Things to consider when buying pearl jewelry.
Pearls are cultured by placing a small grain of sand or grit inside the muscle tissue of an oyster or other mollusks. The oyster then begins discharging a substance around the grit in order to reduce the irritation. This builds up around the grit, forming a pearl.
Freshwater pearls are cultivated in mussels or other mollusks, and each can produce close to fifty pearls at a time. Oysters cannot survive in fresh water.
Simulated, or imitation, pearls are made from ground fish scales and lacquer or plastic. While there are many good imitations, these pearls lack the luster and beauty that distinguish them from a true saltwater pearl. There is an easy test, recommended by some experts, to determine if a pearl is real or not. Simply slide the pearl across your front teeth; an imitation pearl will feel smooth, while real pearls will feel gritty
Five main criteria are used in determining the value of a pearl. Regardless of choosing freshwater or saltwater cultured pearls, a buyer should look for the following things.
1. Color. Look at both the surface and underlying colors. For white pearls the creamier the color the more value the pearl has. A soft rose undertone will add more value as this type of pearl is less common than solid white. Many colors, such as black pearls, will command an even higher price.
2. Shape:The shapes of pearls are divided into three separate categories:symmetrical, spherical and baroque. Symmetrical pearls are the most common, less valuable than Spherical, but generally more expensive than baroque. Symmetrical pearls include button, oval and drop shaped specimens. Spherical pearls are judged by their uniform roundness. These are the pearls most often made into strand pearl necklaces. Baroque pearls are any pearls that do not fall into the previous two categories. Baroque pearls are typically more irregularly shaped and are rarely of any uniform size. Most freshwater pearls are classified baroque.
3. Size. Pearls are measured in millimeters; the larger the pearl is in size, the more expensive the pearl becomes.
4. Orient and luster. This term pertains to the iridescent qualities and the intensity of light reflected from the surface of the pearl. The play of iridescent colors from the surface helps to determine the value of the pearl.
5. Cleanliness. This is simply checking the pearl to determine how free from blemishes the surface is.
When choosing a strand of pearls, the most important thing to look for is how well each pearl is matched to the others. Each pearl in the strand should have the same shape, color, size and luster. Any noticeable differences will decrease the value.
