Posts Tagged ‘pearl necklace’

Pearl Necklace

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

A pearl necklace radiates a certain mystical charm when worn around the neck. There are generally six types of pearl

necklaces - collar, choker, princess, matinee, opera and rope. Collar pearl necklaces are usually 10 to 13 inches in length

and worn casually or in the evening. Choker pearl necklaces are about 16 to 18 inches and suitable for formal wear. Princess

pearl necklaces can be about 17 to 20 inches long. Matinee pearl necklaces are nearly 20 to 24 inches in length and go well

with business suits. Opera pearl necklace are 28 to 34 inches and appropriate for special occasions, formal events or

parties. Rope pearl necklaces are generally 45 inches or above and match well with pantsuits. From elegance, fashionable to

luxury, different looks are created by the versatility of pearl necklace lengths that can be worn on different occasions.

Princess pearl necklaces are 17 to 19 inches, and they are the most popular among necklaces.

Choosing a right pearl necklace depends on many factors such as age and occasion. Pearl necklaces are chosen and worn

differently varying with age. A pearl necklace, like a diamond necklace is available in a variety of styles. A strand of

pearls, or a single pearl on a chain are the two most common types. There are also collar, choker, princess, matinee, opera

and rope pearl necklaces.

When buying a pearl necklace, there are a few things one should keep in mind such as the surface, color, size, luster and

shape of the pearls. Some colored necklaces complement a women’s skin color better than others. For example a woman having a

fair complexion looks better in a light color pearl necklace, as compared to silver, gray or black.

Pearl necklaces come in various colors such as white, white rose, cream, golden, black, silver and gray.

What Should You Know About Pearl Necklaces?

Monday, December 24th, 2007

Pearls are true gems of the sea. Pearls are not only symbol of purity virtue and modesty but are real organic gems on this earth. Cultured pearls are more than just jewels. Not only are women passionate about wearing pearl jewelry, but also the quality of pearls a woman wears defines her persona and her desire to look beautiful and elegant.

Pearl Necklaces are one of the most romantic jewelry gifts. If diamonds are forever, pearls are timeless fashion statement. Pearl necklaces are classic and traditional. Pearl necklaces bring true sophistication and grace to feminine charm. As compare to other precious metal jewelry and gems, pearl necklaces, which were once the domain and royal possession for rich, famous and affluent have become affordable now.

Since cultured pearls are graded from A to AAA, obviously the AAA quality is the best of all because of their perfect spherical round shapes, no blemishes and high lustrous quality. Pearl necklaces designed with akoya seawater pearls are typically are very popular among American customers for their brilliant shine and lustrous appeal.

Besides pearls shape and size, pearl necklaces come in various unique stylish lengths: The most popular cultured pearl necklaces are princess length style of 16″ to 18″ in lengths Buying complete set of necklace, earrings and bracelet not only you get the ultimate trios but savings on money. A typical pearl necklace is hand-knotted with about 40 pearl beads.

Pearl necklaces are designed with various pearl types such as freshwater pearls, akoya seawater pearls, Tahitian and South seawater pearls and their prices vary according to type and quality among other factors. Akoya pearls are typically more popular in U.S.A

Pearls are measured in millimeters through their diameters. Smaller size does not mean they are always cheaper than the larger ones. Very good quality pearl necklaces made with small size pearls may command higher price than the lower quality of 8mm or more. Sizes 6mm-7mm are generally preferred by young girls and are very popular. Sizes 7mm-8mm are equally popular in demand and are preferred choice of many working and career women alike. Size 8mm or bigger usually are in higher price range.

A Necklace of Ocean Snow-Pearl Necklace

Monday, December 24th, 2007

Pearls and beauty are synonymous with each other. A pearl necklace is considered a timeless beauty. It is rightly said that among the wide variety of jewelry available, a pearl necklace is something that a wardrobe cannot do without and has to be part of a woman’s jewelry collection. It exudes elegance and sophistication and this is precisely the reason why royalty always vouched by pearls and they lie delicately on the necks of numerous queens. How long pearls have been used as jewels is not known, but is seen vividly in the pages of history. They are considered as a blessing from the Gods of the Seas.

Pearls are said to be the queen of jewels and pearl necklaces go with any outfit, on any occasion, on any person, regardless of age. A pearl necklace looks stylish on youngsters while it looks elegant on the elderly. It creates an aura of its own, depending on the person adorning it. Until 1900, royalty, church dignitaries, and the very wealthy people exclusively used pearl necklaces. This continued until cultured pearls were invented. Some of our very first designs date back more than 2000 years.

Pearl necklaces can vary in price from the very cheap to the very expensive depending on the rarity and quality of the pearls used. Pearl necklaces made from freshwater pearls are cheaper than saltwater pearls, as they are cultured pearls. These are of a wide variety and various colors are available. While the pink, blue, and black pearls are suitable for youngsters, the cream-colored pearl necklaces lie in the mists of tradition like beautifully delicate balls of beauty and are preferred by the older women. Black pearl necklaces are the most expensive as black pearls are very rare.

The traditional single strand of pearls has given way to a huge range of necklaces. Jewelry designers are always striving to add a new twist to their creations, while retaining the legendary classic beauty of the pearls. The classic strand of pearls being timeless, pearls are also set in silver, gold or platinum. Pearls, when mixed with precious gemstones create a beautifully unique effect.

When buying a pearl necklace, there are several things that should be taken into consideration, such as the luster, surface, shape, color, and size of the pearls. The inner glow and the surface brilliance make for the luster of the pearls. Low quality pearls are too white and dull. The surface should be smooth without any breaks or blemishes. With round pearls are more expensive, since the rounder the pearl, the more valuable it is - although, it is rare to find very round pearls. There are several colors available and black Tahitian pearls are costlier than other colors. Pearl necklaces are made from the tiniest pearls that are cheaper, to the larger ones.

Pearl Jewelry Fashion Trends in 2007

Sunday, December 23rd, 2007

A single strand of classic cultured pearls is always in fashion. Any woman who is looking for her first pearls will choose a white cultured Akoya pearl necklace. Their luminosity, simple elegance, and grace have made cultured Akoya pearls a top fashion pick, year after year.

Pearl jewelry with more designs is also a fashion trend in 2007. These designs take a classic style and make it even more sophisticated.

Below is a list of this year’s trends in pearl jewelry:

• Pearl earrings accented with diamonds, sapphires, or rubies. Gemstones add color brilliance to pearls, while bringing out their warmth and softness.

• Dangling pearl earrings or dramatic pendants. They move with you and are always eye-catching.

• Pearl jewelry in two-tone white and yellow gold settings.

• Pearl necklaces with diamond gold clasps, showing off the sparkle of the clasp and adding a distinctive look.

• Pearls in heart-shaped pendants or earrings, showing your love.

• Exotic South Sea or Tahitian pearl necklaces, white, golden, and multicolor, are simply breathtaking.

• Freshwater pearl necklaces with the look of South Sea or Tahitian Pearls are more affordable than ever.

• Black pearl necklaces showing the coolness and mysterious beauty.

• Necklaces or bracelets made of pearls and gold links are always luxurious and fashionable.

• A single pearl or several pearls on a gold chain prove yet again that less is more. A black Tahitian pearl on a leather chain looks wonderful on men.

Signature pearl jewelry, fashionable and irresistible, can express your individuality, and have made the 2007 fashion year one of the most exciting ever.

Pearl Jewelry - Understand Pearls Before You Buy

Sunday, December 23rd, 2007

We’ve all admired the gorgeous luster of a pearl necklace or a set of pearl earrings, but if you’re in the market to buy pearl jewelry, you should understand the basics about pearls and pearl jewelry. Here, then, is a basic guide to pearls:

Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater pearls are farmed in rivers, lakes, and other freshwater sources. They differ from saltwater pearls in that freshwater pearls are almost entirely made up of nacre - the substance that gives pearls their luster and longevity. As a result, freshwater pearls will typically not experience the same amount of wear as saltwater pearls. A freshwater pearl necklace is also typically less expensive than other types of pearl necklaces. An added feature is that freshwater pearls come in a variety of colors, including pink, black, and purple. Those who trend toward nontraditional pearl colors will find the hue they’re looking for in freshwater pearls.

Tahitian Pearls

Tahitian pearls are also known as black pearls because they are cultivated in the black-tipped oyster. The truth, though, is that Tahitian pearls come in a variety of hues, from true black to gray, from blue to green, and from pink to brown. It’s difficult to match the colors of Tahitian pearls, so a Tahitian pearl necklace will cost more than its freshwater cousin.

Akoya Pearls

Akoya pearls hail from Japan, where they are cultured. More expensive than freshwater pearls, Akoya pearls are also typically more perfectly round and smoother than freshwater pearls. The luster of an Akoya pearl necklace and pearl earrings makes them the jewelry of choice for many brides-to-be.

Factors Affecting Price

The price of pearl jewelry can vary widely, depending upon a number of factors. Taking the price of the setting out of the equation, pearls are valued based on the type of pearl, their size, their roundness, and the absence or presence of flaws. If you are looking for affordable or wholesale pearl jewelry, freshwater pearls are your best bet. The most expensive pearls may be South Sea pearls, which are made by the pinctada maxima, or golden-lipped oyster. They are typically quite large and fairly rare.

Pearls are measured in millimeters, and typically vary from 5 mm to 18 mm. Needless to say, all other factors being equal, the larger the pearl, the more expensive it is. The same holds true for roundness or symmetry and the absence of flaws. A perfectly round white pearl with no mars will cost more than a pearl that is slightly asymmetrical or that has a mark on it.

That’s not to say, of course, that only pearl jewelry made from flawless, large, round, white pearls is desirable. Increasingly, people appreciate the special qualities that colored and differently shaped pearls can bring to pearl jewelry. As with all exquisite items, everyone’s taste is different. The one certainty is that you should know something about pearls before starting to shop for pearl jewelry.

How to Buy Pearls - Pearl Matching in Pearl Necklaces

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

You look at a white pearl necklace. The light makes it sparkle with subtle hints of pink. Every pearl matches perfectly from the smaller pearls near the clasp to the largest pearl in the middle. The pearl necklace is beautiful! How did it get that way? It starts at the Pearl Farm, continues at the Pearl Dealer. If you buy a Pearl Necklace, the work has been done for you. If you are a Jewelry Designer who makes pearl necklaces, you need to know how to do this. What we buy from Pearl Dealers is not well matched!

There are seven Pearl Value Factors to be considered when making a pearl jewelry purchase. Pearl Matching is one of these. Pearl Matching refers to how well all the pearls in the strand of pearls match, one to another. A well-matched pearl necklace takes into consideration all the other Pearl Value Factors. The Match refers to the remaining Value Factors: Size, Color, Luster, Surface, Shape and Nacre. As simple as a traditional white pearl necklace appears, the process of matching pearls is quite complex. And this process has not varied from the time it first began.

When visiting a Pearl Jewelry Factory, there is always a room with a wall of windows looking northward. Northern exposures provide the best light for viewing pearls. This provides bright, indirect light. Often the windows will be covered with shades or frosted glass. Diffuse bright light is best for examining pearls in order to get an accurate body color and overtone for each pearl. Pearls are examined by trained technicians. Computers cannot do this work. Every pearl necklace is been assembled by hand.

For the purposes of this article, assume that some of the pearl processing has already occurred. We are not starting at the oyster harvest. Pearls have already been sorted by their relative size. This means that they have been quickly sorted into like-sized groups. We can also assume that the Pearl Jewely Factory purchased pearls of similar quality from the pearl farm. But, just like buying a bushel of peaches from a Farmers’ Market, the pearls must still be evaluated. They will not all be exactly the same size. Nor will they be exactly the same quality. They will not even be the same shape - some will be closer to perfectly round than others.

In our particular matching case, we are working with several strands of white pearls that are close to round. There are many decisions to be made about what pearls to include in our pearl necklace.

  1. The pearls are laid out under a bright light against a neutral background. Use a daylight-accurate lightbulb if you don’t have a natural light source. Spread pearls on a white or pale grey cloth or bead tray.
  2. Throw out any pearls with cracked nacre that exposes the bead nucleus.
  3. Look first for common body color and start grouping these together. Move the rejected pearls to another area.
  4. From your common body color, identify a common overtone. This will be the haloed color in the center of the pearl. In white pearls, this is usually rosè, green or silver. Group the pearls by common overtone.
  5. Start organizing the groups by size, especially if this will be a graduated pearl necklace.
  6. As the pearl necklace begins to take shape, identify the pearls with the highest luster. Place these pearls near the center of the pearl necklace. These will catch the most light when worn — don’t hide them near the clasp!
  7. Once you have a full pearl necklace length, look at the nacre, surface and shape of the pearls in your necklace. Identify any pearls that are too off-round or are too blemished. Do this by rotating each pearl and examining it in the light. Look for flaws but also for beauty. Swap pearls in and out of the final group and also swap positions within the pearl necklace. Sometimes the position of a single pearl within the necklace can improve the overall matching of a necklace. It often takes longer to lay out the pearls in a pearl necklace than it will to add knots to the necklace after matching.

I have watched skilled technicians match pearls; they make it look effortless. They are fast! Matching pearls takes practice, but it is a good skill to have.