... into pearls. White or Cream Pearls: Most pearls are white or cream-colored, whether from the sea or a freshwater river or lake. Perfectly symmetrical natural pearls are rare, although ocean pearls tend to generally be more rounded than their irregularly shaped, freshwater cousins. They come in a variety of shapes, from teardrops to saltwater blister or freshwater mabe--both flat on one side--to tiny freshwater nuggets or sphere-like saltwater pearls. These shapes are most beneficial for embellishing clothing. The smaller pearls can be sewn on like seed beads and the blister and mabe pearls are perfect to embellish a pair of shoes or a bag. Colored Pearls: Pearls naturally ... side--to tiny freshwater nuggets or sphere-like saltwater pearls. These shapes are most beneficial for embellishing clothing. The smaller pearls can be sewn on like seed beads and the blister and mabe pearls are perfect to embellish a pair of shoes or a bag. Colored Pearls: Pearls naturally occur in different colors, primarily due to environmental conditions. They can be pink, peach, gold, lavender, brown, gray, black, or several other colors. Black and gold pearls are thought to bring prosperity to the wearer. Pink brings power and health, while brown pearls (also called chocolate pearls) are sometimes considered masculine. Colored pearls are frequently created by dying them with an ...
Tags: beaded clothes | diamond beads | pearl beads | colored diamonds | colored pearls |

... implanted with tiny beads or grains of sand when they are two years old. These implantations function as the seeds for new gems. The mollusks are returned to their saltwater habitat for two to three years for bead production. They secrete layers of nacre to entomb the seed, and form the beads. The oysters can survive the removal of the jewels. During their life-cycles, they can be reseeded about four times. Centuries after their discovery by ocean traders, South Sea pearls remain highly valued. Their uniquely beautiful luster and iridescence make them one of the most desirable jewels in the world. ... , Australia, Indonesia and Tahiti. Only a small portion of wild Pinctada maxima oysters contain jewels. Natural gemstones are collected from the wild. They are generally prized more highly than their cultured cousins, which are seeded and harvested on farms. The majority of today's beads are harvested from oyster-bed saltwater farms. In the western part of Australia, the white-lipped and gold-lipped Pinctada maxima clams are primarily harvested. The black-lipped Pinctada margaritifera mollusks are harvested from the tropical seawater of Tahiti. The clams are named for the hues of their interior edges. Growing up to 12 inches in ...
Tags: south sea pearls | south sea pearl earrings | south sea pearl necklace | south sea pearl pendant |

... Amongst the most beautiful pearls in the world, Tahitian pearls are farmed in warm saltwater lagoons, mainly throughout French Polynesia. No pearls are actually cultured in Tahiti itself, with the main farms being as far as 1500km away on remote atolls and islands. Their locations are chosen for their reefs that provide protection from tides, access to free flowing warm water and environmental purity. Tahitian pearls are cultured in the Pinctada margaritifera cumingii oyster. This large oyster produces pearls that are regularly grown between 8 and 18mm in diameter, becoming more valuable with increasing lustre and size. Before export, every batch of pearls are graded using X ... between 18 and 24 months, the pearl is harvested from the oyster and possibly the oyster is seeded for a further second or third operation, a technique that enables the production of a few large beautiful pearls. The most exotic and original of pearls, Tahitian pearls are also confusingly known as 'black pearls' as a result of taking on the colour of their black lipped oyster host. These pearls are produced though in many mysterious colours such as silver, grey, pistachio, peacock and aubergine. Initially the industry believed these incredible colours to be the result of a post-culturing treatment. Following confirmation by a leading ...
Tags: tahitian pearls | beautiful tahitian pearls | tahitian cultured pearls | colourful pearls | black pearls |

... Although the main reservoir of pearls has been saltwater mollusks, freshwater mussels which reside in ponds, lakes and rivers are also popular pearl sources. Labeled as a June birth stone they are worn exclusively by women and, it requires no polishing or cutting. Here are some interesting facts about pearls - It is formed when a foreign object is introduced into the shell of a mollusk. In cultured pearls this done by human intervention unlike natural formation which is triggered by a sand particle or any other "irritant". The mollusk secretes an organic substance called nacre which forms a layer of protective material over the ... by human intervention unlike natural formation which is triggered by a sand particle or any other "irritant". The mollusk secretes an organic substance called nacre which forms a layer of protective material over the foreign particle. The resultant formation of lucent ball is known as pearl. Different types of pearls - Japanese Akoya Pearls are often used to describe cultured ones. But today, they are grown in China, South Korea, Vietnam and Australia. The cooler waters off the coasts of these countries are largely responsible for the top quality luster that these orphic gems radiate. Their average size ranges from 6mm to 7mm ...
Tags: Pearls | Japanese Akoya Pearls | Freshwater pearls | Tahitian Pearls | South Sea Pearls |

... Pearls have always been associated with luxury and for centuries were highly prized and extremely expensive. Those pearls were naturally found saltwater pearls i.e. not cultivated as they are today, but searched for by divers as cultivated ones did not exist until about a century ago. Never before have there been so much choice and variation within the various types of pearls as there is today. And there is a lot of confusion about the subject of pearls. Today about 98% of pearls are cultivated and not naturally found, so cultivated pearls are grown in both salt water and fresh water. Freshwater pearls have changed beyond all recognition ... changed and so the resultant pearls are not the same type as the original tiny, bumpy, seed type which were the freshwater pearls of the 1970's and 1980's. Of course the saltwater pearl, which has been worn for centuries, can command higher prices because the pearl remains for longer in the mollusc and so there is more opportunity for it to grow larger than freshwater pearls do, and invariably a larger size means higher price for the same quality. All types of pearls can come in round, near-round and uneven shapes i.e. baroque and keishi pearls. Freshwater pearls take things to another dimension ...
Tags: pearl | pearls | handmade | artisan | jewellery | jewelry |

... were developed. Today, we have saltwater pearl culturing which involves a mother of pearl bead nucleus and a piece of mantle tissue and we have freshwater culturing which involves only mantle tissue. Both of these processes allow us to have these glowing gems that have captured our hearts. However, even with culturing, the supply isn't endless. The method is long and tedious and Mother Nature can still eliminate an entire crop of pearls before a single one is ever harvested. Fine gem quality pearls are so rare, as only 20% of a pearl harvest will yield pearls suitable for pearl jewelry and only ... pearls dates back to ancient times. Glorious myths and folklore surrounds this gem which was once reserved only for royalty. Natural pearls, from days of yore, were created from a small irritant being trapped in a mollusk. The organism, out in the wild, would try to rid itself of the pest by secreting nacre over the problem all while trying to survive the elements and attack from predators. It's a wonder that a pearl ever came into existence. Because the demand was so high for these natural beauties and the supply was so limited, culturing techniques were developed. Today, we have saltwater ...
Tags: pearls | cultured pearls | pearl simulates | simulated pearls | simulated pearl | pearl jewelry |

... years to form a beautiful pearl. However, natural pearls are now very rare and most pearls on the market today are cultivated on environment-friendly pearl farms. Freshwater pearls, for instance, are cultivated in mussels, living in lakes, rivers or breeding pools. They are often not very round, because in this type of mussels the nacre does not grow around the nucleus. A nucleus is a tiny ball of nacre which is used to grow saltwater pearls. This is why fresh water pearls are not big either. Consisting of thick nacre, such pearls produce a deeply intense shine. Freshwater pearls are very delicate and richly coloured.They are ... does not grow around the nucleus. A nucleus is a tiny ball of nacre which is used to grow saltwater pearls. This is why fresh water pearls are not big either. Consisting of thick nacre, such pearls produce a deeply intense shine. Freshwater pearls are very delicate and richly coloured.They are usually irregular in shape and the drop pearl is popular. You will often see them made up as drop pearl earrings. Other shapes include oval, round and 'Baroque'. The latter refers to pearls of irregular shape. Pearls have been sought-after since Ancient times.The Greeks thought they were the tears of Angels, or of ...
Tags: drop pearl earrings | drop pearl | pearl jewellery | silver necklaces |

... an ancient Chinese proverb: "Gold is estimable, but Jade is priceless." In China this belief had tremendous influence upon the culture and also upon its choice of personal decor in many different ways. Early jade rings show evidence of being fashioned with a very old type of compound milling machine. Saltwater pearls were another Chinese gem that became very popular. It is a fact that the color "blue" was an Imperial color. It was used to designate royalty and/or rank. Blue enamelling was used to embellish royal ornamentation. This identification of the color "blue" with special importance is no less true ... jade artifacts in order to protect them in the afterlife. One might ask a question at this point. What is the most popular gemstone materials used today in China? Well, not very much has changed up to the present time in regard to the choices of manufactured Chinese jewelry. Pearls (both freshwater and saltwater), jade (both nephrite and jadeite), and cloisonne enamelling remain at the top of the list. China is a country that has not forgotten its history. These gems and other pieces of jewelry are very important parts of their culture, their national heritage, and even their own spirituality. To ...
Tags: chinese jewelry | gemstones | ancient | modern |