Pearls
Pearls, unlike gemstones, do not come from the mineral world, but from mollusks. Pearls are made of nacre and have been traded for thousands of years (documented for at least 4,500 years). Although in the Mohs scale of hardness they are only 2˝ - 4˝, pearls are extremely compact and almost impossible to crush by hand.Origin
Pearls are formed inside shells, as a reaction to an irritant entering a mollusk shell and mantle. The outer layer of the mantle, the epithelium, usually builds up the shell with nacre rings, but if necessary it can also seal off the irritant. This sealing is the beginning of a pearl.Natural pearls and cultured pearls
There are generally two types of pearl, natural and cultured. Natural pearls are pearls created naturally without human intervention. This can happen both in salt and fresh water. Nowadays as it is not so common to fish for them, they mostly already exist on the market. At the beginning of the 20th century, people started efficiently culturing pearls in saltwater. With time, these pearls have become so fine that they are comparable to natural pearls.Color
The color of a pearl depends on the type of mollusk and water it is cultured in. Pearls can be found in many different colors like white, rose, silver, black, gold and pink.White
Rose
Silver
Black
Gold
Pink
Shine
The typical pearl shine comes from the shimmer in the protein layer which lies next to the pearl surface. Pearl size can vary from pin head to small egg. The bigger it is, the more it shines.Appraisal
When a pearl is appraised, this first of all includes shine, color, size and shape. As far as shape is concerned, the most valuable are round pearls. To estimate the pearl’s value, it is best to use a specific formula. Weight is multiplied by itself which gives the ”base weight”. The base weight is then multiplied by a ”base number”. The base number is determined by specialists who can estimate the pearl’s quality based on different factors. The number can vary between 1 and 40, where 40 is the highest value. When we want to estimate the value of a whole piece of jewelry with many similar pearls, for example, a pearl necklace, the ”base number” is often very high.Tips on how to care for your pearls.
Pearls consist of protein and because they are organic, there is always some risk of dehydration. The best way to care for your pearls is to wear them. The body secretes a natural moisturizer which helps to keep the pearl shining. Pearls are also sensitive to acids, sweat, cosmetics and hair spray. It is good to care for them by wiping them with a soft rag.
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