Archive for January, 2010

Freshwater pearls are typically considered to be inferior to saltwater pearls. This isn’t necessarily true – their quality is rising as cultivation methods have improved. They do differ from saltwater pearls in some ways and you may prefer one or the other. In this post, I’ll explain those differences and why you shouldn’t necessarily rule out freshwater pearls when buying your pearl necklace.

Freshwater pearls are either found or cultivated in freshwater mollusks. They are often irregular in shape but may also be round. They come in many different colors. Saltwater pearls, on the other hand, are found or cultivated in saltwater oysters. Saltwater cultured pearls are always round but natural pearls may also be irregularly shaped. You won’t see natural saltwater pearls very often though! As you may have noticed, either freshwater or saltwater pearls may be natural or cultured. They aren’t limited to oysters either – they can also be found in conches and I’ve read that pearls can, on rare occasions, be found in snails too.

Some of the differences between the two are due to the cultivation methods used. Cultured saltwater pearls are more expensive because they only produce one pearl per oyster, while freshwater oysters may produce multiple pearls – as many as 20 – from one oyster. Furthermore, many saltwater oysters don’t survive the cultivation process so it is more difficult to mass produce them. Something else to consider is that because saltwater pearls are seeded with a shell nucleus, the nacre is thinner than that of a freshwater pearl.  Freshwater pearls are cultivated by embedding a piece of mantle in the oyster so they are almost all nacre.

Freshwater pearls have a wide range of colors available. This is because it is easier to add metals to the water in order to affect the outcome. This is nearly impossible to do with pearls harvested from the ocean. The pearls may also be dyed or irradiated – if you get a freshwater black pearl necklace it will always be dyed, since black pearls are only found in black lip oysters. You will also be able to choose nearly any shape you like as a freshwater pearl.

Compared to the past, the sizes of freshwater and saltwater pearls are comparable and they are of more or less equivalent quality. Saltwater pearls are considered to have more luster, and Akoya pearls are some of the best in quality. However, there are also very strict controls imposed on saltwater pearls so many of the lower quality pearls are weeded out. Freshwater pearls do not have as many restrictions.

In summary, freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls are nearly equivalent in quality, have comparable sizes, are durable (due to the thickness of the nacre) and are available in a wide range of colors. Freshwater pearls do suffer when compared to Akoya pearls but they are less expensive as well. If you aren’t sure which to buy, keep an open mind when you pick out your pearl necklace!

Update: I found another Honora video that highlights some of the main points I’ve been talking about here. If you’re interested, take a look:
Why Freshwater?

When you hear people talk about natural pearls or cultured pearls it can be a little confusing at first. The important thing to remember is that the process by which the pearl is created is the main difference. They are both natural pearls (as opposed to fake pearls) and generally have the same qualities. However, should you get your hands on a natural pearl make sure to have it examined by a gemologist – they are extremely rare!

The rarity of natural pearls is due to their formative process. Basically, if an irritant such as a little bit of sand should come between the mantle and the shell of a mollusk, then it is sealed off and coated with many layers of nacre. It’s an oyster or other mollusk’s defense mechanism to protect itself! This doesn’t occur very often in the wild and even when it does it is very unlikely to form a perfectly round pearl. Apparently only one in 10,000 oysters ever produces a pearl like this so they are incredibly expensive.

Any time you buy a pearl necklace you are much more likely to be getting one made of cultured pearls. The cultivation process involves inserting some form of nucleus to stimulate the production of nacre. Saltwater pearls use a bead or shell nucleus, making them perfectly round but with a thinner layer of nacre. Freshwater oysters are nucleated with a small piece of mantle so they have thicker nacre but the shape is more likely to irregular. Basically culturing just means control over the whole process and has allowed for the mass production of pearls.

So are there any differences? The answer is no, not really! Both natural and cultured pearls have all the same qualities but you will rarely see natural pearls on the market. There’s no reason to be worried about the quality or authenticity of your cultured pearls. Enjoy them for their beauty and if you do happen to obtain a natural pearl, treasure it for its rarity.

These pearls, like coin pearls, are also classified by their shape. The name comes from the days when Chinese pearl farms were just entering the market. Their freshwater pearls were low-quality, small, and irregular – in fact they looked just like the cereal Rice Krispies. They may also be called oval pearls, but generally the name ‘rice’ has been the one that stuck.

Even though the quality of Chinese pearls has greatly improved (to the point where they are giving Japanese Akoya pearl farms a run for their money) their rice krispy pearls still bear the stigma of their low-quality predecessors. The good news is, these aren’t horribly popular so you may be able to get a great deal. They are also a popular choice for beaders because they are so inexpensive and easy to find. Also, because they are generally freshwater pearls, if you’d like a pearl necklace made out of them you will have many colors to choose from!

Have you ever been fooled into thinking that a fake pearl necklace is the real thing? Knowing how to spot a fake can be helpful for many reasons – it will help you avoid making mistakes when buying your necklace, and may even help you identify one you already have! Generally fake pearl necklaces may be called fake, faux, simulated, glass, plastic, resin, synthetic, artificial, or manmade if you are ordering online, but what if someone gives you a pearl necklace and you have no idea how to tell the difference? Here are some ways you can figure out if your necklace is real or not. (Keep in mind, cultured pearls are real! They are just artificially ‘induced’ pearls.)

1) X-rays. This is the most reliable test of all! An x-ray will tell you everything you need to know, including the actual thickness of the nacre, whether the pearl is cultured or not, and, of course, whether it’s real or fake. However, you will have to pay an expert to do this for you, and that can be expensive.

2) Destructive tests involve cutting the pearl open so that the core is visible. Natural pearls will be all nacre, freshwater cultured pearls will be nearly all nacre, and saltwater cultured pearls will have a shell core with a thinner layer of nacre. Faux pearls, on the other hand, will have a glass core with many layers of coating. I don’t recommend this at all! Why destroy your pearls?

3) Exposing your pearls to sunlight or a very bright indoor light will let you see all the color variations. Real pearls have so many color variations available that a perfect match is very rare, and in the sunlight, even more so. If both the body color and the overtones are perfectly matched, you may be looking at either a fake or an extremely costly real pearl necklace.

4) The tooth test involves running a pearl lightly over your teeth. Real pearls should apparently feel gritty whereas fake pearls will feel much smoother. This will fail to separate cultured pearls from fake ones, however – cultured pearls have a much thinner layer of nacre so they will feel relatively smooth. In general, I don’t know how reliable this test is – some experts seem to swear by it but I have no experience with it myself. Use at your own risk.

5) Magnification will show any imperfections or ridges that may exist. Real pearls will have years’ worth of nacre build up, creating some ridges that may not be apparent to the naked eye. Fake pearls will be mostly smooth.

6) Density. Real pearls should feel heavier relative to their size than faux pearls. In general – if you pick up your pearl necklace and it feels light, it’s fake. If it’s heavy, things get more complicated since well made faux pearl necklaces are nearly the same density as their natural counterparts..

Hopefully you now have a good idea of what the differences are between real and fake pearls. I should mention that Swarovski simulated pearls are very very close to real pearls – it will be hard to tell the difference in many of these categories. In that case, an x-ray will be your best bet. Good luck and I hope this helps you avoid buying a fake pearl necklace!

If you have a pearl necklace, you probably want to take care of it and keep it around for a while! The good news is that with a little love and care your necklace will last a very long time. However, pearls come from a living creature and thus are much more delicate than other gems such as diamonds. In this post I’ll show you what to do and what you should avoid doing in order to keep your pearls bright and lustrous.

First, you have to keep your pearls away from any sort of acids or heat. Acids from your skin, perfume, or makeup can damage the pearl’s surface, dulling their luster and potentially damaging the nacre itself. That’s why you will often hear the saying “last on, first off” when it comes to pearls. This means that you should put your pearl necklace on after you’re all ready to go out and take them off before you take off anything else. This will give them minimal exposure to damaging substances. One other thing to remember is that pearls don’t like heat. Keep them away from direct sunlight and don’t wear them while cooking dinner.

The way you store your pearl necklace(s) is important too. Remember, pearls aren’t diamonds and will scratch much more easily, so you will want to keep them away from other jewelry. The best storage method is a soft felt bag (with a slightly damp piece of linen), in a relatively cool place. Your storage area doesn’t need to be airtight, and in fact it’s best if you let your pearls breathe. This means you shouldn’t put them in any airtight containers or safety deposit boxes. Also, though you can hang your pearl necklace up if you choose, keep in mind that doing so will stress the delicate silk thread that is typically used.

Pearls will require periodic maintenance. Wiping them down after use with a soft cloth is recommended and will help them keep their shine. Just remember not to use harsh cleaners or you risk damaging your precious necklace! You will also want to keep an eye on the thread – you will need to restring your pearls (or have them restrung) every so often when it wears out. I have also heard that pearls need your humidity/body oils to avoid becoming dull, meaning that they should be worn often. I haven’t been able to verify this and it may well be an urban myth. Just keep in it mind. At any rate, you will want to wear them often anyway, right?

All of this may seem daunting but taking care of your pearls really boils down to a few simple things: “last on, first off,” avoid heat and direct sun, maintain well, and store carefully. Remember – if you love your pearls and take care of them, your pearl necklace will last a lifetime.

Knowing what the defining characteristics of pearls are is important if you want to buy a quality pearl necklace. It’s also good to know the defining characteristics of pearls if you’re looking for a bargain because you’ll know which areas you can compromise in to save money and which you absolutely need to watch out for. Recognizing quality pearls can also help you avoid buying a faux pearl necklace if you don’t want one. So without further ado, here are the top 5 pearl characteristics:

1) Luster (or Lustre) is the amount of light that is reflected from a pearl’s surface. It is the most visible quality of a valuable pearl. Why? Because the amount of luster is a reflection of the depth of the nacre (nacre is simply the material that pearls are made of, also called mother of pearl). Natural pearls will have more nacre than cultured pearls because in cultured pearls the nacre forms around an implanted nucleus, usually shell, and the pearl is harvested fairly quickly.

What you are looking for are pearls that are brilliantly shiny and so reflective that you can see your reflection if your back is to the light. Pearls that do not have as much nacre and therefore are less lustrous will seem dull, with little depth.

2) Size is another way to measure a pearl’s value. The most common size is between 7mm to 7 1/2mm – larger pearls will be more expensive since it takes years for them to form and they aren’t as common.

3) Shape is an area in which personal preference comes into play. The most valuable pearls are technically the perfectly round ones we know and love but they aren’t the only shapes out there. If you prefer a different shape, you can guarantee that your necklace will stand out from the rest. You may even save some money if you choose an irregular shape, such as a baroque pearl. Other shapes available are round, oval, teardrop, seed, and button pearls. Any of those will still look beautiful – again, it all comes down to what you like!

4) Color can refer to either the body color or the overtones of the pearl. I tend to think of white when I think of pearl necklaces but there are plenty of colors to choose from, including pink, lavender, white, yellow, blue, and even black pearls, with nearly infinite shade variations among those colors. A perfect set of matching pearls is very hard to find due to those same minute variations. For that reason, it’s best to buy matching jewelry such as earrings or bracelets at the same time as your pearl necklace – you’ll be much more likely to get a good match.

5) Surface refers to how smooth or flawed the surface of the pearl is. A perfectly smooth pearl with no pits or rings will be much more valuable and expensive than a pearl with some slight imperfections.

The above characteristics are the most important when judging a pearl’s quality. Some of them, such as color, shape, or size, are very personal choices and you may be able to save money if what you like is more commonly found. One thing I wouldn’t compromise on, however, is the luster of your pearls! The shimmer and reflective nature of highly lustrous pearls is what sets them apart from other gems, after all!

I hope this helps and good luck hunting for your perfect pearl necklace!

Hello everyone and welcome to Pearl Necklace. This site will eventually provide information about all sorts of jewelry but for now, I’m starting with pearls. I’ll talk about the different types of pearls, what to look for when you’re buying a pearl necklace, and why you should buy one in the first place. If you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to email me at elle.g.24@gmail.com. Thanks for stopping by Pearl Necklace!