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.

If you're not an expert, buying pearl Jewellery can be a very daunting task. To help you out I have put together this little guide, which will hopefully help you make the right choice for your needs.

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 basically the mixture of surface brilliance and the three dimensional glow that exists on the surface. Together with the internal layers of nacre and the total way in which the light is reflected equals the luster of the pearl. How transparent, smooth and thick the layers of nacre are present, is really the biggest factor determining luster. The better pearl examples show a mirror type luster finish that is quite bright, whereas lesser low-luster examples show a dull or matt type, chalky finish. Pearls with high luster will always command higher prices.

Surface: A pearl's surface is considered "clean" when it's free of organic spots, bumps, or indentations. Generally speaking, the cleaner the pearl, the more valuable it is. It is normal for pearls to have some flaws, like small scratches or bumps, but buyers should avoid pearls with cracks or chips, as they will only get larger over time. Look for such damaging blemishes near the drill hole of a pearl. Obvious discoloration, patches of missing nacre, and blemishes covering the majority of the surface of the pearl are other things to look out for -- and avoid.

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 - Variations of cultured pearls occur in many colours, from white to black and most colours in between. Colour is not always linked to quality, but sometimes certain colours do demand higher prices. I suggest pearl colour should be really down to the wearers preference, and what looks good on them. Basically what colour compliments the skin tone, eye colour and hair etc?

Size: Again, although not directly linked to quality, the bigger the pearl usually the bigger the price. The size range from a very small 1mm for a Keshi pearl up to approximately 25mm in diameter and more for the grand Baroque pearl from the South Seas. Most pearls used in jewellery are sized around 4-6mm, and they start to increase dramatically when they start to go bigger than 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 regarding Pearls - I sincerely hope it helps in some way.




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