A miracle.... Did you know?
If you looked in over 10,000 oysters, you might be lucky enough to actually find a single natural pearl. Therefore, due to the scarcity of natural pearls, almost 99% of the pearls in the world’s market are Freshwater Cultured pearls. So what does that really mean? Simply put, a tiny particle is implanted in an oyster, and over time, a coating begins to appear in many layers which begins to form the pearl. When you think how long it takes to cultivate one pearl and how long it takes to match up size and color, it truly is a miracle when finally pulling together a beautiful strand of pearls.
At PearlaBella Collections, we offer beautiful Cultured Freshwater pearls from Asia. So let’s learn a little more about what it takes for a beautiful strand of pearls. Very similar to diamonds, pearls are rated on color, size (mm) and luster.
Color
Typical colors of pearls are white, black, pink, peach, and yellow. These are all natural colors. Although, no strand is exactly the same, an overtone may be given to a white strand, where you may see a creamier white color or a pinkier tone to the strand.
Did you know?......New technology that has taken the pearl industry by storm is "laser dyeing". So what does that mean? A Cultured fresh water pearl is laser dyed to create a stunning Tahitian look at a fraction of the cost. So the black pearls that you will view in this web site along with brown, gray, hot pink are all laser dyed Freshwater Cultured pearls. So how fun would it be to wear a stylish brown pearl set or hot pink pearls to complement today’s fashion trends?
Luster
Pearls produce an intense, deep shine called luster. This effect is created when light reflects off the many layers of tiny calcium carbonate crystals that compose the pearl. This substance is called nacre. When selecting a pearl, consider that the larger the pearl, the more nacre it has, so it will also exhibit even more luster.
Size
The size of the pearl greatly depends on the type of pearl. Cultured Freshwater Pearls range from about 3–13.0 mm. Just like diamonds, the larger the pearl the more valuable it is. To create larger pearls the pearl must be left inside the mollusk for longer.
Shape
Pearls come in 8 basic shapes:
Round - Perfectly round pearls are the rarest and the most valuable shape
Button - These pearls are used in earrings where the flat back can be covered
Drop - Used in pendants, earrings or as the focal point of a necklace
Oval /Pear- Used in pendants, earrings or as the focal point of a necklace
Baroque - Valued for their unique and creative shapes. no two pearls look the same.
Ringed or circled - Pearls have concentric ridges along the middle of the pearl
How to Take Care of your Pearls
Pearls are organic gemstones that are vulnerable to acid, alkaline and extremes of humidity. To preserve your pearls' radiance, avoid letting them come into contact with cosmetics, hair spray, or perfume. Always put on your jewelry as a final touch, after applying make-up and styling hair.
