Pearls are one of nature's most beautiful gifts. Pearls come in many shapes, sizes and price points. There are natural pearls, cultured pearls, black and freshwater pearls and seed pearls to name a few. Cultured pearls are when a foreign object is inserted into a mollusk by a human. The mollusk continues on with their natural process and creates what is called a cultured pearl. The most valued and expensive pearls are natural and that are near perfect in symmetry. It takes almost 10 years for a mollusk to build up a firm pearl. In many ancient cultures like Greek, Chinese and Japanese there are many myths and folklore that surround pearls. Many cultures thought pearls offered healing and protection from evil spirits. June's birthstone is represented by the pearl. Anyone who is lucky to have real pearls has a true treasure.
No gemstone states classic' like pearls. Wearing a pearl necklace or pearl earrings makes any woman feel stylish and chic. Choosing pearl earrings is a great start to a pearl set. Pearl earrings are usually not a jewelry item that is worn every day. Most pearl earrings are very understated and set in classic settings. A traditional setting is a single pearl with a modest setting. Another popular setting is the pearl drop earring with diamonds. This style is very suitable for a dressy affair. In most pearl jewelry there is no need for flashy settings, the beauty of the pearl speaks for itself.
If adding a pearl necklace to your collection one timeless piece is the short single strand of pearls. These pearls have been made timeless by fashion icon Jacqueline Onassis and are a perennial favorite of women all over the world. Long strands of pearl necklaces made popular by Coco Chanel can be found at affordable prices if choosing freshwater over natural or cultured. Buying decent quality fake pearl jewelry is always a great alternative if the real deal is too far out of budget.
When buying pearls it is most important to buy from reputable jewelers. To the untrained eye fake pearls can pass as real and unscrupulous dealers can charge high prices for fakes. Pearl jewelry is fragile and a few precautions are needed when caring for pearls. They should be kept away from heat and hairspray or perfumes and other alcohols. Whether imitation or real wearing any pearl jewelry will undoubtedly make any woman feel like a million bucks.