Giving a Pearl Necklace
From LoveToKnow Jewelry
Every woman loves pearls and pearl jewelry makes a beautiful and special give. Buying a gift of pearl jewelry such as a necklace can sometimes be a daunting task. Understanding a little about pearls and how they are formed will help to enable better informed buying decisions and ensure that the perfect item is chosen that will give years of pleasure.
About Pearls
Pearls are formed by a piece of grit or sand getting into an oyster or mussel. This irritates the host shell and to combat this the shell covers the grit with layer upon layer of material that eventually forms a pearl.
Pearls are a classic piece of jewelry and have been a symbol throughout the ages of beauty and elegance. In Roman times pearls were regarded as being a measure of wealth and were extremely prized and in ancient Egypt many important women, including Cleopatra, wore pearls. Pearl necklaces have long been regarded as a symbol of wealth as only very rich people could afford the number of graded pearls required to make up the length of a necklace.
Traditionally pearls were highly prized because of the challenge of finding them in the wild. Often diving for pearls was a dangerous activity and pearls could only be found in some areas of the world. When people started to understand how pearls are formed, they realized that it would be possible to cultivate or farm pearls and cultured pearls started to become widely available
Today, the advent of cultured and fresh water pearls means that pearl jewelry is more accessible, however, this does not detract from the beauty of a pearl however it has been formed.
There are many different types of pearls, some of the key ones include: Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea pearls.
Colors of Pearls
Pearls are naturally available in a range of colors from dark smoky black through to bright white opalescence. In addition to this pearls can be dyed and as such are available in the whole color spectrum. Dyed pearls are a wonderful alternative for someone looking for something a little different, however, it should be noted that generally high quality pearls are not dyed so as to preserve their natural color and shine. Dyed pearls will also fade over time.
Shapes of Pearls
Pearls are also available in a wide variety of shapes. While we think of pearls as being small round spheres, perfectly smooth and round, more unusual shapes can be found naturally. Irregular and unusual shapes are often prized and command a high value because of their rarity and the fact that they are different to the standard pearl shape.
Cultured freshwater pearls can be encouraged to grow in a variety of shapes, for instance hearts and crosses by placing preformed grit into the oyster. As the pearl is formed by the oyster placing layer upon layer of pearl material onto the center grit, the finished pearl will take on this shape.
Giving a Pearl Necklace as Gift
Pearls make a wonderful gift as they are so versatile. Unlike other gemstones and precious metals, pearls go with everything and complement both casual and formal outfits. A pearl necklace can be worn with gold or silver earrings, brightly colored gemstones or subtle natural materials. Therefore a pearl necklace can be worn often.
Pearl necklaces can be used to mark significant events such as weddings, anniversary's or other special days. These can be high value items that reflect the special nature of the gift. For more every day gifts less expensive necklaces can be found.
Where to Buy Pearl Jewelry
Pearl jewelry is available from both high street online jewelry stores. There are some specialist pearl jewelry stores online. Some interesting websites to look at are:
Tips for Buying a Pearl Necklace as a Gift
- Shop around both on and off line to get an idea for different pearl necklace types and costs. Even the best photograph fails to do justice to a beautiful pearl necklace.
- If the necklace is a surprise gift, ensure the retailer will offer an exchange or refund – just in case!
- Ask the jeweler or retailer for advise about how to care for the necklace and ensure that you pass this information on. It is important to look after pearls to keep them looking wonderful.
Buy from a reputable retailer or jeweler who is familiar and comfortable with pearl jewelry. Pearls can be faked or misrepresented therefore buying from a specialist jeweler will give peace of mind.
Pearl necklaces make a wonderful gift and can bring years of pleasure.
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This page has been accessed 1,363 times. This page was last modified 16:56, 1 November 2007.
© 2006-2009 LoveToKnow Corp.
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