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MASKS
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Pearl
Properties
A pearl is a hard, rounded object produced primarily mollusks such as
oysters. Pearls can be used in jewelry, crushed in cosmetics or paint
applications as well as for medical use.
There are a few basic types of pearls:
Natural Pearls
Natural pearls
are formed more or less randomly, when a piece of sand or other irritant
becomes
embedded in the tissue of an oyster or mollusk. In response to the
irritation, the oyster secretes
nacre, a combination of calcium carbonate and organic substances, which
gradually builds up in
layers around the irritant. Over a period of several years, this build-up of
nacre forms a pearl. |
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Cultured Pearls
Most pearls today are cultured pearls.
There are freshwater and saltwater cultured pearls. A cultured pearl is
formed when a tiny bead
is implanted in an oyster, the oyster in response secretes nacre. Layers
upon layers, a lustrous
pearl is gradually formed. |
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Freshwater
Pearls
Freshwater
pearls appear in a wide variety of shapes and colors, and they tend to be
less
expensive than Akoya pearl, making them quite popular. Freshwater pearls are
also quite
durable, resisting chipping, wear, and degeneration. The only tradeoff is
that Freshwater pearls
are generally less symmetrical, and not as well matched when strung on a
strand. However, fresh
water pearls offer an outstanding value and are perfect for many occasions.
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Akoya Pearls
Akoya pearls
are saltwater pearls which are cultivated from the oyster species Pinctada
fucata
martensii. Akoya pearls are on average smoother, rounder, and more lustrous
than Freshwater
pearls. They are generally white or cream colored, and have overtone colors
of rose, yellow, or
green. |
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South Sea / Tahitian Pearls
Akoya Black South Sea
cultured pearls, better known as Tahitians, are native to French Polynesia.
Tahitian pearls are known for their rainbow of colors that are uniquely
produced by the Pinctada margaritifera (the Black Lipped Oyster) in French
Polynesia, The Cook and Caroline Islands. |
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Pearl Grades
Pearl are
graded based on the following factors:
Color
More commonly referred to as the
body color,
typical pearl colors are
white, cream,
yellow, pink, silver, or black. It may also carry a hint of secondary
color, or overtone, which
is seen when viewed up-close. These overtones will alter the body color and add depth
as well as glow. Generally, pearls that are with a more uniform body color will
fetch a higher price.
Luster
Luster is
a measure of the reflective quality or brilliance of the pearl
nacre. The more
lustrous the pearl, the more it shines and reflects light. On
average, saltwater pearls will have a greater luster than freshwater pearls.
Hence, saltwater pearls will fetch a higher price.
Shape
A
perfectly
round and near-round pearl is the most valuable and desirable due to its
rarity. However, some baroques can
be extremely
unique hence increasing their desirability due custom and special jewelry
designs (ie tear drops, princess cut, flat, etc)
Surface markings
Most of the pearls found naturally or cultured, will bear some surface markings.
It's extremely rare to have a perfect surface. Pearls with the
least surface markings
and the ones with the smoothest surfaces are deemed as the highest quality
and most sought-after pearls.
Size
The size of the
pearl varies by the type of pearla. Freshwater pearls generally come in a
full full range of sizes. Akoya pearls on the other hand, most typically range from about 5mm to
8mm. Larger Akoya pearls are considered extremely rare.
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