Pearl jewellery is perfect for everyone

For thousands of years pearls have been worn by the rich and glamorous, and given to loved ones as extravagant gifts. Traditionally worn by new 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 of all shapes, sizes and colours are grown on farms around the world 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’s not easy to know which to choose, so here are a few pointers of what to look out for:

Pearl type – The two types of pearl are saltwater and freshwater. Saltwater pearls are farmed 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 buying pearls, size really does make a huge difference. The bigger the pearl, the more it will cost. Saltwater pearls are usually bigger than freshwater, and are therefore more highly sought after.

Nacre – Pearls take years to form inside an oyster shell. When a foreign object is introduced into the shell the oyster produces nacre, which builds up in layers forming the pearl. The thicker the coating of nacre, the longer the pearl will last as jewellery. Some cultured saltwater pearls are ‘beaded’ with a larger nucleus which speeds up the process and ensure a round shape. Most freshwater pearls and all natural pearls are formed entirely of nacre, which accounts for their more irregular shape.

Luster – No pearl is perfectly shiny like glass but they do have a sort of reflective quality to them, called the lustre. Pearls with this shimmery surface are the most desired.

Colour – Pearls in their natural state come in 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 imagine them to be perfectly round and smooth. In reality this is rare, and perfectly round pearls are very expensive as they are hugely sought after. Small cultured pearls tend to be more rounded and some larger ones are formed around a bead to coax it into a round shape. Irregularly shaped pearls are still used and made into unique jewellery and pendants.

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 pearls is more desirable and will be more expensive.

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800 Diamond Table Confetti Wedding Bridal Shower Party Decorations 4 Carat/ 10mm Clear $5.99 Here is a bag of clear acrylic diamonds that weigh 6 ounces and contain approximately 800 acrylic diamonds. These diamonds really add noticeable elegance to your reception or bridal tables. Size of the acrylic diamond is 10 mm = 4 carat....

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