How To Buy Pearls And Pearl Jewellery

By John S Stewart


If you give a item of Pearl Jewellery that holds the gemstone linked to the wearers birthday, then this is supposed to offer enhanced good luck and protection. Therefore it is a good idea to give Pearl Earrings, Pearl Pendants and Pearl Rings as presents. These monthly birth gemstones are linked to the month of birth according to the Gregorian Calendar.



It is very unlikely that you are are an expert when it comes down to purchasing pearl jewellery, so I am offering a little advice to hopefully help your choice in this area.

When buying your pearls or pearl jewellery you should first consider the combination of the pearl luster, surface, shape, colour and size. As with any gems, there are trade-offs that have to be made, and once you choose the type and quality of pearl, it usually comes down to simply choosing a pearl that you find attractive and that meets your budget.

Pearls Makeup

Luster - This is known as being a mixture of surface brilliance and the deep 3 dimensional glow that also exists. The reflection of light from this surface glow and internal layers of nacre, is known as the luster. Its fair to say that the luster is really dependent upon the nacre of pearl - basically how transparent, thick and smooth? The best high luster examples of pearl have a mirror-type finish, that is never dull and always bright. These examples always demand much higher prices than low-luster types that have a dull, matt or chalky type finish.

Surface - Depending upon the amount of spots, bumps and indentations etc, depends how 'clean' the pearl is. In general, the 'cleaner' an example is, the more expensive it will be. But, most peals will have some minor blemishes such as scratches and bumps, but they should not have cracks or chips because these will usually only get bigger. The larger the pearl, the more likely they are to have these minor blemishes.

Shape: Throughout time the round pearl has usually been the most sought after and valuable, but during more modern times a growing taste for different shapes such as ovals and drops immerging. The unique charm of asymmetrical and baroque pearls, especially in larger sizes have also grown in popularity. Because all cultured pearls are grown inside naturally occurring and living oysters, it is virtually impossible to get perfectly round pearls, obviously due to the natural variations of nature.

Colour: Cultured pearls occur in a variety of colours from white to black and just about every colour in between. Colour is not usually a true indicator of pearl quality, although certain colours command premium prices. The choice of colour should be determined by the buyer's personal preference or taste. The range of pearl hues can complement the wearer's hair, skin, and eye colour; buyers should choose what looks good on them.

Size - In general the larger the example of pearl, then all else being even, these items will usually be more expensive. Culture pearls sizes range from 1mm for a tiny Keshi pearl, to a very large 24-25mm for a magnificent Baroque South Sea pearl. The average pearl sizes are between approximately 4 and 6mm, but size does dramatically increase prices, especially when they go beyond 7mm.

My Last Word on Pearls..,

I would strongly suggest you buy your pearl Jewellery very carefully. Expect to pay more for larger size gems and remember; at the end of the day, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder'". So choose the pearls you want, not what you are led to believe you want! Whichever colour, size or shape of Pearl you choose, be sure to wear it and ENJOY IT!

Thank you for reading this article all about Pearl Jewellery - I sincerely hope it helps in some way.




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