All About Pearls

Many thousand of years ago, long before written history, early man probably discovered the first pearl while searching the seashore for food. Throughout history, the pearl with its warm inner glow and shimmering iridescence, has been one of the most highly prized and sought after gems. Countless references to the pearl can be found in religions and mythology of many cultures from the early times. The ancient Egyptians prized pearls so much they were buried with them. Reportedly, Cleopatra dissolved a single pearls in a glass of wine and drank it, simply to win a wager with Marc Antony that she could consume the wealth of an entire country in just one meal. In ancient Rome, pearls were considered the ultimate symbol of wealth and social standing. The Greeks held the pearl in high esteem for both its unrivaled beauty and its association with love and marriage. During the Dark Ages, while fair maidens of nobility cherished delicate pearl necklaces, gallant knights often wore pearls onto the battlefield. They believed that the magic possessed by the lustrous gems would protect them from harm. The Renaissance saw the royal courts of Europe awash in pearls. Since pearls were so highly regarded, a number of European countries passed laws forbidding the wearing of pearls by oysters outside of the nobility. During the European expansion into the New World, the discovery of pearls in Central American waters added to the wealth of Europe. Unfortunately, greed and lust for the sea grown gems resulted in the depletion of virtually all of the American pearl oyster populations by the 17th Century. Until the early 1900's, natural pearls were accessible to only the rich and famous. In 1916, famed French jeweler Jacques Cartier bought his landmark store in New York's famous Fifth Avenue by trading two pearl necklaces for the valuable property. Today, with the advent of pearl cultivation, pearls are affordable and available to all. Cultured pearls share the same properties as natural pearls and are grown by live oysters. The only difference is a little bit of encouragement by man.

Buying Cultured Pearls When selecting a strand of cultured pearls, it's best to buy them from a knowledgeable jeweler. Classique! can explain how to make the most of your purchase and insure that you are getting the best quality pearls within your price range. You can evaluate any piece of cultured pearl jewelry on the following quality factors. But always remember that the better the quality of pearls you select, the more beautiful and valued they will be over time. Lustre: Lustre is a combination of surface brilliance and a deep-seated glow. The lustre of a good quality pearl should be bright and not dull. You should be able to see your own reflection clearly on the surface of a pearl. Any pearl that appears too white, dull or chalky indicates low quality. Surface: Cleanliness refers to the absence of disfiguring spots, bumps or cracks on the surface of a pearl. The cleaner the surface of the pearl, the more valuable it is. Shape: Since cultured pearls are grown by oysters in nature, it is very rare to find a perfectly round pearl. However, the rounder the pearl, the more valuable it is. Baroque pearls, which are asymmetrical in shape, can be lustrous and appealing, and often cost less then round pearls. Color: Cultured pearls come in a variety of colors from rose to black. While the color of a pearl is really a matter of the wearer's preference, usually rose or silver/white pearls tend to look best on fair skins while cream and gold toned pearls are flattering to darker complexions. Size: Cultured pearls are measured by their diameter in millimeters. They can be smaller that one millimeter in the case of tiny seed pearls, or as large as twenty millimeters for a big South Sea pearl. The larger the pearl, other factors being equal, the more valuable it will be. The average size pearl sold today is between 7 and 7 1/2 millimeters.

The Difference Between Natural, Cultured & Imitation Pearls Both natural and cultured pearls are grown by oysters and are therefore considered valued jewels - gifts of nature. The only difference between them is that natural pearls begin by accident while cultured pearls are initiated by man. A skilled jeweler can usually look down the drill hole of a pearl and determine the origin. However, the only sure way to tell the difference between a natural and cultured pearl is by using an X-ray machine. Imitation pearls, on the other hand, are man made by mechanical processes and have no real jewel value. Better imitation pearls are made from beads of glass, ceramic, shell, or plastic which are coated with varnish generally made of lacquer and ground fish scales to simulate the iridescence and color of a pearl. Imitation pearls go by many names. Some, unfortunately, are used to mislead consumers. The words, "fashion, faux, simulated, organic, man-made, 'Mallorca'," or similar regional names are all terms that are currently applied to manufactured, imitation pearls. Classique can readily tell the difference between imitation and real pearls by sight alone. However, due to sophisticated manufacturing and polishing techniques, it may be difficult for the average consumer to distinguish a natural or cultured pearl from a good imitation by sight. An easy way to tell the difference is the "tooth" test. A strand of imitation pearls slowly rubbed across the front teeth will feel smooth. A strand of natural or cultured pearls will feel a little gritty. This "grittiness" that is felt is from the crystalline structure of nacre that forms real and cultured pearls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a standardized grading system for cultured pearls? Pearls have been bought and sold for thousands of years, but there still is no widely accepted standardized grading system, although individual vendors may employ their own. Part of the problem is that no two pearls are alike and that a grading system would require literally hundreds of quality parameters. In addition, some gem-quality pearls are so unique that they defy comparison.

Will pearls last forever? Pearls need proper handling and attention for them to last for generations to come. If exposed to harmful products, such as cosmetics or abrasive detergents, over an extended period of time the luster of a pearl can be diminished. They should be wiped down with soft, damp cloth after each wearing and they periodically should be deep cleaned by a professional jeweler.

Why are pearls measured in two sizes? It's industry practice to measure cultured pearls in a necklace by range. For example, a strand may be called a 6-6 1/2 mm. What this means is that every pearl in the strand will be within that range.

Are white pearls the best? When it comes to the color of pearls, there is no "best." Though the most popular pearls are white with slight undertones of color, the decision is entirely up to you.

Are pearls considered old-fashioned? Recently contemporary fashion magazines have been using cultured pearls as one of the top accessories to compliment today's clothing styles.