The Pearl Jewelry Blog

Almost everyone confuses the Garnet Gemstone with the dark red stone only, the truth of the matter is that Garnet comes in an array of different colors with some of them costing nearly as much as a Sapphire.

Garnet is the birthstone for the month of January and is the anniversary stone to celebrate two years of marriage. Good sources of Garnet originate from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Pakistan, Russia and areas of Scandinavia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania and the United States.

Garnet Gemstones come in a range of colors ranging from colorless to black, the only color they do not appear is blue. Garnet has a high specific gravity, which gives it a heavy weight. This makes it cost a little more than other Gemstones of the same size and carat weight. Garnet sand is also used for industrial purposes to make sandpaper and mixed with high-pressure water jets to cut steel. Many different Gemstones make up the Garnet Group, here is a list of the more well known.

Pyrope…is the blood red variety of the group and was very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially in ‘Bohemian Jewelry’. The best stones have a fiery red color that does not darken too much after being set in Jewelry. Pyrope has a bright glassy look to it and gem quality stones are mined at Buell Park, beyond the reaches of the Painted Desert just east of Canyon de Chelly with specimens up to five carats not uncommon.

Almandite…ranges in color from deep red to violet-red and sometimes even black.

It’s name is derived from a town in Asia Minor and it is often confused with Pyrope. Often cut into cabochons with the underside hollowed out to allow more light to pass through the stone. Almandite can be brittle and have been known to chip while being faceted.

Rhodolite…has a beautiful bright purple-red color with it’s composition between that of Pyrope and Almandite, it also has fewer inclusions. Rhodolite is regarded as a superior Gemstone to both it’s red counterparts.

Spessartite…a rich orange to red-brown in color often with feather like inclusions, which are actually clouds of minute drops, clean Gemstone quality material is very rarely found and is often confused with Hessonite. A bright orange pure form of Spessartite, which is known as Mandarin Garnet is very rarely found in Gemstone quality material.

Hydrogrossular Garnet…has a very distinctive gooseberry-green color and is very often made into beads or cabochons. Very often inclusions of black magnetite are present which give the Gemstone a speckled look. Because of its resemblance to green Jade it is known as Transvaal Jade or Garnet Jade in South Africa. A variety of pink Hydrogrossular Garnet can also be found.

Grossular Garnet-Hessonite…A brown-orange to brown-yellow member of the Grossular Garnet group, Hessonite is also known as cinnamon stone. The Gemstone has inclusions of small crystals of apatite, that give a swirling effect.

Grossular Garnet-Tsavorite…is a lime-green to emerald-green member of the group, it was first mined in Kenya in 1968. Emerald-green crystals only produce small stones of 2 carats or less, ensuring that they are more expensive than the lime-green stones.

Tsavorite is nearly always faceted as a Gemstone.

Demantoid…the bright green variety of andradite group of Garnet is very rare, it is also rare to find stones greater than 1 carat in weight. Demantoid has a very lively fire, as it has a higher light dispersion and brilliance than a diamond. The Gemstone has distinctive inclusions of yellow-brown hair like pieces of asbestos. Of all Garnets, Demantoid is by far the most valuable.

To give a gift of Garnet is believed to be a symbol of love and to show desire of a loved one’s safe travel and speedy homecoming. Garnet Gemstones are said to help attract love and to assist in past life recall. Garnet Gemstones have been carried by travelers to protect them from accidents while far away from home. Wearing Garnet Jewelry is believed to give guidance through the night and protection from nightmares. It is said that Noah used a Garnet lantern to navigate the Ark at night.

Garnet has a hardness of between 6.5 and 7.5 on the Moh scale of hardness. It is a perfectly suited Gemstone for use in Jewelry. This quite robust Gemstone is one of the few gems that look better in sterling silver rather than in gold. Above all enjoy the many different colors that Garnet Jewelry has to offer.

By Nigel Makin

The value of cultured pearls is based on five factors.

Cleanliness refers to the skin of the pearl and any imperfections. There may be tiny blisters, irregularities or bumps. Since the pearl was created naturally by a biological animal some imperfections are to be expected. Large irregularities devalue the pearl significantly.

If there is only a modest blemish it may be hidden by the setting of the pearl. Or if the pearl is in a necklace or bracelet the drill hole may hide the imperfection.

Shapes in pearls comes in three varieties, round, baroque and symmetrical. The rounder, or more spherical, the pearl the more valuable. Symmetrical pearls can be flattened but evenly shaped, think of a button. Baroque means any pearl that didn’t make the grade for symmetrical.

Baroque are the most common shape of pearls and a the least expensive. Pearls can’t be cut to shape like gemstones, what you see is what you have to work with.

Size matters. Yes it’s the bigger the better for pearls. Size is partially determine by the size of the mollusk (oyster), how big the nucleus or seed is, and how long that nucleus has been in the mollusk being covered with nacre, the pearly substance. Tahitian pearls, or South Seas pearls are the biggest because the mollusk grows up to 12 inches in diameter.

Color - the most valuable pearls, with the exception of South Sea black pearls, have a body tone of pure white with an overtone of rose. The more cream colored the pearl, meaning it has tints of yellow, the less valuable. South Sea pearls are valued different because they have a dark body tone overlaid with rainbow colors. These pearls also come in white and gold.

Luster is the reflective glowing attribute of pearls. They’re not sparkly like diamonds or colored gemstones, nor do they glisten like opals. When you look at a pearl there is an iridescent factor like a rainbow being reflected back at you. This is called orient. High luster and orient means you have a valuable pearl.

While this has nothing to do with value, don’t go looking pearls when you’re shucking oysters for dinner. Pearl oysters are non edible.

By Dee Power

One of the nicest things I have ever read about pearls is a comparison of a pearl to a woman.

‘Pearls are like a woman. Once you discover her, you will never stop loving her.’

From the east to the west, royalty and famous people adore natural pearls. And here’s some news you will not find anywhere in the English press. I’ve had it translated from the Arabic newspaper, Dar Alalhayat by an Arabic linguist:

At a recent auction arranged by Christie’s auction house in Dubai, Um-Khalthoum (b.1904-1975), known as “the star of the east” the most famous female singer in the Arabic world, her Pearl necklace sold on the 29th April 2008, for $1.4 million USD, ten times its’ original value! It was a gift from Sheik Zaid ben Sultan, founder of the United Arab Emirates.

Some people are born with an eye for a pearl. Even experience in the trade is not enough though. Some people have what others cannot learn - the gift of “knowing”.

They are born with it as some people are born with a gift for music or art or touching the heart of a man or woman. “A novice has much to learn but that he cannot learn”.

The skin of of these cool flames glows rather than gleams and its’ qualities are far more subtle than the cold surface of faceted gemstones.

The famous painter, John Singer Sargent (b.1856) who painted wealthy belle Époque beauties, certainly had an eye for Natural Pearls. He used seven brushstrokes, each stroke using pigment of a different color to create a realistic painting of a single round white jewel.

An earlier artist with an eye for them, was the seventeenth-century Dutch master, Johannes Vermeer whose absolute masterwork, captures the precise realism of the gem.

The actual body color or hue is no part of the connoisseurship equation, according to Richard W. Wise, world authority on precious gemstones. No particular hue or color is more beautiful than another. What Richard terms Simpatico or compatibility with the skin of the wearer is what’s important.

You Judge A Pearl As You Judge A Beautiful Woman. You look for shape, symmetry, skin, complexion. Complexion is the lustre. And then you must look for lasting quality.

Some Pearls have a short life, others last forever. But first and last you look for beauty. Nobody can tell you what beauty is.

A woman can be flawless, immaculate and have no soul. Such a woman is not beautiful. So it is with a pearl. It is in its’ soul wherein its’ value lies.

The surface is not perfectly smooth. Under magnification, you will see it is delicately rippled. The light, striking on these infinitesimal ripples refracts into a play of colors.

The oyster secretes the nacre which makes up the Pearl in layers, like the inside of an onion and the reflection from the buried surfaces through the outer transparent layers adds to the beauty of the stone.

The quality of the nacre depends on the position inside the shell. The choicest gems are mostly found in the soft parts of the oyster. It has no intrinsic color in itself. The iridescence comes from the light striking up at different angles from the rippled layers.

Perfectly Matched?

When people say that a string is perfectly matched they think they are matched for size and shape.

Any jeweler’s boy can match for size and shape! This is mathematics. Pearl devotees will do well to note that matching pearls is not a science, it is an art.

Every pearl has a lifetime. Some lose their lustre in ten years, some in fifty years. The pearl of soul, of beauty, that Pearl lives for ever……………

by Evie Hammouda-Eyre

Do you have a obsession for pearls? Do you buy pearl jewelry, and purchase strands and loose pearls to make your own? If you try to utilize pearls in your life, from including them in your sewing and craft projects to learning how to string and knot your own creations, then you have pearl passion!

And you are not alone. There are so many people out there who are pearl lovers. Most people don’t realize how important it is to string pearls correctly, but if you are a pearl enthusiast then you know how the knots in the line keeps the pearls from rubbing gether. Knotting also eliminates the danger that all of your pearls will go sliding of the string if it were to break!

If you really have a passion for pearls you probably have an extensive collection. Perhaps you have items you don’t wear anymore; you’ve grown tired of the style, or the color no longer matches anything you own.

In this case, why not recycle your pearls? Take your jewelry apart, and make something brand-new. A long strand necklace can be turned into a double row bracelet and a pair of chandelier earrings, or a bracelet can be combined with some extra pearls to create a choker.

Watch for specials on pearl strands and stock up on peanut, potato, baroque, rice and seed pearls. Vary the colors, and remember you can mix and match shades and sizes later.

Consider using inexpensive pearls to decorate your craft projects. Edge a lampshade with irregular pearls, or arrange a grouping in the corner of a picture frame. Paperweights are a great way to utilize a mish mash of cheap pearls left over from other projects; simply find a rock and use a hot glue gun to attach the pearls.

You can affix a seashell to a plaque, and encrust the edge with pearls for a conversation piece, or use seed pearls to accent a piece of artwork like a collage. The variety of colors available makes it possible to do almost anything.

If you carry a small pocketbook, running a row of pearls down the edge can really dress it up, or you can add a few larger pearls to the outside flap of a shoulder bag. Try sewing a few into a rosette and gluing to a brooch to hold a scarf or shawl.

Wedding finery is a traditional venue for pearl use, but have you considered putting pearls on other articles of clothing? Use a removable collar or a lace overlay to avoid having to wash it, and sew pearls and sequins on for a rich, glittery effect.

Pearls can be used to decorate a headband, barrettes or even strung on a heavy doubled thread with a loop on one end to thread a hairpin through. Braid them into your hair and add ribbons, or sew them to a snood for a demure look at formal events or funeral processions.

Indulge your passion for pearls and make them your trademark. Soon your friends will be clamoring for you to create custom pieces for them, and who knows - you might even be able to start your own business!

By Shelley Boswell

It is a French translation of the Portuguese word “Barroco” meaning an irregular pearl. Later the term came to be used to describe certain music or art movements., “to underline the excesses of its emphasis, of its eccentric redundancy, its noisy abundance of details, as opposed to the clearer and sober rationality of the Renaissance.”from Wikipedia A baroque pearl is a pearl with or without a central axis.

Simply put a Baroque Pearl is a pearl with an irregular shape. During the Renaissance Baroque Pearls were use to create fanciful pieces of sculpture. Jewelers saw miniature beasts, mermaids, lions, sea monsters and other shapes in the asymmetrical forms of the baroque pearl. Generally set in gold with other gemstones, they were worn as pendants. Larger Baroque pearls were fashioned into small sculpture often used to create humorous or grotesque objects.

Today Baroque pearls are produced mainly from the South Sea or Tahitian cultivators. Generally because of the length of time that the pearl is cultivated in these pearls, it has a greater chance to become asymmetrical. Although these are a variety of cultured saltwater pearls, the amount of time that the pearls are cultured dramatically increases the depth of the nacre, and the likelihood of producing a baroque pearl. Most Tahitian pearl farm harvests, for example, produce more than 40 percent baroque and semi-baroque pearls.

Freshwater pearls because of the way in which they are produced tend to produce a high percentage of baroque pearls, although much less valuable than the South Sea and Tahitian. For a while all that was produced in the freshwater pearls were baroque pearls, some even were called “rice Krispies” because of their shape and were of very low value.

Akoya pearls tend not to produce many baroque pearls, mostly due to the way that they are cultivated. /Akoya pearls are grown with a round nucleus and they are cultivated for a much shorter time; hence, they do not have the time to develop unusual shapes.

Some of the South Sea and Tahitian Baroque pearls can be quite beautiful due to the depth of thee nacre and the reflectiveness of the rings and shapes.

By Patrick Cavanaugh

Colored stones are back in fashion One of the hottest fashion trends for last year and this coming spring is to incorporate color into your outfit through the jewelry that you wear.

Beads have definitely seen a significant come back as they have been the staple for some of the most fashionable outfits. Spring fashions are expected to include having beaded blouses, skirts, and dresses. Beads can take the blandest outfit and turn it into something flashier, giving its wearer more confidence to stick out and shine in a crowd.

It is hard to transition into explaining why colored stones are not back in fashion without first having understood the direction that the newest fashion trends are going. Fashion and jewelry go hand in hand, that is why jewelry is called an accessory to an outfit.

Jewelry designers are well aware of the trends that are popular in the fashion industry and are anxious to provide their customers with a product that will not only compliment their clothing fashions but will also give them the longevity of being well constructed and timeless in design.

Many of the colors that are popular in fashion are also available in a gemstone. Coral shades are particularly popular and you can bet that designers are making certain that they have enough of their colorful jewelry to meet demand.

On the other side of the spectrum, but still just as popular are the more vibrant pastel colors of gemstones including the citrine, tourmaline, and the glowing blue of tanzanite as well as metallic shades which of course include the classic yellow gold and iridescent stones.

As it is anticipated that “milkier” versions of the fashion colors that have been popular in recent years will translate into the most popular colored stone jewelry fashions of this year. Pearls in their many color varieties are expected to be a big seller and jewellers are working hard to come up with new designs that will appeal not only to a buyer’s fashion sense but also to their emotional side.

Jewelry with ethnic, religious or sentimental symbolism is always very popular and you can bet that jewellers will be utilizing their knowledge of these sentimental pieces in order to create the colored stone jewelry that we as consumers simply will not be able to live without.

If you are more of a diamond person (as many women are) do not feel left out of the fashion trend to have more color. Colored diamonds and colored sapphires in shades of pink, violet, yellow and brown are expected to be perfect compliments to the fashion trends that are anticipated to be popular this coming year.

Interest in Asian styles have also lent to the resurgence of colored stones in the fashion world. Jade is particularly appealing as this color is said to blend naturally with many other colors making it an easy combination to make with almost any outfit.

Classic yellow gold is also coming back in to style, opening the door for many people who discounted their old or antique jewelry as out of style, will begin to wear and use those long forgotten styles again, perhaps exciting a new fashion trend in both jewelry and apparel.

Yellow gold is also one of the most traditional metals that are used for ethnic or religious jewelry styles. With more and more people gaining interest in yellow gold, its white (and color lacking) gold counterparts’ popularity is expected to dwindle.

Colored stones are definitely back in fashion and there is little sign that this trend will be only fleeting (as we have seen a surge in demand for colored stones in jewelry for at least the last year).

By Leigh Maher

Wedding is the most wonderful experience for every human being. This is the day when two souls become one. It is the dream of every bride to look the most beautiful woman on the earth on her day. Jewelry plays a vital role to add more charm and beauty to the aura of the bride. According to many jewelry designers, pearl bridal jewelry is the best to make the bride look gorgeous.

Pearls hold a timeless and classic elegance and catch everyone’s eyes towards them. Here is a list of different ways you can use pearl bridal jewelry on your wedding day:

Pearl Necklaces

Basically, pearl necklaces are divided into six different lengths: choker, collar, princess, opera, rope and matinee. Usually, a pearl choker is 14 to 16 inches long and stays at the collar-bone. The classic length of this pearl choker makes it the perfect jewelry for brides. This goes very well with the bridal gowns or any other wedding dress. You can wear your pearl choker necklace with your semi formal dresses also to mark your presence in the crowd.

Another pearl bridal necklace is the pearl collar. It is usually 10 to 14 inches long and made up of at least three strands of pearls. This pearl collar necklace goes very well with bridal gowns with plunging neckline, strapless or a V-neck. This adds immense beauty to the bride’s make over.

If you are looking for a necklace with the length of 17 to 19 inches, you can go for the pearl princess necklaces. These types of pearl necklaces are famous for their versatility, as they look very amazing with every type of bridal gown. You can also make combination of different pearl necklaces. For this, you can combine, matinee pearl necklace with your small and light weighted pearl necklaces. Usually, the length of these pearl matinee necklaces is 20 to 25 inches long and they look terrific with high necklines.

There are several other options available for brides in pearl necklaces. The opera pearl necklaces are 27 to 36 inches long. These types of necklaces are to be wore with high necklines or wrapped into double strands.

The opera pearl bridal jewelry is very famous among all the leading fashion designers as it gives very sophisticated look. Besides these, pearl rope is the option if you want to wear even heavier pearl wedding jewelry. Normally, pearl rope necklaces are 40 to 72 inches long. These can be worn by with every type of bridal dress.

Pearl Earrings

Wedding and bridal jewelry is incomplete without earrings. You can add pearl stud-earrings to match with your pearl necklaces so as to look lovelier. These add amazing look to the beauty of the bride. These are simple looking earrings but match very well with the wedding gowns.

The price range of pearl bridal jewelry totally depends on its weight and quality. However, if you compare pearl jewelry with any other metal jewelry, the rates of pearl are much cheaper than any other metal like gold, silver or platinum. Moreover, they are a priced possession; something you will never regret of owning!

By Dave Page

All women love jewelry. But for bride to choose the right jewelry for her wedding is overwhelming and at times daunting. Since girls have many options now it is important to look for a decent looking gorgeous piece of jewelry, after all for the bride, it is her dream day and she is marrying the prince charming. She wants to look her best and awesome and these sweet memories will cherish in her life forever.

Diamonds are forever and the women’s best friends as often been told by the diamond industry. Diamond jewelry brings sparkle and shine to the wearer. Diamonds jewelry comes in varying designs and price range and it is a good investment for the future. But for some affordability always comes to the mind.

Next comes the platinum and palladium jewelry that are nonetheless a preferred choice for many.

Gold jewelry has always been the hallmark and has been worn by women all over the world for centuries but for some good reasons it is not as popular as diamond and pearl jewelry in America for wedding day. India is the biggest consumer of gold jewelry in the world as it is not only traditional to buy gold jewelry for marriages but innumerous beautiful designs are made with this yellow metal plus an investment for future as well.

Next comes the lustrous pearl jewelry, the pure natural beauty of gems. From queens to princesses, from celebrities to young sexy models, pearls have always fascinated women. Pearls that were once the prized wealthy possession of the rich and famous has now become affordable and all brides love wearing pearl jewelry. Pearl necklace is the quintessential piece of jewelry to lend style and class to any fashion wardrobe of women in today’s world. White pearl necklace is the most classic and traditional and pearls are always a timeless fashion statement.

Pearl jewelry designed with quality lustrous pearls are indeed very eye-catching and look very pretty and awesome. Pearls have always been the most sought after gem because of their natural beauty and brilliant lustrous appeal. Because of their unrivaled beauty it was customary among ancient Greeks to offer pearls as wedding gifts and their possession was considered a sign of happy marriage and sacred love.

Enhance your beauty, select the most gorgeous piece of jewelry or pearl necklace which fits your style, mood and budget, after all, wedding day is a dream coming true in any bride’s life.

Undoubtedly, wedding day is a lifetime romantic experience.

Pearl Jewelry - Quality Par Excellence!

By Kheri Chawla

Long ago, possession of Pearls was compared to be a valuable asset like real estate. Because of their scarcity, pearls have great monetary value. In the ancient times, these were 100% natural as the artificial techniques of producing were not known to mankind.

Natural pearls are formed under natural circumstances. These are very rare in nature and are formed by oysters in the sea. When a microscopic intruder like a sand grain enters into an oyster, also known as mollusk, it settles in it. Now, the oyster secretes a natural substance called nacre over this small particle.

This process continues for a long time and ultimately results in the formation of a beautiful pearl. This natural process that is perfect and flawless is rather a miracle to happen as natural pearls are formed only by chance. Thus it is, once in a blue moon that a natural pearl is formed. Hence, it has the highest value among all gems. Only the richest people possessed this gem.

Pearls are widely used in jewelry and other purposes. It is always a lady’s dream to possess this gem. Due to its scarcity and high demand, a new method of mass producing this gem was found. A small irritant or a dust particle is artificially injected into the oyster. The oyster forms layers of its secreted substance i.e. nacre over the dust particle, leading to formation of a pearl.

There are many different types of artificially made pearls. Akoya Pearls are one of the best man made pearls. They are produced in the pinctada fucata martwnsii i.e the Akoya oyster. This pearl is known for its luster and is considered best amongst the classic pearl. These are mainly found in China and Japan. Found in prominent colors, cream and white, these pearls sometimes have overtone colors like silver, rose or cream.

The parent oysters of the Akoya pearls are generally small in size as compared to other pearls; therefore its resultant pearl is also small in size, usually 2 to 11 mm thick. These pearls are found in beautiful shapes and sizes with round as its dominant shape; making it viable for jewelry purposes.

The finest pearls have special features. One can judge the quality of a pearl by its orient. The better luster, shine and reflectivity of a pearl is, on refraction of light through the pearl is, the better it is considered. Pearls are also judged on their shapes. A good pearl is spotless in the nacre and has a smooth, even and round surface.

So get the best pearls around and feel the difference!

To get elegant and classic look use Akoya pearls which are best man made pearls!

By Pattrick Jhonson

Pearls have been invaluable treasure pieces from time immemorial. It is the only gemstone, which grows inside a living organism. They are formed within oysters or also called mollusk. There are approximately 8000 various species of mollusks, of which only about 20 have the capability of consistent production of pearls.

Among the two types of pearls i.e. Natural pearls and cultured pearls, the natural pearls are very rare. Natural Pearls, which are round in shape or also spherical, are all the more so rare. Very limited quantity of the natural pearls is available from the mollusks and even amongst them, only a few develop the envisaged shape, size and color. On a standard basis, approximately the ratio of gem quality Pearls to Mollusks is one in thousandth.

Ownership of pearls would have been the privilege of the rich and wealthy, if we had relied solely on Nature. To avoid the over harvest scenario leading to the extinction of pearl engendering mollusks, the cultured pearls were made to work as a solution to it.

Cultured Pearls are artificially produced through genetically modified means that entail insertion of the nucleus into the tissue of the Mollusk or the Oyster. Among the cultured pearls, you can feature the Akoya Pearls also known as Akoya Oyster.

There are bead nucleated cultured pearls primarily in Japan, Australia, South Korea, Vietnam and China. Famous for their luster and viscose, they are considered as the classic pearls.

They are normally characterized by white or cream color with silver, rose or cream overtones. They normally tend to be small and petite in size ranging from 2-11 mm. They are quite consistently round pearls rendering them ideal for matching a wide range of jewelry as bracelets and strands.

In Akoya pearl production, the Chinese have overtaken the Japanese in the recent years. The Chinese had limited access to it until the late 1990’s, but they had already started culturing Akoya Pearls way back in the 1960’s, shedding the tagline of inferior against the Japanese Counterparts.

It is now engaged in the production of such pearls of unrivaled quality even beating the pre-eminent Japanese’ in the entire quality factor. The variants of Akoya Pearls have no standardized grading system that can measure its value.

Nevertheless, Hanadama is the best Akoya Pearl produced as of now. There is more to know about Pearls and the sea of information is vast. Move on to find more on pearls.
By Pattrick Jhonson