Month: October 2014

Freshwater pearls are the most widely used types of pearls. They are cultured in China and other Eastern countries. The shellfish in which these pearls are formed often hold between 20-30 pearls in each shell. This high supply of freshwater pearls makes them the most popular and affordable type of pearl. If you would like to pick the best freshwater pearl, here’s what you need to know.

What shape of freshwater pearl to pick?

Freshwater pearls come in a variety of shapes due to the process used to culture them. A small tissue taken from a mollusc or oyster’s mantle is placed inside the shell, causing it to create a pearl around this foreign body. Since this is a tissue around which the shellfish is forming the pearl, chances are that the pearl will rarely be perfectly round. They are usually oval, potato-ish or off-round in shape. Some freshwater pearls are in indefinable shapes, making them a collector’s item. Round freshwater pearls, though rarer, are thus the most preferred freshwater pearl shape while buying. Then again, even the roundest looking freshwater pearls may not be exactly round when measured. If you have picked a strand of round freshwater pearls, what remains to be seen now is their luster and blemishing.

What colours do freshwater pearls come in?

Freshwater pearls occur naturally as pick, white, peach, bronze, apricot, lavender, grey and other shades. They are often color treated to get different colours such as black or chocolate brown or red or any other colour. To choose the best colour of freshwater pearl, it is best to put the pearl or the pearl jewellery against your skin and see how well the pearls’ colour complements your skin tone.

Comparing freshwater pearls’ shine to other pearls

Usually, the luster of a pearl depends on the thickness of the nacre, the substance which makes up the outer coating of the pearl. Freshwater pearls generally have thicker nacre than other kinds of pearls. This translates into an acceptable level of shininess. However, the overall luster of freshwater pearls is usually lesser. When you compare the with a strand of Akoya pearls, Freshwater pearls will seem less brighter and to have less sharper reflections on their surface. Freshwater pearls are more likely to have an irridiscence to them when exposed to bright lights.

South Sea Pearls are the most precious among pearls. Their large size and limited availability makes them highly sought after. The richness and sheer luxuriousness of colour displayed by South Sea Pearls is unmatchable and makes them a delight to own and wear.

How are South Sea Pearls formed?

South Sea Pearls are cultured in a special type of oyster that takes anywhere from 2-4 years to yield pearls. These oysters do not thrive in any other location outside their native Australian, Indonesian and Philippine waters and are very susceptible to stress and disease. Due to these limiting factors, South Sea Pearls are rare and exceedingly valuable. They have a distinct, thick outer shell (nacre)

South Sea Pearls shapes and sizes

South Sea Pearls are the largest of pearls. They range from 8-20mm with 12-14mm being the average size. These pearls come in a variety of shapes and are rarely perfectly round. That said, South Sea Pearls in drop shapes or non-round shapes are still exquisitely beautiful and used by jewellery designers in a variety of sets & jewellery pieces. While round South Sea Pearls command a place and price of their own, non-round South Sea Pearls make brilliant fusion pieces when set with other jewels.

The most precious are White South Sea pearls. These are the rarest kind and their dazzle and rich colour makes them the most precious pearls.

What colours do South Sea Pearls come in?

South Sea Pearls come in white, silver, bluish, cream, champagne and deep gold colours. The natural colours and luster of each pearl is so rich and complete that South Sea Pearls are only washed and buffed to bring out their natural glow.

How do you pick South Sea Pearls

Due to their intrinsic beauty, the factors to choose South Sea Pearls are different from other pearls. Where we would look at luster and blemishing for Freshwater or Akoya pearls, for South Sea Pearls, we focus on size and roundness alone for South Sea Pearls. Placed next to any other pearl, even the least shapely South Sea Pearl exhibits an iridescence and glow unmatched by any other type of pearls. When you decide to buy South Sea Pearls, understand the kind of occasions you would want to wear them. A string of round South Sea Pearls is as valuable as it is versatile, whereas South Sea Pearl necklaces and chains are gracious complements to any woman.

Irrespective of how you choose to wear them, you will never go wrong with South Sea pearls.

Found only in the South Pacific, the Tahitian pearl is a lustrous pearl that comes in enchanting dark shades that make it appear black to the naked eye. Their beauty and exclusivity makes them among the most sought after jewels in the whole world.

How are Tahitian pearls formed

Tahitian pearls are produced by a black-lipped oyster in the warm waters of the Pacific. Each pearl has unique characteristics and no two Tahitian pearls are alike. This distinctiveness increases the wonder evoked by Tahitian pearls as even a full necklace of these will consist of pearls that are gorgeous and totally unique.

The size & shape of Tahitian pearls

Tahitian pearls can often be as big as 13mm in size. Their size depends on the time spent in the maturation process, which also contributes to their shape and luster. Tahitian pearls come in a range of shapes such as round, off-round and drop shaped. Needless to say, the most sought after are the roundest Tahitian pearls.

The Luster of and colours of Tahitian Pearls

Black Tahitian pearls are very differently lustrous when compared to white pearls. The luster of Tahitian pearls can range from a soft brightness to a silky black shine. Each Tahitian pearl is different in luster and when set with other Tahitian pearls in a chain, necklace or bracelet, creates a gloriously unique spectacle.

While Tahitian pearls in general appear black, each has a different texture and coloration. There are dark greens and grays that mingle with each other to form a rich, deep, darkness. Sometimes, these pearls come in light tones of green, red and even white, though these are not as common.

What to look for when buying Tahitian pearls?

Choosing the best Tahitian pearl for you is a two step process. The first is to see how lustrous the pearl is. You can gauge this by seeing the quality of light that is reflected of the pearl. The sharper the light is reflected, the better the luster. Choosing a lustrous pearl also ensures you buy a pearl with thick nacre. The nacre is the surface coating of the pearl and the thicker it is, the longer the pearl will retain its distinctive shine and beauty.