January 3, 2010
Share These Pearls Of Wisdom
If you’re thinking of buying some beautiful pearl jewellery, whether it’s a pearl necklace or you want to buy pearl earrings, chances are you’ll find it hard to know where to begin due to the vast pearl ranges out there. With this in mind, here is a useful guide to help you along the way and give you some background into the world of pearls.
Tell Me About Tahitian Pearls – Are They All Black?
Not only are Tahitian cultured pearls not exclusively black, they’re also not grown in Tahiti. Tahitian pearls are also bought in colours other than black, such as blue, green and grey. These cultured pearls are grown in a region called French Polynesia.
Cultured Vs Natural Pearl Earrings
Natural pearls are formed when an irritant, such as a parasite, makes its way into a pearl-producing animal such as an oyster or mollusc. The oyster or mollusc tries to protect itself and to do this it coats the intruder in a substance which then creates the mother of pearl. It takes time for the nacre layers to build up, but when the newly-formed pearl is retrieved, it proves that it is worth the wait.
The difference between cultured and natural is that the two are formed in slightly different ways, with cultured pearls having man’s input in the formation process. Man’s input is such that he will place something inside the oyster which speeds up the pearl-making process. At the end of it all, you have some beautiful cultured pearls that end up in the shops for you to buy pearl earrings or pearl necklaces etc.
Are Saltwater Pearls Better Than Freshwater Pearls?
Although both are beautiful, many people feel that the cultured freshwater pearls are just as good as saltwater pearls, and they are of course more affordable too. Not so long ago, cultured pearls didn’t have the same quality and lustre that they have today, but thanks to improved culturing techniques, these pearls are now stunning items to buy and treasure.
Freshwater cultured pearls come in many beautiful natural pastel colours including cream, white, yellow, orange, pink and lavender. Lavender is an on-trend colour option for pearl fans at the moment. For others, it is the appeal of white pearls which makes them purchase. Black freshwater cultured pearls are treated with dye or heat to produce their inky colour.
You definitely get more value for money with freshwater pearls. So, for all the pearl fans out there, there has never been a better time to buy pearl earrings.
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