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Precious Stones-The Big Five
Part 5-The Pearl
By Sam and Tami Serio
Morning Light
Jewelry
Since pearls are so rare and possess such a high degree of natural beauty,
they have been considered to be among the most splendid of gems for many
centuries.
The people of India and Persia (Iraq) were among the earliest to collect
pearls, because of the rich fisheries of Ceylon and the Persian Gulf, the
Indian and Persian princes in the last century, acquired huge collections
of pearls that have never been equaled, these collections would be worth
hundreds of millions of dollars today.
Pearls A Natural Wonder
Natural or real pearls are made by oysters and other mollusks. Cultured
pearls also are grown by mollusks, but with human intervention; that is,
an irritant introduced into the shells causes a pearl to grow. Imitation
pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organic materials.
Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are
either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are
made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation
pears. A cultured pearl's value is largely based on its size, usually
stated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating, which give it
luster. Jewelers should tell your if the pearls are cultured or imitation.
Some black, bronze, gold, purple, blue and orange pearls, whether natural
or cultured, occur that way in nature; some, however, are dyed through
various processes. Jewelers should tell you whether the colored pearls are
naturally colored, dyed or irradiated.
Clams, oysters, mussels and many other mollusks with limy shells are known
to produce pearls. But very few kinds yield gem pearls of jeweler's
quality. The pearl is an abnormal growth of mother-of-pearl, or nacre,
imbedded in the soft bodies of these shellfish. It is built up, layer upon
layer, in the same way as nacre is added to the lining of the growing
shell and always has the same color and luster. For example, over the
country, hundreds of good-sized pearls are found each year in the oysters
we eat. Unfortunately these have no commercial value regardless of whether
they have been cooked or not because they are dull opaque white or purple
like the shell of the parent oyster. In recent times almost all pearls of
gem quality come from the oriental pearl oyster which has a bright
shimmering translucent nacre.
A pearl starts growing when some irritating foreign substance such as a
sand grain, bit of mud, parasite or other object becomes lodged in the
shell-producing gland called the mantle. Pearls formed in the soft flesh
where nacre can be added on all sides are most likely to be spherical and
the most highly prized. By far the great majority are flattened or
variously distorted and have little value. Size, color, luster and freedom
from flaws are other essential qualities. Unlike other gems, such as
diamonds, pearls have an average life of only about 50 years. In time the
small amount of water in a pearl's make-up is lost and its surface cracks.
Because they are mostly lime, necklaces which are worn often are injured
by the acid secretions of the human skin.
Though, the pearl is not technically a stone at all, it's beauty has
earned it a place in the Big 5 of precious stones. Jewelry artists have
long appreciated the pearl and continue to utilize its charm in their
creations
Buying pearl jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're
considering a gift of pearl jewelry for someone special or as a treat for
yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry.
Pearl jewelry: pearl rings, pearl earrings, pearl pendants and pearl
bracelets are some of the most sought after jewelry creations. Your eyes
tell you how beautiful a piece of pearl jewelry is, but how do you know
you are getting your money's worth?
A little knowledge can go a long way to help you purchase a beautiful
piece of pearl jewelry at a fair price.
When shopping for pearl jewelry online, apply these tips.
1. Shop with companies you know or do some homework before buying to make
sure a company is legitimate before doing business with it.
2. Take advantage of information and referrals from an Internet company
you have come to trust.
3. Get the details about the product, as well as the merchant's refund and
return policies, before you buy.
4. Look for an address to write to or a phone number to call if you have a
question, a problem or need help.
More Information about Pearls.
The Authors
of the above Article, Sam and Tami Serio have been passionately involved
with Jewelry and Gemstones for over fifteen-years. You are cordially
invited to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com for a wealth of
information about the fascinating world of Jewelry and Gemstones. Together
they also shelter 20 abandoned and abused dogs & cats. A portion of their
profits goes to the care and feeding of the animals.
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