Pearl Bridal Jewellery

Chez Bec is a fantastic source for beautiful Pearl Bridal Jewellery and these are our top tips for wearing Pearl Bridal Jewellery on your wedding day.

I want to wear Pearl Bridal Jewellery for my wedding but I don’t know much about it. Can you tell me about the different types of pearls?

There are 3 different kinds of pearls: real pearls; sea shell pearls; and glass pearls. Real pearls either come from freshwater mussels or seawater oysters. Freshwater pearls are the most popular pearls and they are mainly produced in Japan, China and the United States. Freshwater pearls are noted for their wide range of colour and their natural lustrous shine. The more round the pearl, the more expensive it is. Seashell pearls are made from crushed seashells, which are then reconstituted into a pearl. They offer a much wider range of colours whilst weighing and feeling like a real pearl, but at a much lower cost. Glass pearls are just that. They are fake pearls made from glass and coated with a special material to look like real pearls.

My Grandmother has given me her pearl necklace to wear on my wedding day but it is just a plain single strand and I really want to wear >Pearl Bridal Jewellery that a bit more elaborate on the day because my wedding dress is quite plain.

Wearing a much-loved family heirloom is lovely, but it's not always simple. Why not have your grandmother’s pearl necklace taken apart and re-made into a unique piece of Wedding Jewellery created especially for your wedding. This is a service, which ChezBec.com offers. Before going ahead I would definitely recommend speaking to your grandmother to explain your situation and ask her if she is happy for you to do this or not.

I often see the pearls used in Pearl Bridal Jewellery described as “cultured”. What does this mean?

A real pearl is produced inside the living tissue of an oyster (or mussel). Natural pearls are very rare and almost every pearl on the market today is “cultured”. “Cultured” pearls are cultivated in large oyster/mussel farms where a small “seed” is placed inside the shell and allowed to become coated with nacre (mother of pearl), which the oysters/mussels use to protect themselves from such irritants. Producers of cultured pearls wash, feed, maintain water temperature and control pollutants but the oyster/mussel still has control of the pearl it produces.

My fiancée has given me a beautiful pair of freshwater pearl earrings to wear on our wedding day. How should I look after them?

Freshwater pearls are natural and delicate and they need to be treated with special care. Never bring your pearls in to contact with hot water, chemicals, chlorinated water, sun cream or bleach. Pearls are very porous and will soak up just about any substance they come in contact with. Never leave your pearls exposed to direct sunlight or strong halogen lights as this can fade their colour. When you have finished wearing your Pearl Bridal Jewellery, make sure that it is completely dry and store it separately from your other jewellery, preferably wrapped in a soft cloth or pouch. If you follow these simple guidelines, your Pearl Bridal Jewellery will last a lifetime.

I have got some pearls at home in my jewellery box which I was given as a present for my 21st and which I would like to wear as my Pearl Bridal Jewellery. How can I tell whether they are real or fake?

Do the tooth test! Fake pearls, i.e. glass and seashell pearls, can be easily detected with the simple tooth test. Very gently scrape the pearls along the ridges of your top teeth. If the pearls glide easily, they’re fake. However, if you feel a slight gritty abrasiveness, it's more likely that your pearls are real. If you don’t fancy the tooth test or if you want to be 100% sure, take your pearls into jewellers and ask for their expert opinion.

I would like to give my bridesmaids pearls to wear on my big day but I would like something a bit different to the traditional white or ivory Pearl Bridal Jewellery. Can you help?

Yes! Pearls come in a vast array of colours these days and gone are the days when you had to stick with the traditional colours. Both freshwater and sea shell pearls come in many, many different colours from pale lilac to shimmering green, pink, peach and blue and every colour in between. All you need to decide for your Bridesmaids Jewellery is which colour goes best with your bridesmaids dresses. For a contemporary look, why not pick a colour, which contrasts with the colour of their dresses. For example, if you have got hot pink or dusky pink dresses, green jewellery will look stunning and if you have gone for chocolate brown dresses, pale blue jewellery will look sensational.

For more information on Pearl Bridal Jewellery, feel free to get in touch with ChezBec.com