Few Gems possess the history and romance of pearls. Symbol of romance and happiness, pearls have been treasured for centuries. They are given to girls on their sixteenth birthdays and are classic enough to be worn by even sixty year olds. A woman’s personal collection is incomplete without pearl jewellery.

Classification of Pearls

• Natural Pearls: Natural pearls are formed when an irritant, such as a parasite or grain of sand enters the oysters/mollusk flesh causing it to secrete nacre around it, which in time forms a pearl. Natural pearls are created by chance.

• Cultured Pearls: Cultured pearls evolve in the same way as natural ones, though farmers intentionally place irritants in the oysters to begin the formation of the pearl. Cultured pearls are grown with the help of human being.

• Imitation Pearls: Products that simulate the appearance of natural or cultured pearls without possessing their chemical composition and/or their physical properties and/or their structure. These are made in factory from glass, ceramic, shell or even plastic.

Types of Cultured Pearls

• Fresh water cultured pearls: are grown in lakes & rivers. A majority of the fresh water pearls are cultivated in China, Japan and the United states. Fresh water pearls generally are elongated in shape and have a milky translucent appearance. They vary from 2mm to 5mm in size and come in greater range of colors.

• Saltwater cultured pearls: are grown in bodies of saltwater such as seas and bays. Salt water pearls are from oysters. The three most common types of saltwater pearls are Akoya pearls, South sea pearls and Tahitian pearls.

• Akoya pearls: These are cultivated mainly in Japan and China. The size range is from 2mm to 9mm.Most akoya pearls have a white to cream colour and other colours including yellow,gray and blue are possible.

• Tahitian pearls: These are cultivated primarily around the islands of French Polynesian. The pearls are unique because of their natural dark colors. Most “black” Tahitian pearls are not actually black, but are instead silver, charcoal, or a multitude of colors with the dominant color being green. Truly black pearls are among the most beautiful pearls in the world, and are extremely rare. They vary from 8mm to 14mm in size.

• South sea pearls: A South Sea pearl is pearl produced by the largest oysters. They are currently cultured in areas throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans, primarily in Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar. South Sea pearls also have a subtle array of colors; typically white, silver, and golden. They vary from 8mm to 15mm in size and in exceptional cases even larger.

Other types of cultured pearls

• Keshi pearls: Keshi pearls are accidental byproducts of salt water and fresh water culturing process. It comes in variety of sizes and colours.
• Mabe pearls: A mabe pearl is grown against the inside of the oyster’s shell, rather than within its tissue. They can be cultivated in a variety of shapes like hemispherical, ovals, hearts, drops and cushions. The larger ones can grow to as much as 22mm.

How to choose the perfect pearl//factors determining the value of pearls

Judging the quality and value of pearls can be confusing after all, there are so many different types, colors and shapes. Here’s a quick guide to help you find the ideal pearl at the perfect price.

·         Nacre: Nacre (mother of pearl) is the layer of calcium carbonate that gives the pearl its distinctive appearance. The thicker the layers of nacre, the larger the pearl and more valuable and rare it is.

·         Luster: A pearl’s luster is a measure of its brilliance and reflectivity. High-quality pearls are bright and shiny-you should be able to see your reflection in them. Lower-quality pearls have a chalkier or dull appearance.

·         Surface: The surface should be smooth and clean, without bumps, spots, scratch, crack, wrinkle, discolorations, or other disfiguring characteristics. A pearl with blemish free surface is of a higher value.

·         Size: Larger pearls command higher prices (again, with all other factors being equal). The size of the pearl is measured by its diameter in millimeters.

·         Color: Pearl colors range across almost the entire spectrum from white to black. Some naturally occurring colors include silver, cream, white, pink, champagne, golden, green, gray, black and blue. The color is purely a matter of personal choice.

·         Shape: Perfectly round pearls are extremely rare, and therefore very expensive. Pearls of less definable shapes are called as baroque pearls. other standard shapes are Near round, oval, button, drop and semi baroque

·         Match: In any piece of jewellery, the pearls should be carefully matched for size, shape, surface, color and luster. Therefore, the closer the match, higher the value.

Caring for pearls

·         Should be kept free of perfumes, cosmetics, perspiration and dirt.

·         Wipe the pearls with soft cloth.

·         Clean pearls in a solution of warm water and non detergent soap

·         Never use ultrasonic or steam-cleaning

·         Knots between each pearl will avoid loss and scratches.

·         Keep the pearl jewellery separately in velvet lined or silk bag.

·         Inspect the clasp.