Buying Good & Natural pearls in very hard & difficult task for a laymen, after reading this article you will have basic knowledge about the Pearls & Pearl jewellery the they qualities, There are seven factors that determine the quality of a pearl. These seven factors are: size, shape, color luster, surface quality, nacre quality and matching. These seven features directly affect a pearl's beauty and value. A pearls worth depends on how it combines the complete mix of these seven value factors such as: a larger pearl is typically more valuable than a smaller pearl. The larger the pearl, the more rare it tends to be, and the more it costs. It is important to know that fine quality pearls can be small, and low quality pearls can be large, so a pearl's ultimate worth depends on how it combines the complete mix of value factors.
Pearls are Built from hexagonal aragonite crystals of calcium carbonate, Pearls are formed in Clams, Oysters and Mussels, and are found in many parts of the world. They are usually white, sometimes with a creamy or pinkish tinge, but may be tinted with yellow, green, blue, brown, or black. Black pearls are often highly valued because of their rarity; Pearls are either natural or Cultured Natural Pearls are harvested from the ‘wild’, while Cultured Pearls are cultivated in ‘Pearl farms’. Pearls are harvested from the sea bed (Saltwater Pearls) and Inland water bodies (Freshwater Pearls) - this was the primary source of all pearls till the fag end of the 1800s.
Akoya Pearls the Pintctada Fucata or the Akoya Oyster is found in Japan. The Akoya pearls are saltwater pearls and come from the smallest of all pearl oysters. A fully-grown Akoya oyster ranges from 8-13cms and the pearl it yields tends to be mostly white or cream with hints of pink and green, but can be seen in colors like silver, and rarely in yellow, pink or blue. The Akoya oyster produces more round pearls of very high luster than any other type of pearl oyster with sizes ranging typically from 2mm to 8mm. When you think of pearls, you see a round, white and lustrous gem - an accurate description of an Akoya pearls
Akoya Pearls are Found in Japan the Oyster size varies from 8-13 Cm, Pearl size is around 2-8 mm & Luster shine is very High quality, the Color of the pearl is mostly white or Cream with hints of pink, green & silver, we also get Pearls in yellow, pink or blue but this is very rarely available, Pearl shape are Round, Oval & semi baroque
Freshwater pearls, unlike other pearl types, grow in mussels that live in freshwater ponds and rivers and are found in China, Japan, North America and Europe. The Hyriopsis Cuminigi or Triangle Shell mussel is a common source of Freshwater pearls and can yield between 30-40 pearls.
It is believed that the first gem-quality Pearl was a Freshwater one. Freshwater naturals are not as well known as their saltwater counterparts, although comparable pearls from both sources are still similarly priced. Sometimes, the very best freshwater naturals were usually sold as saltwater pearls!
Freshwater Pearl are Found in China, Japan, North America and Europe the Oyster size varies from 5-6cm cm, Pearl size is around 4-10mm & Luster shine is Very high to low quality, the Color of the pearl is mostly White, cream, yellow, orange, pink and purple, Pearl shape are Round, oval, drop, semi baroque and baroque – primarily baroque.
Southern sea Pearls, host the world’s largest pearl yielding oyster, the Pinctada Maxima. A South Sea pearl can range from 9 - 20mm and are identified by their thick nacre or ‘mother of pearl’ (an organic mixture of Calcium carbonate and crystals) with a satiny luster and a subtle array of colors ranging from white to gold.
South Sea Pearls are Found in Australia – Indian Ocean to the tropical western pacific the Oyster size varies from 20-30cm, Pearl size is around 9-20mm & Luster shine is very high, satiny luster, the Color of the pearl is mostly Subtle array of colors ranging from white to gold, Pearl shape are Round, oval, drop, semi baroque, circle, triangle and baroque – primarily symmetrical shapes.
Tahitian Pearls, The Pinctada Margaritifera or black-lipped oyster produces the Tahitian pearl. About twice the size of Akoya oysters, they produce pearls that range from 8-12mm. The “Tahitian pearls” are found around the islands and atolls of the French Polynesia. These pearls are seldom round; they come in a variety of shapes and a range of metallic colors - from gray to black to green, peacock-blue and aubergine.
Tahitian Pearls are found in Baja California to Peru-Eastern Pacific, The Oyster Size varies from 20-25mm, Pearl size is around 8-12mm & Lusted shine is very high to low, the color of the pearl is mostly range of Metallic Color -From gray to black to green, peacock-blue and aubergine, pearl shape are round, oval, drop, semi baroque, circle, triangle & baroque.
