Natural Pearls – Elegant Beauty Naturally Grown

Pearls are the only gems that need no cutting or polishing to reveal their lustre, and come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. They are natural pearls and those cultivated using artificial methods.

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Natural Pearls - Lustrous and Grainy

Natural pearls form without human intervention. A pearl is formed after several years. Layers of coating with nacre give the pearl its exclusive sheen. Perfectly round flawless pearls rarely form in a natural way, and no two pearls made by nature are alike. Rarity and difficulty in matching natural pearls while stringing them into jewellery pieces make them exclusive and expensive.These days, pearls are cultured through human interference, by artificially introducing irritants into mussels specially cultivated for the purpose. Most pearls are cultured these days, mostly because these can be induced to have perfectly round shapes. They are by no means lesser in beauty as compared to natural pearls - it is very difficult to distinguish between the two. Since pearls formed naturally are usually antiques and very costly, you have to be careful when buying such items.Examine the nacre minutely. The iridescent layer of mother-of-pearl secreted around the core is the nacre and in genuine nature-made varieties these are usually uneven. Feel for rough spots and uneven coloring. Look through a magnifying glass - the surface of real pearls will appear as if covered with scales or a maze.Look for your reflection on the surface of the pearl - a good quality pearl will have a luster that will reflect your image. Artificial pearls will be chalky and lack luster.Gently rub the pearls against your teeth. If the pearls glide smoothly, they are fake. Genuine pearls will feel grainy. Likewise, when rubbed against one another, real pearls will feel sandy.

Pink Pearls - The Ultimate Feminine Allure

Pearls come in many colors - white, golden, black, pink, light green and so on. Among all the varieties, pink pearls are the most sought after. Unfortunately, natural pearls that are pink are almost impossible to find these days, unless you inherited them as heirlooms. Cultured pearls, however, can be given desired hues. Certain species of mussels produce pink pearls when cultured in freshwater. After culturing, pearls are sometimes died to give a pink overtone.Pearls should be strung in thread while making into jewelry items and not set in metal like precious gems, so it is better to buy necklaces, ear-drops and chokers made of pearl. Pink pearl chokers add glamour and grace to any party- wear.

Pearl Choker - How to Select One

With so many choices in pearl jewelry, it is very difficult to select the one that matches perfectly with your dress. Chokers, coin pearl neckpieces, drop necklaces, rice pearl strings - choices are endless. Moreover, the pearls come in an array of shapes - spherical, tear-drop shaped, pear-like, coin shaped, potato shaped and the like. Varieties in styles are also innumerable - you can choose from single line, double line, fitted to your neck, pearls with chain, drop shaped and so on. Chokers that are neck fitted and ret on the collarbone give a sophisticated, classic appeal and are preferred over hanging ones. Once you make up your mind about the type of neck piece you want, research on the available styles and designs. Visit jewelry showrooms, go through their catalogues. You can even ask your jeweler to make one to suit your signature style.You can also hunt your grandmother’s treasure chest, and go with that vintage pearl choker that surpasses all other styles in beauty and elegance.Photo Source : flickr.com/amboo213/