| Pearls are both a natural and cultured product. They | | | | pearl will have a richer color and is considered more |
| are coveted, especially by women the world over as | | | | rare and valuable. Pearls can also be dyed and come |
| the classic feminine ornamentation. Beautiful, iridescent | | | | in a variety of shapes. The shapes vary from round, |
| pearl gem beads are valued throughout the world. The | | | | baroque, button shaped, drop shapes and irregular |
| pearl necklace can be a simple, elegant string of pearls | | | | shapes. Large round spherical pearls are the most |
| or pearls in combination with other gemstones. Pearls | | | | highly valued. Pearls of any kind make beautiful lasting |
| are also believed to promote integrity, loyalty, a calm | | | | jewelry by themselves or in combination with other |
| disposition and focus. Culturally, pearls have been the | | | | gemstones. Freshwater pearls make beautiful jewelry |
| symbol of wealth, social prominence and success | | | | and many varieties are well within the common |
| throughout human history. | | | | person's price range. |
| The Pearl Maker | | | | The creative designs for fresh water pearls in |
| Who makes pearls? Irritated mollusks/oysters make | | | | combination with other precious and semi-precious |
| pearls, but not because they are angry. In nature, if an | | | | gemstones are really limitless. You can see some |
| irritant such as sand gets into their soft layers of flesh, | | | | examples at . Tiger eye gemstone and yellow pearls in |
| they isolate it inside layers of calcium carbonate called | | | | combination are coveted by many as beautiful, quality |
| nacre. The oyster produces many layers of nacre to | | | | rich and affordable foundation jewelry appropriate for |
| protect itself. At the same time it produces one of | | | | any occasion. |
| nature's most beautiful ornaments. The most highly | | | | Stringing Pearls |
| prized pearls are bright white, very round, without | | | | Pearls must be drilled in order to make a classic strand, |
| blemish and have an exceptional sheen referred to as | | | | necklace or bracelet possible. Often, a blemish can be |
| luster. If a pearl has a low luster rating, it is usually due | | | | created on the pearl's surface right around the hole. If |
| to thin or a low count of nacre layers. Oysters raised | | | | a pearl has been dyed, there will sometimes be a |
| in colder water sometimes produce low luster pearls. | | | | concentration of color around the bead hole. The |
| Pearls are an organic gem and can also be produced | | | | pearls are traditionally strung on high quality silk cord |
| by mussels, conch and abalone. | | | | that is knotted between each pearl to separate, |
| Pearl Color and Tone | | | | display and protect each pearl from the one next to it. |
| Many white pearls have overtone colors referred to | | | | If the strand should break only one pearl will fall from |
| as tint. Pink or rose overtones are rare and expensive. | | | | the string and potentially roll away. The knot between |
| Creamier overtones are also rare but not quite so | | | | each pearl keeps them from rubbing against each |
| expensive. Pearls with silver overtones are also highly | | | | other, which can do damage over time. Silk cord rarely |
| coveted. Mikimoto and Company | | | | breaks. It is thin and unobtrusive yet very strong. It is |
| ( is the world leader in acquiring and selling pearls with | | | | usually pre-stretched before becoming the foundation |
| pink overtones and Tiffany & Company is a | | | | for a strand of fine pearls. The pearls of a fine strand |
| primary dealer in silver over-toned pearls. In America, a | | | | should be perfectly matched in size, shape, color and |
| company called American Pearl ( is one of the leading | | | | tone. This adds to the value of a necklace or bracelet. |
| wholesale suppliers of fine pearls. Charlie Bakhash | | | | Caring for Pearls |
| founded American Pearl. He has been in the business | | | | A Pearl is an organic gem. Nacre is made of calcium |
| over 50 years. American Pearl has the reputation for | | | | carbonate. Pearls are made of a soluble chemical and |
| selling flawless and the whitest body color pearls with | | | | can easily be damaged by oils, perfume, hair spray and |
| silver or rose overtones. | | | | human perspiration. They can be cleaned with filtered |
| Natural vs. Cultured Pearls | | | | water and cotton balls. Avoid all chemicals. Jewelers |
| Natural pearls are created in mollusks. They create | | | | know how to safely clean pearls that are badly soiled. |
| pearls to protect themselves from sand, parasites and | | | | Treat pearls with the respect Mother Nature intended |
| other minute foreign objects. These natural pearls are | | | | for her work of art and their beauty and luster will last |
| mostly found in the Persian Gulf and are referred to | | | | forever. |
| as oriental pearls. Natural salt-water pearls are among | | | | Pearl History |
| the most coveted in the world but have virtually | | | | Pearls have been valued for their shimmering |
| ceased to exist due to pollution and lack of natural | | | | iridescence and glow since ancient man first walked |
| supply. | | | | the earth. Many ancient cultures reference stories |
| Cultured pearl growing began with a patented process | | | | related to pearls. Egyptian Queen Cleopatra dissolved |
| invented by Kokichi Mikimoto, the founder of Mikimoto | | | | pearls in wine so she could consume the wealth of an |
| and Company, one of the world's finest pearl growers | | | | entire nation in one meal. Pearls defined wealth and |
| and sellers. | | | | social standing in ancient Rome. The Greeks |
| A bead is surgically planted in Akoya oysters to | | | | considered the pearl the ultimate symbol of love and |
| create the irritant that causes oysters to create a | | | | marriage. The dark ages saw maidens of nobility |
| pearl. The oysters are then put back in the sea | | | | gifting pearls to gallant knights as a protection in battle. |
| enclosed in baskets. They stay in the baskets from | | | | The nobility of the European Renaissance displayed |
| one to three years. Twenty five percent of the | | | | and accumulate pearls in excess. Laws were passed |
| oysters left in the baskets die each year. Yet, the | | | | that forbid anyone except nobility to wear pearls. In the |
| longer they have to produce layers of nacre the larger | | | | New World of America the discovery of pearls in |
| and more beautiful the pearls produced. You can begin | | | | Central America caused their demise in the 17th |
| to appreciate why these salt-water pearls have such | | | | century due to over harvesting of this natural resource. |
| value. | | | | The famous jeweler, Jacques Cartier bought his New |
| Freshwater Pearls | | | | York store in 1916 by trading two pearl necklaces for |
| Cultured freshwater pearls are grown in rivers all over | | | | the building...a very good buy. |
| the globe. Japan cultivates them and so does the | | | | Pearls have served man culturally, artistically, financially, |
| United States along small tributaries of the Mississippi | | | | psychologically and emotionally throughout history. Their |
| River. Freshwater pearls are produced by mollusks. | | | | value extends far beyond the dollar they command. |
| They can be grown in a variety of colors including pink, | | | | They are most importantly, an expression of |
| orange, mauve and golden colors. They are usually | | | | excellence shared cooperatively by man and nature. |
| smaller in size and come in a variety of sizes. Colored | | | | Here is hoping the beauty of pearls help you celebrate |
| pearls are judged by tone. Tone refers to the intensity | | | | your life. |
| of the color ranging from light to dark. A dark yellow | | | | |