(Newswire.net — August 24, 2017) — Pearls are objects of beauty, so much so that they have become a metaphor for rare, precious and valuable substances.
Before buying pearl jewelleries, you need to familiarise yourself with certain factors so you don’t make the wrong decisions. Basically, you can get pearl jewellery from the imitation, cultured or natural pearl.
Most times you visit chain stores and see pearls on display and wonder why they don’t cost so much. Well, the answer is not far-fetched, it’s because they are imitation pearls. They are usually of low quality and poor iridescence.
They look like real pearls but instead they are just plastic or glass which are coated with a pearlescent substance, making it look like the natural pearl.
Cultured pearls on the other hand, are the very common ones produced. People create a farm of molluscs in rivers or lakes and then surgically implant a nucleus into each mollusc which is later coated in natural minerals (nacre). This process gives birth to actual pearls in two to three years.
Added to these are the natural or wild pearls. They are found by pearl divers in search of molluscs in their natural habitat. They are usually formed without human intervention and the possibility of finding them is extremely low. This makes pearls very rare and generally expensive.
Now that you’re familiar with the different types of pearls, below are 2 tips to buying the pearl bracelet of your choice.
1. Select a type
Before buying a pearl bracelet, you have to select a type.
Every pearl bracelet has a process through which it was birthed, it’s up to you to select if you want one made of cultured or natural pearl. You might also want to consider comparing pearl bracelets made with saltwater or fresh water pearls. Both are available in almost any color but are cultured in different ways.
The saltwater pearls grow in oysters while the fresh water pearls are cultured in mussels. There’s also the Akoya pearls grown in the Akoya oyster in Japan. They come in a classic round shape and come in a size range of 3mm to 10mm.
Furthermore, there’s the South Sea black, white and gold pearls. The point is: select the type/style of pearl you want. The cost of one will definitely differ from the other, but it all depends on your wallet.
2. Qualities
After choosing a type, you’ll be on the lookout for certain qualities. You might want to look at the color, as it’s the first thing you’ll notice about a pearl.
While pearl colors generally vary, it’s best you pay attention to the body and overtone color. It’s best to examine the pearl bracelet’s color over a white background or with the use of a diffused full-spectrum light before purchasing it.
Also, before buying, examine the colors on the pearl bracelet in contrast to each other.
Examine the lustre and see if its surface is perfect with no lumps or marks. Also, the nacre is a very important aspect to observe. The nacre is what creates the pearl. The longer it is left in the oyster, the more nacre it has, the stronger and more sought-after it becomes.
Buying a pearl bracelet isn’t just about walking into any jewellery store and picking the most beautiful one in sight.
Follow this mini guide to get your money’s worth and enjoy your pearl bracelet for as long as possible.