looks best on your skin tone. With that being said, pearls range in color from white to black with every color in-between. So, it should be easy to find a high-quality pearl in just the right color to suit your taste.

Another thing to be aware of when shopping for pearls is size and how that affects cost. Of course, the larger the pearl the more expensive it will be, depending on the other factors as well. Pearls are measured in millimeters and will depend on the type of pearl. Akoya pearls are often the smallest and can range from approximately 6mm to 8mm. Tahitian, South Sea and freshwater pearls tend to be a bit larger than the Akoya pearls. The average pearl sold today is about 7mm. There are also "seed pearls" which are tiny (less than 1mm, at times) that you can find at jewelry stores around the world.

So, before heading out to the stores do some research and be informed about the type of pearl you want to bring home with you. As a knowledgeable consumer, you will be able to get more for your money. Ultimately you will feel better about your purchase, you will have made a better investment, and you'll have chosen a piece of jewelry that you will treasure for years to come.