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Pearls begin their existence as a grain of sand, irritating a mollusk�s soft internal tissues; in an effort to neutralize that irritation, the bivalve begins secreting calcium carbonate. Every mollusk can produce pearl-like objects in this manner, but the iridescent white gems we use in jewelry are produced by a family of mollusks called pearl oysters. There are fresh water pearl oysters and saltwater pearl oysters; salt-water pearls are rounder and larger, and generally command higher prices. Other criteria that determine the value of a pearl include the gem�s size, shape, symmetry, luster and color. Pearls come naturally in a variety of colors including white, cream, silver grey and black.
Today, the majority of pearls used in jewelry are cultured pearls in which pre-formed beads are inserted into the oyster. Some less expensive cultured pearls implant beads that are fully sized so that all the oyster is used for is a few final layers of nacre. Some cultured pearls don't use oysters at all, but instead implant the irritant in cells cultured from the mollusk�s mantle; the majority of Chinese cultured pearls on the market today are made in this fashion.
The three most popular types of cultured pearls are the Tahitian, Akoya and South Sea varieties. Tahitian cultured pearls are the most expensive of the trio: They reflect the colors of the stormy ocean from black to grayish green, and are larger and far more symmetrical than other types of cultured pearls. Akoya cultured pearls are symmetrical, saltwater pearls in lustrous shades of cream through pink, farmed in the Yellow Sea off China and the Sea of Japan off Japan. Finally, South Sea cultured pearls come from the waters off Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines; these pearls are more irregularly shaped and can be found in all different colors from white to black.
Because they are so fragile, pearls require special care. Pearls are easily damaged by heat and chemicals so if they become dirty, never clean them with harsh detergents; instead use a lukewarm solution of water and mild soap. Never wear your pearls when you�re bathing, showering or exercising; wipe your pearls with a lint-free cloth when you take them off. Finally, finish your beauty routine completely before you put on your pearls: Additives in hair spray and beauty creams can damage them.
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What kind of clothes and hairstyle would go good with a pearl stud earrings and a pearl necklace?
Depends on the event you want to attend. Pearls go with most things. I like a classic look with pearls.
What kind of pearl bleeds?
abalone pearls
What kind of pearl bracelet is on style now?
You cannot go wrong with a classic string of pearls for a bracelet. Those never go out of style. The pink pearls are also making a breakthrough in fashion blogs.
Where does Pearl earrings come from?
Pearls are usually from oysters. Most pearls today are cultured pearls, meaning that they are specially done. What they do is to put an irritation into the oyster shell so that the oyster can make a pearl. A pearl is really just kind of a "tumor" thingie. The oyster can't get rid of some irritants like sand or grit, so it will deposit something called nacre over the thing that is bugging it. Over time, this will become a real pearl and it's size depends on how long the oyster has to coat the thing. The reason it's called a cultured pearl is that man will put the "dirt" in the pearl rather than it happening naturally. So after the pearl has been taken from the oyster, jewelers will mount it on an earring mounting. These mountings are usually precious metal, and the price of the earrings depends on the quality of the pearl, the shape of the pearl, and the quality of the earring mounting.
What is a fresh water pearl?
Freshwater pearls are a kind of pearl that comes from freshwater mussels. Real pearls come from shelled marine (salt water) mollusks, typically clams.
Are black and white pearls a different kind of pearl?
By oyster's species, origin, shape and color, Pearls are further classified into the categories below: natural pearl, cultured pearls, freshwater pearls, saltwater pearl, akoya pearls, south sea pearls, tahitian pearls... there are still dozen kinds of pearls available while the most popular on the market are freshwater, akoya, south sea and tahitian. Tahitian pearls are borned with black colors, other three types of pearls have white color available. here is a detailed explainations about all the pearl types, Please click onto the related link below.
Do mussels have pearls?
Any shelled mollusk can produce some kind of pearl, but most are not valuable. Some freshwater mussels of the families Unionidae and Magaritiferidae produce pearls which are valued in the jewelry trade.
What kind of jewelry did Cleopatra wear?
Cleopatra seemed to favor pearls, the larger the better. She is depicted on some coins with a strand of pearls wrapped around her throat, and there is the famous story of her dissolving the pearl and drinking it. Remember in the ancient world, pearls were the most valuable gem.
What are the 6 kind of pearls?
There are freshwater and saltwater pearl. Pearls can be natural or cultured. Also, they are given names based on their color, where they were grown, how they were grown, their shape, and the type of bivalve (two-shelled organism) they came from.
What kind of earrings does Avon sell?
Avon sells stud earrings, hoop earrings, teardrop earrings and motif earrings. Avon is represented by over three million independent sellers throughout the world.
How should you care for a freshwater pearl necklace?
You clean fresh water pearls just like any other kind of pearls. A watered-down solution of water and toothpaste (non-whitening). It's really easy. For complete instructions see the Related Link: How to Clean Cultured Pearl Necklaces.Cleaning pearls is not complicated. After you wear them, just wipe them off with a soft cloth or chamois which can be dry or damp. This will prevent the dirt from accumulating and keep perspiration, which is slightly acidic, from eating away at the pearl nacre.1. Do not use commercial jewelry cleaners on pearls unless the labels say they are safe for pearls. Many of them contain ammonia, which will cause deterioration.2. Never clean pearls in an ultrasonic cleaner. It can damage the pearls and wash out the color if the pearls have been dyed.
What is the average price of a new pearl braccelet?
Depending on what kind of bracelet you're looking for and whether or not you want cultured or freshwater pearls the prices vary from the $50-$60 range into the $400-$500 range.
