Most people when they imagine a pearl are picturing perfect large round spherical gems, creamy white in colour with a shimmery iridescent surface. The reality is that pearls are usually irregular in shape, each one is different and to find one that is completely round is almost unheard of, not to mention trying to make a whole necklace of pearls that are all more or less the same. Natural pearls are the rarest and most highly valued variety, but nowadays most pearl jewellery is made from cultured or farmed pearls, which are grown on pearl farms across the world by inserting a bead nucleus inside an oyster or mussel shell to encourage the formation of a pearl. Aside from whether a pearl has formed naturally or been farmed the main difference is between saltwater and freshwater pearls, which both have their own different properties.
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Saltwater pearls are found in pearl oysters which live in the ocean, and produce the classic round white or cream pearls that have remained so desirable and sought after throughout history. Comparing farmed pearls, saltwater pearls are often rounder than those grown in freshwater farms as they are made by inserting a bead into the oyster to encourage the shape. The popular Japanese Akoya pearl is a cultured saltwater pearl and is much sought after for its large size and relatively regular shape, making them more expensive than the freshwater variety. It is still possible to find natural saltwater pearls in the ocean, but they are becoming more and more rare because of increased levels of pollution.
The most common type of pearl available today are freshwater pearls, which are mostly produced in China using freshwater mussels and come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes and colours. The natural colours of freshwater pearls are various shades of white, pink, cream and lilac but they are available as jewellery dyed in every colour of the rainbow. It is easier to farm freshwater pearls than saltwater, and for this reason they are slightly cheaper to buy, though it is rare for them to be perfectly round and a necklace of cultured freshwater pearls will hardly ever be all the same size and shape.
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Jewelry hallmarks
Professional jewelry appraisals completed by gemologists and valuers often have to take into account the effect the jewelry hallmarks have on the value of each item being appraised. Do they alter the price, up or down, depending on the hallmark. The simple answer is yes – and no. It depends on the hallmarks themselves and where they come from.
I get similar questions on forums and ‘expert’ websites, together with my own members discussion group. They are usually in the following format, and in general the same questions get asked over and over again. They go… Continue reading Jewelry Hallmarks And What They Mean...
Traditionally engagement rings tended to be similar in appearance rather than very unique and individual. Often just a small twist on an old classic can take engagement rings in a completely new direction, making them unique and original without straying too far from the traditional. Brides that want a slightly different look for engagement rings that match their personal taste and style have lots of options to consider.
Diamond engagement rings offer a wide range of customization options. Most high quality jewelry stores and diamond merchants now offer the possibility of… Continue reading Out Of The Ordinary Engagement Rings...
French Hallmarks on a platinum and gold ring Question: Are you be able to translate French Hallmarks?
French-Inspired Jewelry: Creating with Vintage Beads, Buttons & Baubles
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If not, do you know of either a book, website or person that can help me identify them?
The hallmarks are a rooster’s head, a horse’s head and a “gondola” or “Viking” type boat on water with the letter “E”.
Thank you, Maile GG, CGA… Continue reading French Hallmarks On Platinum And Gold Ring...
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