Jewelry Appraisal Center

Throughout history pearls have been worn by the rich and glamorous, and given as rare and expensive gifts. Traditionally worn by new brides on their wedding day, they have long been a symbol of love, purity and perfection. Nowadays pearl jewellery is available to more people than ever before, and you no longer need to be royalty to afford it. Pearls are 'cultured' on farms around the world and with so many varieties to choose from any bride-to-be can find the perfect pearls to suit her wedding gown. In fact there are so many varieties that it's not easy to know which to choose, so here are a few things to look out for:

Pearl type – The two main types of pearl are saltwater and freshwater. Saltwater pearls are farmed in the sea, and are usually larger, rounder and clearer than the freshwater variety. They are also usually more expensive because of this. Freshwater pearls are farmed in lakes and rivers, usually smaller and often less regular in shape, though they come in a large range of different colours.

Size – When buying pearls, size really does matter. The larger the pearl, the more desirable it is and the more expensive it will be. Saltwater pearls are usually bigger than freshwater, and are more highly sought after.

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Nacre – Pearls take years to develop inside the shell of an oyster. When an irritant gets into the shell the oyster produces layers of nacre, which gradually build up forming the pearl. The thicker the coating of nacre, the more durable the pearl will be as jewellery. Some cultured saltwater pearls are made with a 'beaded' large nucleus used to speed up the process and ensure a round shape. Natural pearls are formed entirely of nacre, which accounts for their more irregular shape.

Luster – No pearl is perfectly shiny like glass but they do have a sort of reflective quality to them, called the lustre. Pearls with this shimmery surface are the most desired.

Colour – Pearls in their natural state come in various shades of white, pink and lilac although you can now get cultured pearls dyed in almost any colour. A pearl necklace made of matching naturally-coloured pearls will cost more than dyed ones, as it can take a long time to collect enough matching pearls for a whole string.

Shape – When we think of pearls, we normally imagine them to be perfectly round and smooth. In reality this is rare, and perfectly round pearls are hugely sought after and so can be very expensive. Small cultured pearls tend to be more rounded and some of the larger ones have been formed around a bead to help the shape develop. Irregularly shaped pearls are still used to make unique jewellery and pendants.

Matching – It can be difficult to find enough matching pearls to make a whole necklace, so a string of regular naturally coloured pearls is more desirable and will be more expensive.

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