Choose Pearls Effectively: Buying Tips

<h1>Choose Pearls Effectively: Buying Tips</h1>Author: <a title="Rupunkel" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/rupunkel/150171.htm">Rupunkel</a> Natural pearl and Cultured pearl Natural pearls are rare and expensive. Most pearl jewelries sold in the market today are made of cultured pearls and one could hardly tell the difference between a good quality cultured pearl and a natural pearl. Cultured pearls mean that the mollusk is purposely inserted with an irritant or nucleus from which it creates a pearl. The basic difference is that a natural pearl is the resultoutome of the mollusk working alone and the cultured pearl is the product of nature being helped by science. Cultured pearls are not fake like many people may think. The culturing process takes from 2 to 3 years and is a very delicate process. The pearl farmers have little control on what the final outcome of the pearl will look like or if the mollusk will reject the nucleus. Not all pearls are fine quality or even desirable at all. The end result is ultimately a result of nature. The cultured pearl now rivals with fine diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. Types of cultured pearls Cultured pearls come in two primary forms:
<ul>
 <li>Pearls that are cultured in freshwater. </li>
 <li>Pearls that are grown in saltwater.</li>
</ul>
Saltwater cultured pearls are much higher in quality as compared to their freshwater pearls. Saltwater cultured pearl jewelry is much more expensive. Popular pearl varieties Cultured pearls come in a wide array of shapes, colors and sizes. The assortments of pearls are equally fascinating. There are artistic costume jewelries produced using different varieties of pearls ranging from
<ul>
 <li>Akoya Pearl(grown in Japan and China) </li>
 <li>White South Sea Pearl(grown in Australia, Mynamar and Indonesia) </li>
 <li>South Sea Black Pearl (grown in French Polynesia) </li>
 <li>Freshwater Pearl (grown in Japan, China and the United States) </li>
 <li>Mabe Pearls (grown in Japan, Australia, French Polynesia, Indonesia, and the Philippines) </li>
 <li>Keshi Pearls (grown in Japan, Australia, French Polynesia, Indonesia, and the Philippines) </li>
 <li>Hyderbadi/Indian pearls (grown in India)</li>
</ul>
How to choose pearls? Purchasing pearl jewelry is a tricky business. If you are not fully familiar with the various available options, quality and the price structure of the various kinds of pearls, you are sure to be in big trouble. So perhaps the best way to buy pearl jewelry is to buy from a source that offers a return warranty if at least the quality is not satisfactory. Take the pearl and rub it against a smooth surface on your tooth. A real pearl will feel slightly gritty and an artificial or fake pearls will glide smoothly, with no resistance. With a little practice, and training yourself what a real pearl feels like, you will be able to spot a genuine pearl like a professional. The important factores that are to be kept in mind while choosing pears are as follows:
<ul>
 <li>Luster: Luster is one of the first factors to consider while choosing pearl. Luster is an intense brightness that illuminates from within the pearl. Here lustre doesnot imply the shine that is seen in imitation pearls. The intense brightness results from light being reflected throughout the numerous layers of nacre. When the pearl is of good quality, it will have a sharp contrast between the brightest area where direct light is falling on the pearl and the shaded area creating an illusion of a ball within the pearl. Check for luster by putting the pearl under a fluorescent lamp and rolling them from side to side to examine uniform luster. Examine pearls over a light gray or white material and never black because it is harder to see the true quality of the pearl. The mirror-like shimmer on the pearl's surface varies from pearl to pearl. Some pearls are quite dull, and some are so lustrous they seem to be made of mirrors themselves. When buying pearls, the thicker the outside layer of nacre is and the better the luster, the higher quality the pearl is. </li>
 <li>Color: Pearl color is also important. When choosing pearls note their body color and overtones. The most desirable and more rare white pearls have rose colored overtones. Cream colored pearls are more affordable. Pearls can also have tones rated in intensity. Darker toned pearls are more desirable and expensive. Many natural body colors are available in pearls including white, black, blue, gray, gold, pink, and green. Distinctive colored pearls are rarer and harder to find. Make sure the pearls have not been dyed, especially for costlier pearls like the black or golden varieties. </li>
 <li>Surface perfection: Examine pearls surface for blemishes. It is best to check for blemishes on a dark background. Check in both intense and diffused light. No pearls are perfect and small blemishes can be ignored for more important quality like nacre and luster. Pearls with higher luster hide blemishes better. </li>
 <li>Shape and size: When choosing pearls also consider shape. There are three pearl shape : symmetrical, spherical, and baroque. The spherical is the rarest and hence desirable. Symmetrical pearls include teardrop or pear-shaped pearls. They are less expensive than spherical pearls. Baroque pearls are irregularly shaped and often the least expensive. Size should also be taken into consideration. Larger cultured pearls are rarer and more expensive. Measured by their diameter in millimeters, the average cultured pearls sold today are between 7 and 71/2 millimeters. Generally, the larger the pearl, the more valuable it will be. </li>
 <li>Precision:One more factor to consider in pearls is the precision. Match the pearl quality in a string of pearls. Pearl matching affects the value of the jewelry because when pearls are not matched properly it takes away from the beauty of the jewelry. Also, make sure the pearls are all drilled in the center so they lay properly. Off-center drilled pearls will not lay correctly and reduces the value of the piece.</li>
</ul>
For more information of fashion and fashion accessories, please visit Popular Fashion AccessorriesAbout the Author:  Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/choose-pearls-effectively-buying-tips-1010590.html" title="Choose Pearls Effectively: Buying Tips">Choose Pearls Effectively: Buying Tips</a>

Natural pearl and Cultured pearl Natural pearls are rare and expensive. Most pearl jewelries sold in the market today are made of cultured pearls and one could hardly tell the difference between a good quality cultured pearl and a natural pearl. Cultured pearls mean that the mollusk is purposely inserted with an irritant or nucleus from which it creates a pearl. The basic difference is that a natural pearl is the resultoutome of the mollusk working alone and the cultured pearl is the product of nature being helped by science. Cultured pearls are not fake like many people may think. The culturing process takes from 2 to 3 years and is a very delicate process. The pearl farmers have little control on what the final outcome of the pearl will look like or if the mollusk will reject the nucleus. Not all pearls are fine quality or even desirable at all. The end result is ultimately a result of nature. The cultured pearl now rivals with fine diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies. Types of cultured pearls Cultured pearls come in two primary forms:

Pearls that are cultured in freshwater.
Pearls that are grown in saltwater.

Saltwater cultured pearls are much higher in quality as compared to their freshwater pearls. Saltwater cultured pearl jewelry is much more expensive. Popular pearl varieties Cultured pearls come in a wide array of shapes, colors and sizes. The assortments of pearls are equally fascinating. There are artistic costume jewelries produced using different varieties of pearls ranging from

Akoya Pearl(grown in Japan and China)
White South Sea Pearl(grown in Australia, Mynamar and Indonesia)
South Sea Black Pearl (grown in French Polynesia)
Freshwater Pearl (grown in Japan, China and the United States)
Mabe Pearls (grown in Japan, Australia, French Polynesia, Indonesia, and the Philippines)
Keshi Pearls (grown in Japan, Australia, French Polynesia, Indonesia, and the Philippines)
Hyderbadi/Indian pearls (grown in India)

How to choose pearls? Purchasing pearl jewelry is a tricky business. If you are not fully familiar with the various available options, quality and the price structure of the various kinds of pearls, you are sure to be in big trouble. So perhaps the best way to buy pearl jewelry is to buy from a source that offers a return warranty if at least the quality is not satisfactory. Take the pearl and rub it against a smooth surface on your tooth. A real pearl will feel slightly gritty and an artificial or fake pearls will glide smoothly, with no resistance. With a little practice, and training yourself what a real pearl feels like, you will be able to spot a genuine pearl like a professional. The important factores that are to be kept in mind while choosing pears are as follows:

Luster: Luster is one of the first factors to consider while choosing pearl. Luster is an intense brightness that illuminates from within the pearl. Here lustre doesnot imply the shine that is seen in imitation pearls. The intense brightness results from light being reflected throughout the numerous layers of nacre. When the pearl is of good quality, it will have a sharp contrast between the brightest area where direct light is falling on the pearl and the shaded area creating an illusion of a ball within the pearl. Check for luster by putting the pearl under a fluorescent lamp and rolling them from side to side to examine uniform luster. Examine pearls over a light gray or white material and never black because it is harder to see the true quality of the pearl. The mirror-like shimmer on the pearl's surface varies from pearl to pearl. Some pearls are quite dull, and some are so lustrous they seem to be made of mirrors themselves. When buying pearls, the thicker the outside layer of nacre is and the better the luster, the higher quality the pearl is.
Color: Pearl color is also important. When choosing pearls note their body color and overtones. The most desirable and more rare white pearls have rose colored overtones. Cream colored pearls are more affordable. Pearls can also have tones rated in intensity. Darker toned pearls are more desirable and expensive. Many natural body colors are available in pearls including white, black, blue, gray, gold, pink, and green. Distinctive colored pearls are rarer and harder to find. Make sure the pearls have not been dyed, especially for costlier pearls like the black or golden varieties.
Surface perfection: Examine pearls surface for blemishes. It is best to check for blemishes on a dark background. Check in both intense and diffused light. No pearls are perfect and small blemishes can be ignored for more important quality like nacre and luster. Pearls with higher luster hide blemishes better.
Shape and size: When choosing pearls also consider shape. There are three pearl shape : symmetrical, spherical, and baroque. The spherical is the rarest and hence desirable. Symmetrical pearls include teardrop or pear-shaped pearls. They are less expensive than spherical pearls. Baroque pearls are irregularly shaped and often the least expensive. Size should also be taken into consideration. Larger cultured pearls are rarer and more expensive. Measured by their diameter in millimeters, the average cultured pearls sold today are between 7 and 71/2 millimeters. Generally, the larger the pearl, the more valuable it will be.
Precision:One more factor to consider in pearls is the precision. Match the pearl quality in a string of pearls. Pearl matching affects the value of the jewelry because when pearls are not matched properly it takes away from the beauty of the jewelry. Also, make sure the pearls are all drilled in the center so they lay properly. Off-center drilled pearls will not lay correctly and reduces the value of the piece.

For more information of fashion and fashion accessories, please visit Popular Fashion Accessorries

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