Cultured Pearl Necklaces

Elegant and timeless fashion accessories, cultured pearl necklaces are the perfect choice to wear at a formal event or during a casual evening with friends.

Classic Pearl Choker Necklace

Thousands of years ago, the ancients thought pearls were gifts from the Gods formed from the morning dew. Their magical and mysterious beauty continued to capture the hearts and imaginations of people throughout the ages. For many today, the captivating beauty and exquisite luster of pearls still evoke feelings of mystery and magic as the allure of these exquisite gems is as timeless as the treasures themselves.

Most of the pearls of today are cultured rather than natural. Both a cultured pearl and a natural pearl form inside of an oyster as the result of a foreign object, which becomes an irritant, getting lodged inside the body of the mollusk. In the case of a natural pearl the irritant may be a grain of sand, a parasite or tiny pebble. In a cultured pearl the irritant, usually a tiny piece of polished shell, is implanted inside the oyster by the pearl farmer.

From that point on, the pearl is formed in the same way. As a defense against the irritant, the oyster’s body secrets a substance called nacre which coats the irritant. As long as the irritant remains inside the oyster, the oyster keeps producing layers around it. Nacre is made of two substances, aragonite -- which is translucent, giving the pearl its beautiful lustrous appearance and conchiolin -- which acts as a glue holding the layers of aragonite together.

Cultured pearl necklaces are available in a number of different styles and lengths and a variety of color choices.

• A pearl choker generally measures approximately 14 to 16 inches in length and should rest on the base of the neck when worn. A classic necklace style, a choker is made of a single strand of pearls.

• A pearl collar fits snugly around the throat and is generally 12 to 13 inches in length. This type of pearl necklace consists of three or more strands of pearls.

• A pearl necklace that rests on the wearer’s collar bone, or just below it, is called a princess style necklace. The length of this single strand necklace usually varies from 17 to 19 inches long.

• When a pearl necklace measures 20 to 24 inches long, it is known as a matinée style necklace.

• A longer pearl necklace is known as an opera length necklace. This style is generally between 28 and 34 inches long. Another way to wear an opera length pearl necklace is to make it into a two-strand choker by doubling the long pearl strand over itself.

• A necklace that has pearls that are all the same size is called uniform.
• When the pearls in a necklace are arranged according to their size with the largest in the center and the smallest at each end, the necklace is called graduated.

• A tin cup pearl necklace has lengths of chain between pearls of equal size.

Many women love the stylish look of wearing multiple pearl necklaces of different lengths at the same time.

The beautiful variety of pearl colors is the result of the nacre the oyster produces. Cultured pearl colors vary depending on where the pearl farm is located such as Tahitian pearls, South Sea pearls or Akoya pearls.

The following are the most common colors of cultured pearls:

• White
• White rose
• Cream
• Peacock
• Silver
• Gold
• Pink
• Peach
• Rose
• Lilac
• Lavender
• Green
• Black green
• Dark green
• Eggplant (Aubergine)
• Blue
• Gray
• Brown
• Black
• Magenta
• Multicolor
• Rainbow

A pearl’s luster is one of the most important aspects of its beauty. It refers to the reflective quality, or brilliance, of the pearl. Luster is what gives a pearl necklace its spectacular deep and intense shine. Generally, the higher a pearl’s luster, the greater its value.

• Blue Nile
• American Pearl
• The Pearl Source
• Pearl Paradise
• Pearl Princess
• Pure Pearls
• Pearls of Joy

Cultured pearls are delicate and are easily damaged by chemicals found in hair spray, perfume and cosmetics. To avoid dulling the luster of your pearls, always put them on last when getting ready to go out and remove them first once you are home. Once you have removed your cultured pearls, wipe them with a soft cloth. Doing this protects the pearls from the acidity of your skin and sweat. Store cultured pearls away from other jewelry items so they do not scratch. Even better, store them in a soft pouch.

More tips for caring for cultured pearls include:

• Never wear your pearls when showering or swimming.
• Keep pearls away fro heat and dry air to prevent damage
• Never clean with a brush or abrasive material
• Never clean your pearls with soap, detergent or harsh cleaners

Cultured pearl necklaces have a natural radiance and a beautiful glowing depth and luster from within.

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