How to Pick the Perfect Pearl
Pearls have been popular since the beginning of recorded time. The Greeks associated pearls with love and wisdom. In some parts of renaissance Europe only royalty were allowed to wear pearls. Egyptians were buried with their pearls; albeit there wasn’t much they didn’t try to take with the afterlife with them! Pearls are symbols of status, class and wealth and are associated with wisdom, beauty, purity and romance. Perhaps this is why some believe that wearing pearls on a wedding day brings good luck to the newlywed couple, ensuring a blessed union. Both Jackie Kennedy and Queen Elizabeth II wore pearls on their respective wedding days. Anne Boleyn, famous for being be-headed, wore pearl necklaces with a “B” initial, a design regaining popularity again today by the television show “Ugly Betty.” Audrey Hepburn wore a string of pearls in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and Marilyn Monroe wore them in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.”
A pearl starts its life as grain of sand in the body of an oyster. To protect itself from the irritation of the nuisance, the oyster secretes nacre in smooth layers to coat the grain of sand. These layers of calcium carbonate grow over time, forming the pearl. This process can take several years even if being cultured by man, as is the case with the vast majority of the pearls on the market today. Pearls grown naturally in the ocean are far more valuable and elusive.
The value of a pearl is determined by a combination of factors and is then graded into one of four categories. AAA pearls are the rarest and most expensive, while A’s are far more reasonable in price while still being a sound investment. The first factor you should look at when shopping for pearls, and one which you will most often hear mentioned, is luster. A pearl’s luster refers to the surface brilliance or the degree of light reflected by the pearl’s surface. Color is also noted, although some colors are more popular than others depending on current fashion. Pearls come in an infinite number of hues from green to lavender and from black to pink. Consider wearability as you shop for your pearl. Choose a pearl in a color that complements your skin tone; pearls with a pink hue are best for fair gals, while dark skinned women look best in yellow.
Most pearls range in size from 1mm to 20mm, with the average being around 7 to 7.5mm. Pearls should be round and lack surface flaws such as cracks, bumps and spots. Generally, symmetrical pearls with mirror-like surfaces are most popular, but some varieties, such as baroque pearls, inherently have an irregular shape. These types of pearls often appeal to younger women as they can be more modern than traditional pearls.
A pearl starts its life as grain of sand in the body of an oyster. To protect itself from the irritation of the nuisance, the oyster secretes nacre in smooth layers to coat the grain of sand. These layers of calcium carbonate grow over time, forming the pearl. This process can take several years even if being cultured by man, as is the case with the vast majority of the pearls on the market today. Pearls grown naturally in the ocean are far more valuable and elusive.
The value of a pearl is determined by a combination of factors and is then graded into one of four categories. AAA pearls are the rarest and most expensive, while A’s are far more reasonable in price while still being a sound investment. The first factor you should look at when shopping for pearls, and one which you will most often hear mentioned, is luster. A pearl’s luster refers to the surface brilliance or the degree of light reflected by the pearl’s surface. Color is also noted, although some colors are more popular than others depending on current fashion. Pearls come in an infinite number of hues from green to lavender and from black to pink. Consider wearability as you shop for your pearl. Choose a pearl in a color that complements your skin tone; pearls with a pink hue are best for fair gals, while dark skinned women look best in yellow.
Most pearls range in size from 1mm to 20mm, with the average being around 7 to 7.5mm. Pearls should be round and lack surface flaws such as cracks, bumps and spots. Generally, symmetrical pearls with mirror-like surfaces are most popular, but some varieties, such as baroque pearls, inherently have an irregular shape. These types of pearls often appeal to younger women as they can be more modern than traditional pearls.