Monday

How To Buy Pearls And Pearl Jewellery

By John S Stewart


Giving a piece of Pearl Jewellery containing a Birthstone gem, such as Pearl Rings, Pearl Earrings and Pearl Pendants will offer the wearer good luck and protection. Monthly Birthstones symbolize the month of birth according to the Gregorian Calender.

Not everybody are experts in the field of pearls and pearl jewellery, so as to offer just a little help and insight, I have put this short article together to helpfully help your choice in some way.

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.

Make up of a Pearl:

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: 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 - Historically, round pearls have demanded the higher prices because they have basically been the most sought after, but recently its become more of a matter of personal taste, with oval and drop shaped varieties more popular. Also asymmetrical and baroque types have increased in sales, especially with their unique charm, especially in their larger sizes. It is also important to realise that cultured pearls are formed from oysters, and subject to all the natural external factors associated, therefore rarely perfectly round.

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: Generally the larger the pearl, the more valuable it will be. Sizes of cultured pearls range from 1 mm for a very tiny Keshi pearl to as large as 24 mm for a Baroque South Sea Cultured Pearl. The average size pearl is about 5 mm. Size dramatically affect prices, especially for Pearls over 7 mm.

In Summary

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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