How To Judge The Quality Of Pearl

The weather is cooling down, snow is falling in some place, the streets are decorated with light, and the time for give a present is coming. Many people choose pearl jewelry to be the gift, but how they know those pearls are good quality or not. Now we will tell you about how to judge the quality of pearls.

It should be difficult to judge the quality of pearl from naked eyes, but knowing the fundamental categories that determine a pearls’ value will behoove the consumer who wishes to purchase pearl jewelry. The quality of pearls are generally judged in the following categories:  thickness of the nacre, luster, size, shape, and color.

Nacre - The thickness of a pearl’s nacre is one of the elements that determine the size of pearl. Nacre thickness also determines a pearl’s resistant to discoloration. Cultured pearls with a thin-nacre despite its size will be more vulnerable to blemishes and cracking. 

Size - Important, but not exclusively so. A perfectly formed smaller pearl might fetch a higher price than a slightly flawed larger one. If all else is equal, the larger pearl will be the more valuable. Unlike diamonds, pearls are not static gems; they are “alive” and can change with time, so caring for them is crucial.

Luster - The pearls’ luster is enigmatic, and its iridescence can mesmerize the onlooker through its sheer sublime simplicity. Luster is determined by the thickness of the nacre as well. A pearl bearing a smooth and blemish free surface possesses a high degree of luster. You can judge the luster of a pearl by attempting to see your reflection on the surface of the pearl. If the pearl projects a blurry reflection, the pearl is deemed as having a low quality. If you see a fairly clear reflection of yourself, you possess within your hand a high quality pearl with a thick-nacre.

Color - Pearls are classified in many colors; white, cream, pink, silver, black, and gold. The best quality of pearls are pearls which have only color without defects. The overtone of a pearl is determined by the combination of colors projected when a pearl is rotated and they usually have a rose, green, or blue hue.  What makes pearls so mesmerizing is their color projection. A good quality pearl will emanate its color from within.  The depth of a pearl’s color projection adds greatly to its value. 

These all are the factors to judge the quality of saltwater pearls. On the other hands, the cultured pearls of freshwater pearls are graded in the 4 categories; AAA (Extra Fine), AA (Fine), A (Good), and BB (Commercial).

AAA grade - pearls are spherical in shape, even in color and luster, flawless, and they have a high level of luster and iridescence.

AA+ grade - pearls have a high luster and iridescence and is 95% flawless. Most AA+ pearls are frequently used in necklaces and bracelets.

AA grade - pearls generally have a lesser degree of luster and iridescence; they also lack color uniformity with slight blemishes. Most AA grade pearls are drilled on the blemish to hide the flaw.

A grade - pearls have less luster and iridescence than AA pearls. The naked eye might be able to detect flaws and the shape will be slightly irregular.

BB grade - pearls will tend to look chalky white and they will have less luster and, iridescence.  They will also tend to have blemishes.

AAA and AA+, AA pearls are usually used in pearl necklaces because jewelers are able to match size, color, and luster of the pearls fairly easily

Original Article:

http://www.bemypearl.com/pearl-quality.html

http://nymag.com/nymetro/urban/strategist/everything/pearls/11860/

Picture Credit:

http://wendyusuallywanders.wordpress.com/2009/10/07/misery-loves-company/

Jewelry Trends 2011

In these days people more interesting in fashion than before, especially for women. When you walking on the street, you will see many people wearing similar style, that's called "Trends". Not only the cloths, but also included jewelries that the people take an interest for follow the fashion or make themselves look good. Now, this year is going through and new year is coming, so let's check the trends of jewelry fashion 2011 !!

Big and Bold - Many collection for next year, the designers created a lot of huge, colorful, and unusual jewelry those catch the eyes more just for complete the outfits. Especially huge bracelet, long earrings, and extravagant necklaces will be trends at the beginning of the next year.

Metal Jewelry - Somebody may not prefer the metal jewelry and thinks that should be heavy, but now it's different. The metal jewelry 2011 is appeared in large size but light weight. Most of these are in yellow, some are white, others are angular and can be of an irregular form.

Strong Motifs - This trends is for people who dare to ware the jewelry that decorated the shape or design of snakes, elephants, flowers, birds, bugs, leaves, coins or other popular motifs on it. And the task of the wearer is to combine these pieces in an original way and thus create certain mood of your outfit.


Fashionable Fringe - Fringe is fashionable again. But this time it doesn’t decorate clothing, shoes and bags only, it comes on jewelry as well. And looks fantastic! 

Layered necklaces - are as hot as ever. They have become more elaborate but compact at the same time. To wear such jewelry you’ll have to choose your clothes instead of choosing jewelry for the outfit.

Square bangles - are definitely a new jewelry trend that needs special attention from fashioners. It’s innovative that means it will stay with us for a few seasons. Investing into such a piece is a wise decision.

Huge Retro Inspired Rings - Huge rings are one of the hottest trends for 2011. They do look great and are pretty affordable.


The more, The better. The more bracelets you have on your arm the more fashionable they will look. Plenty of thin and not very thin bangles look nice together.

Anyway, the fashion is always flows. If you don't wear fashionable cloths or jewelry, it doesn't means you are outdated. Although your style is not like another people, but who knows someday your style may become trends and you are fashion leader. Just the way you are, KEEP WEARING ! :D



Original Article : http://www.millionlooks.com/trends/jewelry-trends/jewelry-trends-fall-winter-2010-2011
Picture Credit : http://www.funkytrend.com/?s=louis+vuitton+bold+jewelry

Jewelry for Christmas

The time passed by to the end of the year again. Christmas is coming, I bet that many people will be busy with finding some gift for this celebration. And cannot be denied that JEWELRY is the most popular one that people choose to be gift. As everyone know, woman and jewelry are concomitant, either teenager or adult. So before choosing the gift, you should to know what women want.

No matter how many years passed, the world most popular selling jewelry for Christmas is PEARL. Because of the simple style and luxuries looks that make pearl suit to be the present for every age of women, and absolutely that they cannot denied to wear it. For the Christmas, the white pearl is more prefer than pink or black. The cause is the white color is match with color of snow and trends of winter, and natural white color of pearl is also match with every colors and every style of cloths. Either earrings or ring, necklace, and bracelet, everything which decorated by pearl are pleased.

Besides pearl jewelries, the another jewelry that popular in Christmas is the jewelry that feature by Turquoise and Coral Stone (or other jewels that appeared in green or red color). The reason that these 2 natural stones are also prefer for Christmas is their colors. If talk about Christmas, the colors that appeared in mind are green of Christmas tree, red of Santa Clause, and gold of bell. So the jewelries that decorated by turquoise or coral is very match with this celebration.

Someone may think that why I don't say about diamond, despite that diamond is also popular. The reason is diamond is always popular and it can be the present in every season. So I would like to share about another jewelry and gemstone that also popular in Christmas. By the way, all that I suggest is just only my opinion and experience. So you are the only one to judge what is the best Christmas present for your recipients.

I hope it not too fast to say "Merry Christmas" :)

Mother of Pearl, From the Past...to Today

Mother of pearl is an inner shell layer which produced by some mollusks to makes up pearls. It also insulates mollusks from bacterial infection, and reduces irritation from organic material which drifts into the shell. Irregularities often form in the mother of pearl as a result of irritation. If the irritation is extensive enough, the mollusk will form a large bump, that's called a pearl. The mother of pearl is strong but flexible and iridescent layer. It is also the primary material used in pearl nucleus manufacturing. Pearl oysters and abalone are both sources of mother of pearl. Besides jewelry, mother of pearl also widely used in furniture and music instruments.

In every jewelry shop, you can find the necklace's pendant that's made from mother of pearl, also big and small pendant. Since 7 years ago, the mother of pearl became popular for used to made big necklace's pendant. Either natural texture or cut styles were worldwide release. After that the mother of pearl was mixed with stone, silver, and another materials followed the fashion, while the big mother of pearl pendant was still popular.

Nowadays, mother of pearl not only used for make the pendant for necklace or bracelet, but also shape for make and decorate the earrings, ear studs, ring, and other jewelries. Absolutely that the mother of pearl is beautiful and equally popular with pearl.

Picture Credit:

http://focus.aps.org/story/v20/st1

http://www.naturalhandmadejewelry.com