| The classic elegance and luster of pearls has become | | | | species of mussels in Europe and America has left |
| more of a curse than a blessing. They may be | | | | Asia with this booming industry. |
| considered lovely jewelry but are usually relegated into | | | | Because of its reentry into the world of edgy fashion, |
| the background, in stuffy events like weddings, | | | | more and more pearl companies are striving to provide |
| christenings and coming out balls. Pearl necklaces have | | | | jewelry ideas for the modern woman. There are many |
| sometimes been equated with "squares", spinster | | | | ways that freshwater pearls can be used and |
| aunts, grandmothers and the old South. Pearls have | | | | integrated into a woman fashion sense. They can be |
| had a hard time competing with more edgy jewelry | | | | used as accessories. Pearl jewelry today tries to |
| like the luscious and high-class gemstones like | | | | incorporate contemporary design and color into pearl |
| diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and even semi-precious | | | | necklaces. The classic pearl necklace and pearl choker |
| stones like opal and garnet. | | | | has given way to long strands of irregularly shaped |
| Pearls have therefore become remnants of the past | | | | freshwater pearls in all sizes and colors. They can be |
| than beautiful gems that can be used as modern | | | | paired with casual wear such as jeans, blouses and |
| accessories. That has changed. Pearls have made a | | | | short dresses. |
| huge comeback into the modern scene just a few | | | | Pearl bracelets and pearl earrings come in magnificent |
| years ago. They did not really leave the fashion world | | | | colors such as red, turquoise and canary yellow that |
| but only had limited and specialized use. Today, pearls | | | | makes any outfit pop. Other jewelry options for pearls |
| can be found in almost all kinds of fashion-related | | | | include adding beads made of semi-precious stones or |
| items. | | | | crystals. |
| The reason for this is the accessibility of pearls in the | | | | Pearls have dominated all aspects of the jewelry |
| form of freshwater pearls. Japan has started this | | | | trade. Even the mother-of-pearl shell of mollusks is |
| industry in the 1920s by culturing pearls using | | | | used for inlay work on bracelets with freshwater |
| freshwater mussels. However, it has declined | | | | pearls as accentuating items. Pendants for necklaces |
| production but China has claimed the production of | | | | and rings are now also popularly made of freshwater |
| cultured pearls because of the high demand for them. | | | | pearls. Even younger people have seen the flexibility |
| Donor mussels are inserted with irritants that form the | | | | and the touch of beauty that pearls give to an |
| pearls and some of these mussels can produce up to | | | | otherwise ordinary outfit and include these accessories |
| 40 freshwater pearls. The pearls are not as | | | | while shopping. |
| high-quality as the ones made naturally but the color | | | | Office women rely on pearl necklaces to give them |
| and shape can be controlled and some freshwater | | | | that polished corporate look. Jewelry designers are |
| pearls can be breathtakingly beautiful as natural ones. | | | | coming up with more and more ideas for pearls. Edgy |
| A pearl strand belonging to Mary, Queen of Scots | | | | and contemporary jewelry designs have freshwater |
| dating from 1550 is made of freshwater pearls. | | | | pearls in them, either as the main piece or an |
| Scotland has been cultivating freshwater pearls, as | | | | accentuating item. Indeed, pearls are here to stay. |
| well as North America but the extinction of almost 35 | | | | |