value and care.
Pearl Formation
Pearls are considered as organic gems, as they are created by living
creatures. It is characterized as a hard object that is produced inside
the soft tissue of a mollusk shell. It is composed of calcium carbonate
in very little crystalline form which is called nacre. This material is
deposited in concentric layers, and has the same material as the shell
of the mollusk.
The natural process starts when a mollusk encounters an irritating
microscopic object trapped within its folds. Then it will start coating
the object with nacre to produce pearl. Ideally, a pearl should be
round and smooth, but there are also irregularly shaped ones, which are
called "baroque pearls".
Pearl Distinction
Do you know how to distinguish a freshwater from a saltwater pearl?
They may look somewhat similar, but they come from different sources.
Saltwater pearls are formed inside pearl oysters, which lives in
tropical oceans. These are called Akoya, Tahitian, or South Sea
pearls. On the other hand, freshwater pearls are formed inside mussels
living in rivers, lakes or ponds.
Jewelers can tell if the pearl is natural or cultivated by running an
x-ray in the gem lab. If the pearl reveals a nucleus in the x-ray, it
is a natural saltwater pearl. If there is no nucleus present, but
instead there are irregular and dark inner spots that indicate a visible
cavity, then the pearl is cultured in freshwater. Natural pearls are
usually sold using carat weight, while cultured pearls are sold in
millimeters depending on their size.
Pearl Value
The value of the pearl depends upon its luster, size, color, lack of
flaw and good symmetry. Among these, luster is the most important one.
Luster depends upon the refraction and reflection of light from its
translucent layers. This can be unique in each pearl where the more
layers of the iridescent nacre there are, the finer the luster.
Definitely, the bigger the pearl the more expensive it is. Also, if the
shape is perfectly round, it is very rare and valued. In terms of
color, the black pearl is more expensive than their white counterpart.
Pearl Care
Pearls are made into necklaces, bracelets, earrings, pendants and even
rings. It is a gemstone that is truly beautiful and splendid. If you
bought some freshwater cultured pearls lately, it is important to know
how you should clean and care for it. These are some tips for you to
follow:
1. Put your pearls on after applying your make-up, perfume and lotion.
2. Wipe it with a soft cloth (lint-free) as you take them off. This
cloth may be dry or damp. If damp, the pearls should be air dried
before storing it.
3. If it gets dirty, clean your pearls with mild soap and water. Never
clean it with solutions that contain harsh ingredients.
4. Do not use abrasive cleaners or rough cloth. Both can wear away the
nacre coating fast.
5. Do not store pearls beside other jewelries, as they can be scratched
easily. Keep it in a special corner of your jewelry box or place them
in a soft little bag individually.
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