| We've all admired the gorgeous luster of a pearl | | | | than freshwater pearls. The luster of an Akoya pearl |
| necklace or a set of pearl earrings, but if you're in the | | | | necklace and pearl earrings makes them the jewelry |
| market to buy pearl jewelry, you should understand | | | | of choice for many brides-to-be. |
| the basics about pearls and pearl jewelry. Here, then, is | | | | Factors Affecting Price |
| a basic guide to pearls: | | | | The price of pearl jewelry can vary widely, depending |
| Freshwater Pearls | | | | upon a number of factors. Taking the price of the |
| Freshwater pearls are farmed in rivers, lakes, and | | | | setting out of the equation, pearls are valued based on |
| other freshwater sources. They differ from saltwater | | | | the type of pearl, their size, their roundness, and the |
| pearls in that freshwater pearls are almost entirely | | | | absence or presence of flaws. If you are looking for |
| made up of nacre - the substance that gives pearls | | | | affordable or wholesale pearl jewelry, freshwater |
| their luster and longevity. As a result, freshwater pearls | | | | pearls are your best bet. The most expensive pearls |
| will typically not experience the same amount of wear | | | | may be South Sea pearls, which are made by the |
| as saltwater pearls. A freshwater pearl necklace is | | | | pinctada maxima, or golden-lipped oyster. They are |
| also typically less expensive than other types of pearl | | | | typically quite large and fairly rare. |
| necklaces. An added feature is that freshwater pearls | | | | Pearls are measured in millimeters, and typically vary |
| come in a variety of colors, including pink, black, and | | | | from 5 mm to 18 mm. Needless to say, all other |
| purple. Those who trend toward nontraditional pearl | | | | factors being equal, the larger the pearl, the more |
| colors will find the hue they're looking for in freshwater | | | | expensive it is. The same holds true for roundness or |
| pearls. | | | | symmetry and the absence of flaws. A perfectly |
| Tahitian Pearls | | | | round white pearl with no mars will cost more than a |
| Tahitian pearls are also known as black pearls | | | | pearl that is slightly asymmetrical or that has a mark |
| because they are cultivated in the black-tipped oyster. | | | | on it. |
| The truth, though, is that Tahitian pearls come in a | | | | That's not to say, of course, that only pearl jewelry |
| variety of hues, from true black to gray, from blue to | | | | made from flawless, large, round, white pearls is |
| green, and from pink to brown. It's difficult to match the | | | | desirable. Increasingly, people appreciate the special |
| colors of Tahitian pearls, so a Tahitian pearl necklace | | | | qualities that colored and differently shaped pearls can |
| will cost more than its freshwater cousin. | | | | bring to pearl jewelry. As with all exquisite items, |
| Akoya Pearls | | | | everyone's taste is different. The one certainty is that |
| Akoya pearls hail from Japan, where they are cultured. | | | | you should know something about pearls before |
| More expensive than freshwater pearls, Akoya pearls | | | | starting to shop for pearl jewelry. |
| are also typically more perfectly round and smoother | | | | |