Gems of the Sea, Pearls

Pearls, Gems of the Sea

Pearls are renowned for their shine, lustre and smoothness, bringing a timeless elegance that makes them a popular choice for people of all ages. Throughout the centuries, pearls have been an emblem of elegance and style and remain the preferred choice for jewellery today. Whether worn on pendants, necklaces, bracelets or earrings, they can add a layer of beauty and class to your look.

But have you ever thought about where Pearls come from?

Unlike other precious gemstones such as Diamonds or Rubies, Pearls are not made in the earth and mined. Living sea creatures, specifically oysters or freshwater mussels, make them. This happens when an irritant, usually a food particle, gets trapped inside the oyster’s shell, and the animal coats the particle in the same substance it uses to build its shell.

Gemstones mined in the earth can take millions of years to form under immense heat and pressure. Pearls can develop in as little as six months, with larger Pearls taking up to four years. Humankind has taken advantage of this short timeline with Pearl farming. The farmer introduces the irritant to thousands of molluscs to develop and grow the Pearl. These days, natural Pearls made without any human intervention are rare. Only 1 in about 10,000 oysters will produce a Pearl, and only a tiny percentage of them would be considered good enough to use for jewellery.

Types of Pearls

Pearls are categorised into Natural and Cultured. We already know that natural Pearls are extremely rare. Most natural pearls on the market today are antique.

Cultured pearls, on the other hand, make up the majority of today’s pearls. These Pearls have been farmed and cultivated by humans creating the ideal conditions for the Pearl to grow fast without the quality being affected. Four major types classify cultured pearls: Freshwater Pearls, Akoya Pearls, Tahitian Pearls, and South-Sea Pearls, each boasting unique characteristics.

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Freshwater Pearls

The most common and least expensive of all Pearl types are Freshwater Pearls. Cultivated in freshwater ponds and lakes, they come in various shapes and colours. Their irregular off-round shape makes beautifully unique jewellery, and although they can be dyed any colour, white, pink, and pastel colours are the most common to occur naturally.

Akoya Pearls

When you think about the classic Pearl, it is probably the Akoya Pearl that comes to mind. They are the most commonly used with jewellery due to their quality and rounded shape. Akoya Pearls tend to be white but can come in various neutral colours.

Tahitian Pearls

Tahitian, or Tahitian Black Pearls, come in a range of neutral dark colours. The most popular is dark green with overtones of the colours of oil. The only naturally occurring dark-coloured Pearls, they are not actually grown in Tahiti but in a different area of French Polynesia. Much larger than Akoya Pearls, they also carry a heavier price tag, although this is mainly due to the difficulty colour matching a string of them.

South-Sea Pearls

The largest and most valuable of all Pearls is the South Sea Pearl. They come in two colours, white and gold, with gold being the most valuable. The deeper the gold, the more valuable the Pearl becomes.

Pearl Size and Colour

In most cases, pearls are within the 7.0mm and 9.5mm range, which is universally considered the most traditional and versatile pearl sizes to buy. As a rule of thumb, the larger the pearls get (all other attributes like Luster, Shape, and Surface Quality being equal), the more valuable they are

When it comes to the colour of your pearls, the most commonly associated is the classic white shade. You can also find pearls in many other colourations, such as gold, pink, silver, black, and green.

Each colour is associated with a different attribute, white for Purity, Sincerity, and Peace. Gold for Wealth, Prosperity, and Freedom. Pink is typically associated with Love, Kindness, and Compassion. Last but not least, Blue pearls portray a sense of Tranquillity, Loyalty, and Courage.

Caring for your Pearls

Care is more critical for Pearls than for most other gemstones and jewellery. Almost anything that comes into contact with pearls can easily damage them due to their soft and relatively delicate nature. This is especially true of hairspray, perfume, cosmetics and even sweat. Always put your Pearls on last and take them off first to help avoid these chemicals. Using warm soapy water for an occasional clean is safe, with no ammonia or detergents. Always make sure the string is completely dry before wearing it again, and if you fear damage has happened to the string, consult a reputable jeweller for re-threading.

Pearls at HC Jewellers.

When we think of pearls, it tends to conjure an image of a classic white round beauty. In reality, many sizes and colours are available to us. We can offer a wonderful variety of pearl necklaces, pendants, bracelets and earrings at HC Jewellers. No longer saved for only special or formal occasions. Enjoy them daily, this marvellous treasure, the gem of the sea.