everything you need to know about pearls and weren't afraid to ask
What Are the Different Types of Pearls
Natural Pearls
Pearls are the only gems created by a living animal. The most expensive ones are the naturally occurring ones created by oysters or mussels in their natural habitat that start as a grain of sand (or other foreign object). Over several (or many) years, layers of nacre (that white hard, chalky substance) form to create the pearl They are rare in nature and the picture to the left is nice, but it would quite the oyster that could produce such a pearl given its size 🙂
Cultured Pearls
Less expensive, but still natural and beautiful are cultured pearls. These are produced by real fresh or saltwater oysters or mussels, but the foreign object is implanted in the host. It can take 2-3 years for the pearl to form and they will come in a variety of shapes, sizes and qualities
Fresh Water Pearls
Freshwater pearls are the product of an elaborate process in which a single resilient mussel can be harvested many times, yielding several pearls at a time. Freshwater pearls are grown primarily in man-made lakes and reservoirs in China. Saltwater pearls, which include akoya, Tahitian and South Sea, are grown in bays, inlets and atolls in many places around the world. The Freshwater pearl looks remarkably similar to the Akoya pearl, but Freshwater pearls are available for almost 1/5 the price of Akoya pearls. Freshwater pearls are generally smaller, less symmetrical. Chinese freshwater pearls are more affordable, longer-lasting and come in a wider variety of colors than the saltwater pearl. Freshwater pearls have a very thick nacre layer, which gives them a beautiful luster and shine. The shape of the saltwater pearl is typically more round than freshwater cultured pearls. When buying saltwater pearls, make sure the nacre is thick enough that it will not peel off within the next few years.
Simulated (Fake) Pearls
Simulated pearls are made of glass with a fish scale coating or even just plastic. Good ones can be difficult to tell the difference. See below for tips on spotting fake pearls.
What Does Shalin Offer?
Quality, Affordable, Freshwater Pearls
We offer authentic freshwater pearls for the custom-selected, hand-made jewelries. As you view our website, we do not offer large quantities of products. Not because we have limited resources (although we do), but because we firmly believe in quality over quantity and looking for the right deals as well as products that fit today’s design trends while still having a bit of Asian flair. We hand-select the products that we think not only provide the best value, but we’ve personally received many compliments when wearing.
What Determines the Quality (and Price) of a Freshwater Cultured Pearl?
Luster
Luster is the measure of quantity and quality of light that is reflected from the surface, or just under the surface of a pearl. The luster of good quality pearls is sharp and bright.
Surface
The cleaner the surface of the pearl, the more valuable it is. The highest quality pearls have a sharp, mirror-like reflection.
Shape
A perfectly round pearl is very rare. The rounder the pearl, the more valuable it is
Color
Pearls come in a variety of colors, from white to black and every shade in between. It is important to distinguish between color and overtone. For example, some naturally occurring colors are white, champagne, aqua, green, golden, and black. Within each color category, there are a number of common overtones in the surface iridescence.
Size
When all other value attributes are identical, the value of a pearl is determined by its size. The larger the pearl the more valuable. Pearls are measured by their diameter in millimeters. If all other quality factors are equal, the size of a pearl will determine its value. Only a 1 millimeter increase in pearl size is a substantial jump in both appearance and value. The average pearl sold today is between 6.5 mm and 7.0 mm.
How can you tell if a pearl is real?
Tooth Test:
Rub the pearls lightly along the biting edge of your teeth. If they feel gritty or sandy, they are real pearls. The grit you feel is calcium, which is a key ingredient in pearls. If they feel smooth, they are probably imitations.
Friction Test:
Take two pearls then lightly rub one against the other. If they feel gritty or sandy, they are real pearls. Friction means there’s calcium. If they feel smooth or slip off each other, they most likely are not real.
Surface Magnification:
Magnify the surfaces of the pearls with a magnifier. If they look grainy, they are imitation pearls. If they look maze-like, they are real pearls.
Flaw Test:
Examine the pearls for flaws. If they appear flawless and unnatural perfection, they might be imitations.
Matching Test:
Observe the whole pearl jewelry piece, their shape, luster, size, and color. Imitations can perfectly match while real pearls tend to be variations.
How To Take Care of Your New Pearl Jewelry
01.
Cleaning Your Pearls
Wiping the pearls with a damp, soft cloth after you wear them will ensure that they remain free of harmful build-up of compounds that may damage the nacre of your pearls
02.
Separate Your Pearl Jewelry
Always keep your pearls separated from hard jewelry items such as rings or bracelets to prevent them from being scratched. Pearls are best kept in a soft-cloth pouch or a soft-lined jewelry box.
03.
No Ziplock Bags
Never store your pearls in an airtight environment such as a zip lock bag. Storing them in an airtight environment will cause them to become brittle and damage the luster. Pearls are organic and do contain trace amounts of water.
