Posts tagged freshwater pearls

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.

Brooch Photo Mugs Ring-shaped brooch, with a pin and catch at back. The ring is decorated with blue enamel and eight seed pearls. In the centre of the brooch is a gold naval crown, which is decorated with seed pearls. Lieutenant John McGivering (1884-1971) gave the brooch to his wife.....

Brooch Photo Mugs Silver bar type brooch, the brooch is made in the shape of a cross, anchor and heart. The shape of the brooch is meant to represent the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity. The brooch is set with seed pearls.....

Brooch Photo Mugs Circular gold brooch decorated with a pearl border. The brooch comes complete with a pin attachment at the back and a suspension ring. The centre of the brooch contains a piece of wood, which is said to be a fragment from Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelsons (1758-1805) coffin. The back of the brooch is inscribed with the words Wood of Nelsons coffin.....

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....

Northern Lab-Goddards 707885 Goddard's Jewelry Cleaner $3.21 Specially formulated to safely clean fine jewelry. Contains no ammonia or harsh chemicals. Safe for all precious metals and stones. Small brush and dipping basket included to make jewelry cleaning easy. 6 oz....

Flower & White Pearl Jewelry 2 Peice Set $49.98 Flower & White Pearl Jewelry 2 Piece SetThis 2 Piece Flower and White Pearl Jewelry Set is the perfect classic addition to your wedding outfit. This set is a Cubic Zirconia Flower & White Pearl Pendant on a silver bead chain. Includes Flower & White Pearl Earrings. (Pierced Only)Size: Necklace Adj. 40cm-46cmNOTE: The image is just for reference, the real color or style is shown in product title.Pr...

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Laura McCabe's Embellished Beadweaving: Jewelry Lavished with Fringe, Fronds, Lacework & More (Beadweaving Master Class Series) $9.85 Laura McCabe creates elaborate beaded embellishments which she combines into stunning jewelry. Her definitive guide to weaving and embroidering with beads is the third volume in Lark Jewelry & Beading's bestselling Beadweaving Master Class series. Combining traditional techniques with modern materials, and showcasing a wide variety of bead types, this book presents 18 beautiful jewelry proje...

Jewelry & Gems, The Buying Guide 7th Edition: How to Buy Diamonds, Pearls, Colored Gemstones, Gold & Jewelry With Confidence and Knowledge (Jewelry and Gems the Buying Guide) $13.27 New edition of the "unofficial" bible for jewelry and gem buyers--completely updated, expanded and revised! Purchasing gems and jewelry can be a magical experience, filled with excitement and anticipation. But lack of information, error, or misrepresentation can make the thrill of buying a gem or piece of jewelry confusing, intimidating, overwhelming, and costly. To help you avoid the pitfalls and...

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