Pearl Diving For Amateurs

If you have ever been to the mall or a tourist hot spot, then you are most likely familiar with kiosks. These little booths sell everything from cell phones to toys to jewelry. During the holidays, more kiosks pop up in shopping malls across the country with great little gift ideas for loved ones. Sometimes one of these kiosks offers a fun experience and a great gift, like the pick-your-own-pearl. These pearl booths can be found everywhere from Hawaii to Disneyworld to your average small town mall.

Booths that offer the pick-a-pearl experience have been popular for quite a few years and many people rave about the experience. The gimmick is simple - choose an oyster from a bucket, crack it open and then discover your treasure that lies inside. All of the oysters at these places are guaranteed to have a pearl so you don't lose out there. The pearls do vary in size and color but you are definitely going to walk away with a gemstone.

While the actual pearls you pull out of a chosen oyster may not be a gorgeous Tahitian black pearl or even the best quality Akoya pearl, the experience is one to be had. It is great fun to pick through a bunch of oysters, determining which one will hold the biggest, most beautiful pearl inside. A lot of people have theories about how to pick the right oyster. Some people say pick the biggest, the smallest or the hairiest! None of these theories have been proven but its fun to put them to the test.

Once you pick your oyster, the ceremony begins. A sales associate cracks open the oyster for you and pulls out your prize. Pearls can vary in color from white to ivory to rose or even blue. If you get an exciting pearl like a rare blue one or a pearl that is very large, many times they yell, scream, beat drums or ring a bell to shower you and your pearl with attention. Depending on the booth, you can keep opening oysters and collecting the pearls or you can decide what to do with your new gemstone.

All of these kiosks offer settings for your new pearl including pendants, earrings and rings. It can be a lot of fun looking through the different settings and choosing one custom made to your tastes. The associate will set your pearl for you many times while you wait or at least by the end of the same business day. After all is said and done, you had a great time cracking open your very own oyster and created a beautiful piece of jewelry to take home as a memento!

For a similar yet equally fun experience to create your own pearl jewelry, many states have companies that offer "pearl parties". Very much like a Tupperware party, a hostess invites over a bunch of friends and a salesman is there with all the excitement. They bring oysters that are guaranteed to hold a pearl inside and for a small fee, guests can all pick an oyster and crack it open. This idea can be a lot of fun for a bunch of friends to get together and do something different. These companies also offer settings for the pearls so every guest can go home with a new piece of pearl jewelry they custom made.

Another option for create your own pearl jewelry is a pearl kit. These are easily found online and even in some stores. It is a small kit that comes with one oyster (usually in a clear container of water) and a pendant to house the pearl. You simply take out your oyster and crack it open to reveal your pearl. The pendant that comes with these kits is usually some sort of cage design that you can drop the pearl into, close up and hang on a chain - no glue or drilling required.

None of these pick-your-own pearl options offer the quality or beauty of buying a piece of jewelry from a reputable dealer but, can offer a fun and unique experience. Everyone who enjoys pearls dreams about what it must feel like to crack open an oyster to reveal a beautifully perfect, lustrous pearl. Now, there are companies all over the world that offer everyone that opportunity. And many times, once someone creates a piece of pearl jewelry, they get hooked on the gemstones beauty and have to find more pieces to add to their collection!