Pearl jewelryPearl signifies purity, sweetness and innocence. Pearls are special because it is the only gem, which is produced by a living organism. No wonder it is called the ?queen of gems?. Its elegance and beauty has captured the imagination of humans since the ancient times. It is popular among the ladies of all ages. You can gift pearl jewelry to loved ones on their birthday, anniversary, valentine or any special occasion. Pearls were a craze during the roman era. It is believed that the beautiful Cleopatra crushed and dissolved a pearl in wine to prove her love to Marc Anthony. A roman general named Vittelius is said to have financed a military campaign by selling his mother?s pearl jewelry!
The most famous of the pearls is named La peregrina. It is of the size of a pigeon?s egg. Philip II of Spain and Napoleon III were the owners of this gem. Pearl jewelry was something only the rich and the famous could afford to own until they were cultured artificially. Three Japanese men, Kokichi mikimoto, Tokichi nishikawa and Tatsuhei mise discovered the art of pearl culture in the early 1900. Ultimately it was Kokichi mikimoto who started a flourishing business in pearl culture.
But how is the pearl made? Pearls are produced naturally by Molluscs when nacre is secreted in layers around an irritant, which could be tiny organisms, particles of debris, sand etc. The irritant is introduced into the mollusc naturally by the water current. In cultured pearls the irritant is introduced by man into the mussel and nurtured until it is ready to be removed. Both natural and cultured pearls can be classified into fresh water and salt water pearls. Basically the salt water ones are rounder and expensive. Fresh water pearls are cultured in a wide variety of size, shapes and colour making them more popular.
Pearl jewelry is no longer the monotonous round and white pearls. It has evolved into a fashion accessory. Pearl jewelry is a must in every woman?s jewel collection. Earlier only the rich and the famous could own them. But with the advent of the pearl culture it has become more affordable. Some of the popular types of pearls include the following:
Chinese fresh water cultured pearls: They are one of the common types. They come in different shades of white, pink and lilac. They are quite affordable and are of good quality.
Akoya pearls: they are mainly cultured in Japan, hence are also known as the Japanese pearls. They are of white and cream shades with silvery or pink tints.
Tahitian or black pearls: They are the only pearls that are naturally black.
Persian Gulf pearls: Also known as the oriental pearls. Persian Gulf is popular for natural pearls although the production has depleted due to pollution.
South sea pearls: they are mainly found in the areas like Burma, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia. Golden colour pearls are common types in Indonesia and Philippines whereas the silvery pearls are found in Australia.
There is a wide range of pearl necklaces, bracelets, earrings and pendants available in today?s market. Necklaces can be of a simple single strand or an elegant multi stranded one. One can select from a range of colours according to their needs.
Pearl necklaces are of different lengths, according to which they are classified as choker: 14- 16 inches, Standard 16, princess 16-20, matinee 20-26 opera 28- 36 long opera 36, rope 40. The necklace can be of a single colour or of multiple colours.
Pearl jewelry is a perfect gift for wedding anniversaries, birthday etc. You can gift a set consisting of a necklace, earrings and a matching bracelet. A multi-stranded necklace with a torsade form is enchanting. Like wise a combination of pearl necklace with other precious gems will lend a beauty to your necklace.
Earrings can be in the form of a stud, a single drop, double drop or multiple drops. You can choose from a variety of colours to match your skin tone or your outfit. They are ideal for casual wear. They can be fitted in white gold, silver or gold. More fashionable ones like the chandeliers are suitable for parties? etc. You can match them with bracelets, which also come in an array of deigns to suit you tastes. They can be single, double or multiple strands.
pearl jewelry need to be taken care of to preserve their beauty and charm. Avoid contact with perfume, oil or make up, as they tend to diminish their luster. It is advisable to first wear your jewelry as a last thing, also don?t forget to wipe gently before you put them back. It is always better to place them in a soft cloth like velvet. Avoid contact with other jewels like diamond and gold as they may cause scratches on the pearls. Care should be taken to see that the thread with which the pearls are strung is not worn out, to prevent it from snapping. It is advisable to restring the pearl necklaces regularly.
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