subject: How To Choose Pearl Jewellery [print this page] A pearl is formed when a foreign body gets trapped inside a shellfish, usually an oyster or mussel. This irritates the mollusc and it encases the intruder with layer after layer of a substance called nacre. Pearls created like this are wild pearls and a very rare to find. Due to the rarity these pearls are also very expensive. These pearls are usually found by professional divers who risk their lives trying to dig them out of the sea.
Today the most common precious type of pearl worn is the cultured pearl. These pearls are cultivated by man copying natures technique,and can be grown in seawater of freshwater environments. These pearls are very popular as the quality and appearance of them closely matches wild pearls.
Pearls naturally come in many different colours. These colours can range from shades of white, cream, pink, aubergine,green,bronze grey,silver and black. The colour of the pearl depends on where it was grown and what mollusc created it. The price and demand of a pearl depends on three factors:
The most important factor is lustre. Lustre is defined as the combination of the inner glow and surface brilliance of the pearl. Pearls of low quality often appear too white in colour or too dull.
The second consideration relates to the smoothness of the surface. Is the surface of the pearl completely smooth or are their blemishes and cracks? As pearls are organically grown they are almost never flawless. For example pearls that are suitable for jewellery may have blemishes that are visible up close but not visible at arms length.
Thirdly, the shape of the pearl is also a consideration. A pearl is rarely a perfect round shape. The more perfectly rounded a pearl is the more valuable it is.
Colour is a less important factor as this depends on the person wearing the pearls and the type of jewellery, for example whether its a pearl earring or pearl necklace. However, when buying pearls, it is important to look out for imitation pearls which are shell,plastic or glass beads coated with a man made substance.
