What You Need to Know About Pearls So You Can Buy The Best Pearl Necklace for Your Jewelry Collection
Pearls are worn by people who want to make a statement with their jewelry. Also referred to as gemstones, pearls are formed from mollusks that have been given an irritant like sand, bacteria, or a piece of the mollusk’s mantle.
The procedure to form pearls can take up to 3 years, which is probably why they are such an expensive piece of jewelry. Despite the hefty price tag people don’t mind spending the money because a nice string of pearls are very beautiful and attractive. It is considered a classic piece of accessory for any occasion such as banquets, weddings, or even family reunions.
There are a lot of people that want to have a pearl necklace but don’t know what to look when picking one. It is important to know how to select a high quality pearl necklace since you you want to get the best value for your money. Take a look at some things you should know before buying your pearl necklace.
Freshwater & Saltwater Pearls
There are 2 separate categories for pearls and that includes freshwater and saltwater. Mussels that can be found in fresh water like ponds, lakes, and rivers are what produces fresh water pearls. Meanwhile, oysters that live in saltwater produce saltwater pearls.
There is no big difference in quality when it comes to saltwater and freshwater pearls. The most noticeable difference between them is that freshwater pearls tend to be smaller than their saltwater counterparts. The average freshwater pearl will be about 3mm to 12mm, while saltwater pearls will be between 8mm to 18mm or bigger.
Saltwater pearls have the classic round pearl shape, while freshwater has more of a off round, or rice shape. The shine of saltwater pearls are generally better than freshwater pearls. Thanks to their more round shape and brilliant luster saltwater pearls are usually considered more valuable than freshwater pearls. China is where most freshwater pearls come from, while the most common kinds of saltwater pearls are South Sea, Tahitian, and Akoya pearls.
Cultured Pearls vs Natural Pearls
One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to pearls is that cultured ones are fake. Both cultured and natural pearls are real pearls but they are formed differently.
Cultured are formed when a human introduces the irritant to the shells in order to initiate the mollusks natural defense mechanism that is necessary to make the pearl start to form. Meanwhile natural pearls are formed by accident within the oysters and mussels in the wild. There is no kind of human intervention with the formation of natural pearls.
Most of the pearls you’ll find in the jewelry stores these days are cultured, because natural pearls are rarely finished. Many of the natural pearls on the market are considered rare and vintage making them very expensive. It is hard for even experienced jewelers to tell the difference between natural and cultured pearls. The only true way to be certain is to examine underneath the surface of the pearl through x-rays.
Fake pearls are considered imitation pearls, which are stones that look similar to pearls. Unlike cultured or natural pearls imitations are produced by shaping plastic, shell, and glass into spheres. The imitation is then polished using something like lacquer to get a pearly appearance. Jewelers can tell a fake immediately by looking under a 10X lens.
How To Pick High Quality Pearls
How valuable pearls are in jewelry is not determined by just one factor. The color, nacre thickness, luster, shape, size, and surface quality should all play a part when you are trying to select a quality strand of pearls for your necklace.
The luster is the most important factor to determine the quality of a pearls. A reflective sheen on the pearl’s surface is the luster. The pearls that have the best luster are the ones that are left inside the mollusk longer. Pearls with low luster will usually look flat and one dimensional. To check the luster of your pearls you can place it under a fluorescent lamp.
When choosing your pearl necklace make sure that each pearl is drilled down the center so the necklace will lay correctly across your neck. Check the surface quality by placing the pearls against a dark background so you can tell if there are any blemishes or markings on the surface.
Before you buy a pearl necklace you should check the nacre thickness. The nacre is the substance that helps give the pearl it’s iridescent property during the formation process. The thicker the nacre the better because it will make the pearls last longer. If you want a thick nacre look for pearls that are at least 0.5mm of nacre. If you want more of a medium thickness try to find pearls that are at least 0.35mm, and for thin nacre look for pearls that are 0.25mm or lower.
Finally, before you buy any pearl necklace make sure the clasp is of good quality. The clasp not only helps add more elegance and appeal to your pearl necklace but also it helps to keep the pearls from getting scratched against each other.
A beautiful strand of pearls can definitely add elegance to your jewelry collection and wardrobe. Just make sure you do your due diligence and check and make sure you are investing in a quality pearl necklace. Always try to buy your pearls from a highly respected jeweler that has some kind of training in gemology.
Please visit pearlsonly.com if you are looking for high quality pearls. You’ll find everything from stunning pearl earrings to beautiful pearl bracelets for any occasion.
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