| For ages now pearls have been revered as a sign of | | | | The most expensive cultured-pearl jewellery would be |
| status. Pearl jewellery can, however, be quite the | | | | made using the South Sea pearl. They have an |
| expensive addition to your collection. Pearls are rated | | | | insurmountable color of white, cream, and gold. South |
| much like gems, and each different type of pearl will | | | | Sea pearls can grow to be quite large. The Tahitian |
| have a different value. Natural pearls are extremely | | | | pearls would be next in line for expensive pearl |
| rare and make the most expensive jewellery. These | | | | jewellery. These are sometimes referred to as Black |
| pearls are naturally created by hard-shelled mollusks in | | | | South Sea-pearls. Next are the Akoya-pearls. The |
| the wild. Matching strands of naturally occurring pearls | | | | most inexpensive pearl jewellery is made using the |
| is almost unheard of. Almost, if not all, naturally | | | | freshwater pearl. Freshwater pearls have been |
| occurring pearls are purchased and sold by serious | | | | cultured since the late 20's, making it a fine-tuned art. |
| collectors because of their rarity. | | | | All levels of cultured pearl jewellery have their own |
| There is an option, however, for jewellery lovers that | | | | unique identifying features; just because the cost is |
| don't have the bank account of a collector: cultured | | | | less doesn't necessarily mean the aesthetic value is |
| pearls. Essentially cultured-pearls are grown by adding | | | | affected. In addition to personal preference each type |
| a bead and a piece of tissue into a shelled mollusk, or | | | | of pearl has a different look and feel, transferring this |
| by grafting a piece of tissue from one mussel to | | | | uniqueness to the jewellery it is used to create. |
| another. In enabling the growth of the pearls for mass | | | | Pearls have a variety of colors and sizes. Luxurious, |
| production, the rarity of the gem has been toned down | | | | mirror-reflective, pink Akoya pearl jewellery would |
| for cultured pearls. They are still quite breathtaking, | | | | make an amazing addition to the jewellery box. If you |
| retaining the beauty and elegance you would expect | | | | are going with one color spectrum though, don't forget |
| from jewellery, yet at a significantly more affordable | | | | to include some dazzling black Tahitian as well. |
| price. There are many types of cultured pearls, each | | | | Pearls will continue to be synonymous with elegance |
| one having a different value, and thus each one used | | | | and class. They will always be a dazzling sign of |
| creates pearl jewellery of different value. If you are a | | | | status; however that status no longer has to be |
| pearl lover it would be wise to get to know the | | | | defined by income. |
| different types of cultured-pearls. | | | | |