Posts Tagged ‘ pearl ’

Pearls: What You Need to Know

Oct 7th, 2008 | By Style Snob | Category: Conscious Fashion
Rating 3.00 out of 5


pearl4 Pearls: What You Need to KnowCoco Chanel made them famous in the fashion world, but pearls have always been a staple in women’s wardrobes for centuries.  We wrote in the past how a strand of round pearls is a classic piece for every snob’s closet, and today we will share more information about the types, variations, and costs for pearls.

Some of the information regarding these types of pearls came from Pearl Paradise, a wholesale pearl vendor.

Freshwater Pearls Freshwater pearls are best known for their wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors, and their attractive prices.  They are produced lakes and rivers in China and Japan.  The mussels are grafted with tiny pieces of mantle tissue, resulting in pearls of solid nacre.   Freshwater are the least expensive as they are most abundant.  The pearls that are less round are the cheapest, but even near round freshwater pearls with great luster will start to add up.  Mikimoto has an 18 inch strand of round brilliant freshwater pearls at $2,500, while Pearl Paradise offers a strand that is less, at $189. However, when you compare the two side by side, you notice some significant differences in luster and color. Correction: The Mikimoto strand is a graduated, A1-grade akoya pearl strand, not a freshwater pearl strand, hence the price difference.

Saltwater Akoya Pearls Akoya pearls are treasured for their perfect shape and reflective shine.  They come from a small oyster known as the Pinctada fucata, or akoya.  The saltwater Pinctada fucata oyster lives along the coasts of Japan and China and coats the bead with layer upon layer of beautiful nacre.  These relatively small pearls range from 2 to 10mm, and vary in color, from white to grey, with pink, green, or silver overtones.  You can find some Chinese akoya pearl strands for $325 for a 16″ strand of AAA quality round pearls at American Pearl.

Tahitian Pearls & Black South Sea Pearls Tahitian pearls are the only pearls in the world that are naturally black.  Rare, exotic, and luxurious, Black South Sea pearls are produced by the Pinctada margaritifera oyster native to Tahiti and the French Polynesian islands.  These saltwater oysters can grow as large as a dinner plate, resulting in pearls that range from 8 to 18mm in size.  Tahitian pearls come in an array of colors, from silver to deep black, with shades of green, blue, and pink.  This is my ultimate dream strand, but I have to save, as it will cost $10,000 for the strand I want.  These pearls usually wholesale from $200 to $800 for EACH perfect pearl.  Pearls Only has a beautiful strand for just over $9,000.

Of course, it does all vary.  Countless high end stores, such as Tiffany’s and Mikimoto, are famous for their pearls, as well as their prices.  You end up paying for the brand more than the pearls, plus you pay for the middle men who made this necklace for you, adding to the costs.  Now, you can even purchase great pearls online through Pearl Paradise or Pearls Only, which have great prices for even Tahitian pearls.  The only problem is you aren’t able to study and carefully select your necklace.

When you do purchase your necklace, make sure that the pearls are all individually knotted so it’s more stable.  You won’t have to worry about it snapping and having to chase all over for your runaway pearls.  Since most pearl necklaces are strung with silk thread, have them restrung every 5 or so years, depending how often you wear them, as the threading will stretch in time.

So here is some information and resources for you to find your classic piece that will last for generations to come!

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