Throughout time, pearls have symbolized purity and beauty. Pearls are unique among gemstones as they do not require any specialized cutting or polishing. Perceived by fashion to be both classic and contemporary, pearls will remain eternally popular.
How to choose the pearl for you?
As with any personal jewellery, when you are buying a pearl, quality should be your first consideration. To assure you make the right choice for you, here are some facts about pearls:
The first thing that you notice when you look at a pearl is its size. The most beautiful pearls in the world are the largest, and the price you pay increases exponentially with its size. The rule of thumb is that every millimetre in size adds 30 % to the price of a pearl.
With pearls, lustre means the effect that is produced when light travels through the various layers of nacre and reflects from inside the gem.
When a pearl has high lustre, it means that it has a gorgeous reflective surface and a radiant depth, that makes it appear to glow.
People are most often attracted to a pearl by its colour. Colour is a personal choice that can be influenced by the desire to complement your skin tone, your style or perhaps to mark a special occasion.
Pearls come in a wide range of colours from white and cream that are timeless, to the more opulent gold and dramatic black. The rarer the colour is, the more valuable it will be.
The same way as diamonds have internal flaws or inclusions; most pearls will have small marks or spots on their surface. Instead of them being regarded as imperfections, these marks are considered to be characteristics of the gem. However, a flawless “complexion” is very rare and carries a high value, and a pearl with visible imperfections will carry a lower value.
Nature is in control when it comes to the shape of a pearl, and there are many different shapes and forms. Although they are each beautiful in their own way, the value of a particular shape of a pearl will be determined by how rare and how sought after it is.
Type of Pearls
Natural pearls are rare. In the past, the Persian Gulf was rich in natural pearls, but sadly, today, most have been harvested. Because of this, they carry a very high price and are not that easy to find.
Cultured pearls that are grown in pearl farms vary in quality. For example, if you are looking for a perfectly matched strand of 16″ pearls, it would probably mean sorting through over 10,000 cultured pearls to find them.
Saltwater pearls range in size from a tiny 2mm to 10mm, which is rare. They are usually round and white or cream in colour.
South Sea pearls are the largest pearls in the world, and they range in size from 9mm to 20mm. Their colours can be naturally white, cream, or golden.
Tahitian pearls can range in size from 8mm to 16mm. They are naturally coloured, and although they referred to as black pearls, their colours include grey, green, purple and blue.
Freshwater pearls are mostly grown in China in freshwater lakes, rivers and ponds. Many of them are white and can resemble cultured pearls in their shape and size; they are can also be produced in a variety of shapes and beautiful pastel colours.
An imitation pearl is usually a coated glass bead. They can have a high lustre, but not the depth as seen in high-quality cultured pearls.
A certified gemologist will be able to distinguish between an imitation, cultured and natural pearl which can sometimes be challenging without the expert knowledge to tell them apart.
