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Freshwater, Akoya, Tahitian (Black) and South Sea Cultured Pearl Necklaces

A pearl necklace is a timeless and classic piece of jewelry that can enhance any woman’s wardrobe. It is hard to believe that something that originated as an irritant could become something so beautiful.

Throughout history pearls have admired for their shimmering iridescence and lustrous beauty. In Ancient Rome they were considered the ultimate symbol of wealth and social standing. The ancient Egyptians treasured pearls so much they were buried with them. Cleopatra reportedly dissolved a large single pearl in a glass of wine and drank it, simply to win a bet with Mark Antony that she could consume the wealth of an entire nation in just one meal! In 1916, renowned French jeweler Jacques Cartier bought his landmark store on New York’s famous Fifth Avenue by trading two pearl necklaces for the value of the property.

The formation of a pearl is a miraculous event. Pearls are grown by live oysters, where they start life as a foreign object, such as a parasite or piece of shell. This irritant accidentally lodges itself in an oyster’s soft inner body where it cannot be expelled. To ease the irritation the oyster starts to secrete a substance around the irritant which eventually over time encases it completely forming a pearl. However, natural pearls are relatively rare, in every 10,000 oysters you might be lucky enough to find a single natural pearl.

Because of the scarcity of natural pearls, around 90 per cent of modern pearls are farmed or cultured. This process involves an irritant being manually implanted into the oyster rather than leaving it to chance.

When selecting a pearl necklace it pays to have some knowledge on what constitutes a good quality pearl. There are four main factors that help determine a pearl’s value, these include: Luster, body color, shape and overtone.

1. Luster - refers to the quantity and quality of light reflected from the surface of a pearl. The higher the luster pearls are the more valuable.

2. Body color - is the overall basic color of the pearl. White and pink are the colors that command a higher price.

3. Shape - is another important factor, the more spherical a pearl is the higher its value.

4. Overtone - this relates to the colors that overlie the body color. Usually pearls with a silver or rose overtone command a higher price.

There are also a variety of different pearls with varying levels of quality:

Akoya Pearl– Named after the small oyster in which they’re found, the Akoya pearl is the most popular pearl, commonly seen in pearl strands and earrings.

Freshwater Pearl – They are mostly round but can grow as rice shaped, winged, button and oval. They look very similar to Akoya pearls when worn, but they are less expensive.

Tahitian Pearl (Black Pear) – These pearls form in black lipped oysters which gives them their dark color. They are traditionally called black pearls but their color can range from metallic silver to the color of pencil lead.

South Sea Cultured Pearls – They are one of the rarest and most expensive cultured pearls. They are usually much larger than the average pearl, and they are renowned for their smoothness and roundness.

A pearl necklace can make an ideal wedding gift as they symbolize purity and innocence. Pearl is also the traditional gift for the 30 th Wedding, a girl’s First Communion and the birthstone for June.

Caring for your Pearl Necklace:

Pearl is a relatively soft substance compared with other gemstones, so it is important to store them separately where they can’t be scratched or damaged. Keep them away from household chemicals and cosmetic products such as hairspray and perfume as this can dull their luster. Try to wear your pearl necklace as often as possible as your skins natural oils help to keep them lustrous.

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