When one wants to accent an outfit, often the most eye catching affordable gem is pearls. This is due to the pearls beauty and elegance. However, often white pearls just won’t match as nicely as one desires. Then what? Well, colored pearls are now becoming very popular. One can find pearls in shades of pink, peach, champagne and now, chocolate.

This week’s favorite is a: Chocolate Freshwater Bracelet as it is AA+ quality, has a 14 Kt Gold clasp and is on sale to be extremely affordable. We found it to be the highest quality for the price we found.

Match this bracelet with gorgeous chocolate pearl earrings.

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One of the most popular kinds of pearls being sold today is the fresh water pearl. Fresh water pearls are pearls that are developed and grown in a non-saline environment and through fresh water mollusks. Though pearls are normally grown and harvested from saltwater mollusks, freshwater mollusks can also produce great quality pearls. These kinds of mollusks are found in ponds, lakes, and rivers. China is very well-known for their production of fresh water pearls, making them the leading producer in the whole world. The United States was also known to be a leading pearl producer, but because of over-harvesting and the increasing pollution around the available habitats production decreased significantly.

So what sets freshwater pearls apart from the others? For one thing, a lot of designers and the younger generation tend to prefer these kinds of pears because they come in different shapes and natural colors. These are usually what adorn earrings, bracelets, and necklaces being sold in jewelry stores. Second, freshwater pearls are cheaper, which adds to their popularity among younger people significantly. Lastly, because these pearls are made out of solid nacre, they can resist the usual chipping, wear, and degeneration that other kinds of pearls are susceptible to. The only negative point that freshwater pearls has is the lack of luster and shine that other pearls such as the akoya possess.

As mentioned before, China is known to be the leading producer of freshwater pearls with a total of 1,500 tons in the year 2006. Production originated in the area around Shanghai, but eventually freshwater pearl production spread all throughout the provinces including Anhui, Hunan, Jianxi, etc. The largest and most popular marketplace for freshwater pearls is Hong Kong, so if you’re a fan of pearls and would like a wide collection to choose from, Hong Kong is the place.

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Pearls are natural gems that are produced by shelled mollusks under water. This precious ornament has several types and varieties that vary in color, shape, size and value. The most ideal pearls are normally very smooth and perfectly round. The most precious ones are the rarest to find. Such is the bright-white pearl from the Arabian Gulf in the Middle East.

Because of its value and worth, cultivation of freshwater pearls has already been popularized by entrepreneurs. Although mass produced versions are a lot cheaper than hard-to-find ones, freshwater pearls have found its way to the accessory market by offering a less-expensive version and knock-off of true ones. However, since the valued ones are very hard to source and are often very distinguishing in lustre, color and shape than produced pearls, there is still a great clamour and the demand for the genuine types among the elite segment of the society. Among the new precious pearls that recently saw its way to the jewelry and pearl industry are the chocolate pearls.

Chocolate pearls are often described as exquisite and exotic pieces which are cultured to perfection. Most manufacturers source chocolate pearls from Tahiti and Hawaii, where some of the world’s largest cultivators of pearls can be found. These pearls are either sourced from fresh waters or the South Sea or saltwater. Hence, they are classified as freshwater or south sea.

Chocolate pearl rings, particularly have had its debut to the jewelry market recently. They are now one of the most favored types of item in gift shops and jewelry retail stores. More often, these items are considered part of the premium pearl collection. More than jewelry, they are considered fashionable but more valuable than accessories that are designed to match outfits and accentuate the user’s hand.

Chocolate Pearl Rings are often designed in tandem with a set of chocolate pearl earrings, a necklace and even a bracelet. However, as a jewelry item, they also work well on their own. It matches perfectly with chocolate colored outfits or even white dresses and gowns. It is said to look exquisite when worn by a well-tanned female.

Usually, pearl rings sold in stores are set in 14k white or yellow gold, but the use of rose gold, silver and even platinum setting can be found with a bit of searching. Designs of these rings also vary depending on the size of the pearl. Small ones are often set with more metals and accentuated with elaborate designs and even with other gems such as diamonds and colored stones.

These beautiful rings are usually ornately made because the expensive price of the pearl itself. It usually markets as an ideal valentines’, a mother’s day or an 18th birthday gift. A hardworking lady will also surely enjoy it as a personal gift to herself. For whatever purpose, whether as a gift or a personal buy, chocolate pearl rings are definitely meant for women who love items that reflect their exquisite taste.

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If you love pearls like I do, it is useful to know how to judge pearl quality. Like with gemstones, pearls can vary a large amount. Knowing the factors that affect the cost, helps you know when you are getting a good deal on pearls. Additionally, you can also assess the pearls you own.

Grading Pearls

Determine which scale that your pearls are being graded on: Pearls have two different quality scales: ‘AAA-A and A-D’. Freshwater pearls are the primary users of the AAA-A system. It can be used in other circumstances, but not often.

About AAA-A Pearl Grades

Think Freshwater pearls when looking at the data below:

• In the AAA-A system, AAA is for essentially flawless pearls, with high luster and no apparent defects. No more than 5% of the pearl’s surface can have a blemish.
• The AA rating indicates high luster, and 75% blemish free.
• The A rating is used for a low jewelry grade pearl with minimal surface luster, and greater than a quarter of its surface blemished.

Know Pearl A-D Ratings

The alternative rating system – the A-D scale – is used for pearls from the South Seas or Tahiti. So this focuses on cultured pearls:

• ‘A’ rating means that they’re the highest quality pearls, with high luster, and less than 10% of its surface has defects.
• ‘B’ rating is for pearls with high to medium luster, and up to 30% surface imperfections.
• ‘C’ rated pearls can have up to 60% surface defects.
• ‘D’ rated pearls are something of a catch-all term. They usually have more than 60% of their surface area, or have concealable deep surface imperfections.

Pearl Buying Tips

Now that you know how pearls are graded, here are some tips for pearl acquisitiion:

Beyond their rating of AAA-A or A-D, pearls are graded by certain traits, like diamonds. In rough order, these are luster, shape, color, surface and size.

1. The kind of pearl you decide to purchase – whether they’re cultured, fresh water, synthetic or natural will have a large impact on price; natural and some varieties of cultured pearls will be the most expensive.
2. Luster is the key factor for value; it’s a measure of how reflective the entire pearl surface is. Choose for luster more than any other factor. A blemish is not an instant downcheck on a pearl, because they’re made by a natural process. A high luster pearl with a few blemishes is probably worth picking up.
3. Larger pearls may be less valuable than you’d think, because in being accreted to that size, they may have flaws and blemishes and shape irregularities. It is extremely rare to find a perfectly round large pearl with high luster and few blemishes.
4. Shape is dominated by roundness – with perfectly spherical being most desired, and teardrop being the second most common. While some unusual shapes hold different appeals, the safer bet is for round.
5. For jewelry where pearls are adjacent to each other, like in a necklace or bracelet, look for close matches in size, symmetry and luster.
6. Pearl necklaces need to be hand strung, with divider notes between them. Those knots keep the pearls from rubbing against each other and creating flaws.

Pearl Necklace Styles

There are several classifications of pearl necklaces.

• Collar necklaces are the most formal of pearl jewelry, and are usually made from three strands of pearls. They accent most any outfit, but are too high end for casual wear.
• Chokers are about 14-16 inches long, and are designed to lay on the collarbones. They’re generally elegant in their design, but seen as a touch old fashioned in modern design.
• For flexibility, consider a princess network, a single strand of pearls about 18 to 20 inches in length. They’re really the only pearl necklace that dresses down to business wear.
• The matinee style of necklace is about 20-25 inches long, and may be worn as a double strand, similar to a choker necklace.
• The high end of dramatic jewelry is the pearl rope necklace, with a length of 40 inches or more. It can be used in a number of ways, including around the waist, doubled or tripled around the neck and even into a head piece like a tiara or snood.

If you enjoyed learning about pearls perhaps you will enjoy these other postings:

All About Pearls
Learn About Pearl Stud Earrings
Pearl Care Tips

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You may call me old-fashioned … but for me, pearls and brides just go together. Pearls are a symbol of love, so somehow in my mind, pearls and brides just go together. Whether you wear gorgeous perfectly round cultured pearls or more affordable freshwater pearls, they have a certain elegance that feels appropriate for brides.

Jewelry For Many Occasions

The simplicity of a pearl necklace looks great with any outfit. The pearl luster helps the necklace shine to nicely enhance any outfit you desire. Whether you are wanting to wear them to your wedding, a birthday party, or work, pearls are a flexible mainstay of ones wardrobe.

What is Your Favorite Color?

Pearl necklaces are available in more colors than white or cream. Pink, orange, black, and chocolate are all popular colors for pearls. Find a color you love and wear it to your hearts delight. You can match any outfit and look gorgeous!

So enjoy pearls on your wedding day … and many, many days after!

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Probably the most famous kind of gemstone in the whole world is the pearl. Everyone knows what a pearl looks like. Everyone had seen one and most ladies prefer to have at least one piece of pearl jewelry in their jewelry box. Pearls are timeless. Pearls are classic. Pearls are forever.

What is a Pearl

By definition, a pearl is a gem formed in a mollusk. It is a small lustrous sphere of calcium carbonate that forms around a grain of sand in an ocean organism such as an oyster. The most exquisite and the most unique types of pearls are extremely valued, prized and treasured that’s why pearls symbolize great fineness, caliber, delicacy and distinction.

Types of Pearl

Shelled mollusk can definitely produce a “pearl”. However the gemstone pearls only comes from two groups of mollusk. One of these kinds is the pearl oyster, which lives in the sea. And the other one is the mussel, which lives in the freshwater. The pearls that are produced by these two groups are called the nacreous pearls. Nacreous pearls are divided into two kinds: the natural pearl and the cultured pearl. The former is a kind of pearl that is really rare because, as the name implies, the pearl is formed naturally without any intervention from people. These types of pearls are wild. The latter is the kind of pearl that has been formed and cared by humans on a pearl farm. Most of the nacreous pearls are cultured pearls.

Natural Pearls

Natural pearls are almost entirely calcium carbonate and conchiolin. It has been said that the formation of natural pearls has been formed only coincidence. It seems that a parasite entered, disrupted and settled inside a bivalve mollusk. The mollusk wounded up and emitted calcium carbonate and conchiolin to mask and bury the wound. The process is repeated many times hence the pearl is formed. This is the reason why there are only a very small percentage of perfectly round natural pearls.

Shapes

Cultured pearls have precise shapes because the workers in the pearl farm are trained to insert shell bead nucleus inside the mollusk. Once they’ve successfully implanted the bead, the mollusk will secrete calcium carbonate and conchiolin in the precise shape of the inserted bead. After half a year, the workers on the pearl farm will then cultivate the contoured pearls.

Value

The worth of the pearl depends primarily on its quality. Although an authentic pearl are quite rare and sporadic, its worth is equaled to the worth of other precious stones and gems. The assessment features of these pearls are the shape, size, quality of the outer surface, the place of origin and the gleam they produce.

Where

Nowadays, pearls are constricted at the seas of Bahrain, Australia and the Philippines. In fact, the largest pearl known and recorded was found in 1934 in the island of the Philippines. This pearl is not cultured but naturally secreted from a giant clam. Since this gigantic pearl is not from a pearl oyster, its surface does not feature the gleam of traditional pearls but a rather porcelain-like surface.

So enjoy thinking about these pearl facts when you wear your pearl jewelry!

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Almost every woman wears pearl as jewelry. They can use it in many possible ways such bracelet, necklace and pearl stud earrings. It is every woman’s fashion favorite because it can go with any classy, casual, formal and informal wardrobes. It is perfect to be worn anytime and anywhere with a variety of pearl colors to choose from such as black, white, off-white, pinkish, bluish and other vibrant and elegant colors.

Types

Pearl stud earrings come in diverse colors because it can be cultured. There are many types of pearls which ranged from freshwater cultured pearls, Japanese cultured pearls, keshi pearls, mabe pearls, saltwater cultured pearls and many others. Nowadays, it is hard to find natural pearls because most of the pearl productions are cultured already.

As a fashionable item, pearl stud earrings are a woman’s partner in every occasion. For instance, a bride is said to be elegant when wearing pearls as jewelry. Gold or silver linings can add tone and sophistication to the pearl. In addition to this, mothers would also love to hand on their pearl treasures to their daughters and so on with the next generation. This creates a sentimental value to the family tradition.

For couples, a boyfriend can hand a gift to his lover as a sign of lasting friendship, a symbol of genuine love or perhaps as an engagement offer. The pearl is a precious gemstone that is perfect to convey inner thoughts and feelings. It does not fade or tarnish and its brilliance never wane. Although pearls are considered classic and conventional jewelry, it always remains in style and fashion which can never be replaced.

Choosing Pearls

In choosing the ideal pearl for the one you want to give, be sure to research on what the receiver prefers most. When giving a gift, one must be aware that the type of pearl gift set presented matches rightly with her personality. This refers to the color favorite and authentic style most likeable to the receiver. In addition to this, a presenter must buy a gift that is unique and eye-catching. This will add joy and appreciation to the receiver of the pearl.

For women who prefer to own a variety of pearl jewelry, you may want to make certain that the pearls match. Try to find pearls of the same quality, size and color so you can have sets to wear together. Alternately, buy your pearls together as a set to know that your pearls match.

Luster is one of the pearl’s most important qualities characterized by its brilliant surface. The reflectivity of the pearl is evidenced by its luster. Every authentic pearl is made up of a substance called nacre.

Caring For Pearls

In caring for pearls, special care is needed. It is practical to separate them away from the harder-type jewelry. Pearls are soft and when they are rubbed together with the other jewelry, it will scratch their surface. In this case, prevent further damage by putting them in a separate jewelry box. In addition, avoid dropping your pearl stud earrings to avoid cracking them. Always secure them in a cool and dry place away from chemicals and cosmetics so that discoloration can be prevented.

Simply clean them with a damp cloth after every use. If this is not enough, please see our pearl cleaning tips.

For when you want something timeless, stylish and elegant, cultured pearl rings are an affordable luxury.

Cultured pearl rings are versatile pieces of jewelry that can be worn from morning to evening with whatever you are wearing. Pearls look lovely with jeans and stunning with an evening gown. Pearl rings allow one to enjoy the beauty of the pearl readily throughout the day. Gazing into a pearl can be very relaxing and enjoyable as they are simply gorgeous.

We enjoyed this ring because of the contrast in colors of the two different pearls. It has character and class. It is just a bit enough different to be a conversation piece. So if you like it too, indulge a bit in affordable luxury!

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We see silver necklaces, gold earrings, platinum rings, and more in jewelry stores of famous jewelers, but one type of jewelry that most people tend to underestimate is pearl jewelry. This is so because unlike gold or diamond jewelry, pearls are made of organic materials, therefore are very susceptible to dirt and all kinds of damage that could decrease its value.

Cleaning Tips

If you own pearl jewelry, remember that using cleaning solutions, detergents, or anything that has harmful chemicals should be avoided. If for some reason your pearls have gotten really dirty, here are some cleaning tips for pearl jewelry:

• Remember that using any type of detergent or harmful soap can damage the pearls in an instant.

• The preferred method it to use an extremely soft cloth (such as a chamois) and VERY gently wipe the dirt off your pearls. This is usually considered the safest method but you need to be very careful as you don’t want the dirt you are lifting off the pearls to actually scratch the pearls.

• If that is not sufficient, you can gently clean them using a damp cotton bud that has been moistened in water and an extremely tiny amount of very mild face soap. This is to clean out all the dirt that could have accumulated in areas like the string, the knots, and even the drill holes on the pearls. For expensive pearls, use a Pearl Cleaner to avoid damage.

• If your pearl jewelry gets wet, instead of drying the pearl jewelry using a towel, let the pearls dry in room temperature. Remember, the less number of times the pearls are touched, rubbed, and brushed by rough surfaces, the better. Once you see that the cloth underneath the pearl jewelry is dry then they are ready to be stored.

o Always remember that when drying, never hang them or keep them dangling from a hook.

• Be certain your pearls are dry before wearing.

Pearl Care Tips

• Pearl necklaces that are strung on silk need to be stored flat as silk stretches over time.

• Always put on your pearls after applying makeup; remove them before removing makeup. Perfume, makeup, makeup remover and hairspray can damage pearls easily.

• Do NOT store your pearls in plastic bags. Store them flat on something soft and padded.

• Always remember that pearl jewelry should never be worn when taking a bath as this could damage the pearls. Take them off before heading into the showers.

• Remove your pearls before participating in sports – especially swimming.

Using these simple techniques your pearls should be able to be enjoyed by generations.

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We love pearl necklaces. There is something about pearls that is so beautiful and timeless. They are said to be a symbol of love, and when looking at high quality pearls we can truly believe it!

This week we found an extremely a high quality Akoya pearl necklace set for a fraction of their cost. Marked at 50% off their retail price, they are said to appraise at much much more.

This AAA Quality 18 Inch Round 6.5-7mm White Akoya SaltWater Cultured Pearl Necklace & Earrings Set is truly stunning! (Retails for $850, priced at $424.90) They claim this set appraises at over $2500.

What a wonderful way to say: “I love you”.

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