The Pearl Guide is all about pearls -- pearl necklaces, pearl earrings, pearl rings, and pearl bracelets. We provide information on how pearls are formed, what to look for when purchasing pearls, online jewelry stores, and where to buy pearl jewelry online. Pearls are the only gemstone grown within a living organism, formed when an oyster or mollusk secrete a substance known as nacre in response to an irritant invading the shell and entering the soft tissue of the mantle. The nacre builds up in layers around the irritant, forming a pearl. Of the approximately 8000 species of bivalve mollusks, only about 20 are capable of consistently producing pearls.
Natural Pearls
Natural pearls are extremely rare. In a completely natural environment, only a few mollusks ever produce a pearl and only a fraction of those would be discovered and harvested. Furthermore, the shapes of natural pearls vary, as they tend to maintain the shape of the original irritant. A round natural pearl would be very rare and valuable.
Cultured Pearls
The Japanese discovered a method for producing pearls by culturing approximately 100 years ago. Cultured pearls are not "fake" or artificial in any way. The process of producing a pearl is assisted by inserting a foreign substance into the oyster then returning it to the sea and allowing the process of producing a pearl to take place. The method has several benefits in making pearls more readily available, including placement of a round foreign object to produce a more uniform round pearl. Although very high-quality pearls are still expensive, the price range of pearls makes them attainable to more than just the very wealthy. Today, nearly all pearls sold commercially are cultured pearls.
Purchasing Pearls
Pearls are endlessly fascinating for their variety of colors, shapes, and origins. And they are long considered one of the most romantic jewelry gifts.
When purchasing pearls, there are several factors to consider.
- Pearl Color: Mollusks create pearls in a palette of colors, from white to black and almost everything in between. Pearl color refers specifically to the color of the pearl's body, considered the fundamental color of the pearl.
- Pearl Luster: Luster is the most important factor determining the quality of a pearl.
- Pearl Shapes: The most coveted shape for a pearl is round -- perfectly round. And, as perfectly round pearls are as rare as totally unblemished ones, those that do exist command exorbitant prices.
- Pearl Surface Quality: Though all pearls are unique, each one usually has small imperfections on its surface described in the industry as blisters, spots or indentations.
- Pearl Size: Pearl size refers to the pearl's diameter, which is measured in millimeters. Normally, the larger the pearl, the more rare it is and the more valuable.
Maintaining and Cleaning Your Pearls
Special care is required for cleaning and maintaining this precious organic gem.
Pearls can be easily scratched, cracked and damaged than other gemstones. Substances such as perfume and hairspray can damage the luster of your pearls. For that reason, you should not wear perfume in any area where you will also be wearing pearls against the skin and all cosmetics and hairspray should be applied before putting on your pearl jewelry. After wearing your pearls, wipe with a damp, soft cloth to remove any traces of cosmetics and body oils. Wash occasionally with mild soap and soft cloth to remove any residue buildup.
Because of their delicacy, pearls should be stored separately from other jewelry. If possible, wrap them in a soft cloth or store them in a container with soft lining or in their own soft pouch.
