The Boomers Blog – Fashion Blog

Caring for your pearl jewelry is a vital part in the prolonged longevity and beauty you can achieve with your pearls. Pearls in general are more delicate than other types of jewels, and therefore require a bit more attention and care. Following a few simple steps and avoiding contact with certain substances can ensure your pearls stay beautiful for a long time.

When it comes to your pearl jewelry, it is best to follow this simple rule: “Last thing on, First thing off.” Wearing your pearls while you are getting ready in the morning increases it’s exposure to harmful chemicals that can cause damage. These chemicals can come from simple objects like hairspray, perfume, and even your makeup which can cause your pearls to become dull and dirty. Similarly at night, your pearls should be the first thing you take off. Your pearls can have a similar reaction to the types of cleansers, toners, and lotions you use as well as makeup removal solutions.

Also, if you are going to follow the great June Cleaver and do housework in your pearls, think again. Simple household detergents and cleaning products can contain chlorine and ammonia which can have an adverse reaction on your pearls. Any gardening and swimming with pearls on should also be avoided. It’s best to save them for the office or going out.

Even if you do avoid chemical contact to your pearls, they still need cleaning and maintenance. Many sets of pearl jewelry come with cleaning kits to help you maintain your pearls beauty. These kits include soft gem cloths that are gentle not to scratch the surface of the pearl but still be able to thoroughly remove impurities. Using harder, more abrasive items like a simple toothbrush can cause damage to the pearls nacre or cause pitting, so a soft cloth is best. You may wipe your pearls dry or use a gentle solution of water and a very mild soap. Do not opt for cleaning solutions that contain ammonia or harsh detergents which can cause more damage than good. You should also keep your pearls away from ultrasonic cleaners as well.

When you are done wearing your pearls, try not to store them along with other jewelry that can potentially scratch the surface. Store your pearls in a soft pouch that cushions it and keeps it protected from potential damage. Also, many people store their jewelry in bank safe deposit boxes. These boxes are generally humidity-free, which is not a good environment for cultured pearls. Cultured pearls are considered organic colored stones. Over time, a humidity-free environment can dry out your pearl jewelry and may cause them to crack. So you may want to speak with your bank about options or opt for an alternative safe location.

Lastly, to increase the longevity of your pearl jewelry, you should consider having them restrung each year. This will keep your pearls in good condition and also ensure that the chord is in a good, strong condition. You really do not want to care for the actual pearls so carefully and then have them spill across the floor because of an old nylon chord. So having them restrung on a new chord will ensure your pearl necklace or bracelet stays in tact. You can also look into pearl jewelry that uses stronger stringing materials like European leather chords which may last longer.

No matter what type of pearls you have, whether it is Akoya, Freshwater, South Sea, or Tahitian pearls, you need to maintain each pearl carefully to maximize their longevity. Following these simple rules of thumb can help you care for your pearls in a way that allows you to treasure them for a long long time.

In a nutshell, yes! Pearl bridal jewelry is absolutely beautiful. There really isn’t a reason why a bride couldn’t wear pearl jewelry on her big day. In fact, pearls are a classic staple of a bride. Pearl jewelry comes in many different styles today. So whatever your personal style is, you will surely find pearls that suit you.

When we think of pearl jewelry, we generally think of the standard pearl necklace. The standard necklace can look beautiful and modern for a variety of reasons. When searching for the right pearl necklace, you will need to keep in mind the style of your dress. If your dress is strapless or has off the shoulder straps, a short pearl necklace or choker will look stunning. If your dress is very simple in style, a classic pearl necklace can add a graceful elegance. If your dress has a lot of detail up top, you may want to consider not wearing a necklace at all and allowing the dress to shine on it’s won.

If your dress has a lot of beautiful detail, then you can accessorize it with a simple pearl bracelet. If your dress does not have sleeves, this will work particularly well for you. You may also want to try pearl earrings. If you are wearing your hair down, simple stud pearl earrings will add a simple sparkle to your look. Up-do’s that are neat and pulled back will give the perfect canvas for drop style pearl earrings. These types of earrings can dangle from your ears and add movement and shine.

For contemporary looks, you can switch it up a bit by using simple pearl pendants as your jewelry. This will look very good with halter top or plunging neckline style dresses. They are simple, yet stylish at the same time and will keep in tune with your personal style. The traditional pearl necklace may not hang well with the v-neck style of your dress. A pearl pendant on the other hand will flow with the lines of your dress.

When selecting your pearl bridal jewelry, you will also want to bear in mind your skin tone. What shades of pearls compliment your skin tone? There are of course traditional white pearls (mostly Akoya pearls) and then there are pearls with cream or rosey overtones. Think about what colors you look best in, and then choose the pearls with those types of overtones. Also take into account the color of your dress. If it’s white, cream, or whatever color, you will want pearls that compliment that as well. The last thing you want on your big day is to look mismatched!

Of course, if you really want to shake things up, there are pearls that come in shades of gold and black. For golden pearls, you will want to keep an eye out for South Sea Pearls. These pearls are naturally golden and can add a simple elegant twist to your wedding look. Tahitian pearls on the other hand can come in shades of black, gold and grays. These can really stand out and may also work well for your bridal party.

When shopping for your pearl bridal jewelry, just keep in mind what look you are achieving. Keep in mind the lines of your dress and keep everything flowing. Lastly, keep in mind your skin tone – what is going to compliment you the best. Shop around and find your personal style. When you find the right set of pearl bridal jewelry, you will know it and everything will work out in the end.

Freshwater pearl jewelry is probably the most common type of pearl jewelry sold. People are most familiar with these types and you are most likely to see these sold in normal department stores as well as high end jewelry stores. To see if you are looking at a set of Freshwater pearl jewelry, keep the following four factors in mind.

The Origin of Freshwater Pearl Jewelry

Today, the majority of freshwater pearls are mass produced through pearl farms located in China. Unlike other types of pearls, freshwater pearls derive from mussels which live in freshwater lakes and rivers. Other types of pearls come from mussels which live in sea/salt water. Freshwater pearl jewelry is probably the most accessible type of pearl jewelry available and maybe the most affordable. Large pearl farms located about 300 miles outside of Shanghai have been producing large quantities of freshwater pearls for decades. However, in recent years, the emphasis of quantity has been switched to the emphasis of quality. This means that only the highest quality shapes, nacre’s, and sizes are selected to create the final pieces of freshwater pearl jewelry sent around the world.

The Size of Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater pearls range from average sizes to larger than usual. The exact measurements are usually 4mm to 11mm. As we said, in recent times, the production of freshwater pearl jewelry has been put more on quality rather than quantity. So you are going to be finding more and more freshwater pearls that are closer to being identical in size rather than previously.

Color of Freshwater Pearl Jewelry

You can encounter freshwater pearl jewelry that come in a all colors of the rainbow it seems. Naturally, however, freshwater pearls can usually be found to be white or cream with rose and/or green overtones. You can also find freshwater pearls that are also naturally peach, pink, and even purple. If you come across chocolate freshwater pearls or black freshwater pearls, more than often these have been treated to be this color. However, the pearl itself is most likely still 100% real unless otherwise stated.

Shapes of Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater pearls come in a variety of shapes as well. Most freshwater pearls are oval, button and coin shaped. More often, saltwater pearls come in a more circular shape. Freshwater pearls on the other hand are just slightly off more often than not. However when grouped together with similar shaped pearls, the overall freshwater pearl jewelry still looks just as stunning in the end.

While freshwater pearl jewelry is most often the least expensive of all the pearl jewelry types, they have some very strong qualities and characteristics that make them unique and valuable. In addition to the 4 characteristics we’ve already mentioned, the strength and durability of the actual pearl is much stronger than other types of pearls. This makes freshwater pearl jewelry long lasting and worth the investment.

Pearl jewelry has been for years, one of the most treasured and coveted personal items a person can have. Its simplicity and sheen truly makes it a unique jewel that marks the sign of good taste and wealth. When we think of a pearl, generally we think of a small white sphere. What we don’t think about is the many different types and colors of pearls available. Different types of pearls come in not only different colors, but also shapes, nacre, luster and with different surfaces. Knowing each type and their differences can help you gain an understanding of pearls and help you make the best choice in pearl jewelry that fits your specific needs and even your pocketbook.

The most common pearl most people are familiar with are Freshwater Pearls. Freshwater Pearls are exactly what they sound like. They come from mussels located in freshwater lakes and rivers. Today, China is the leading exporter of Freshwater Pearls, with the majority of pearl farming taking place about 300 miles outside of Shanghai. Recently, however, Chinese pearl farmers have switched their emphasis from the quantity of Freshwater Pearls to the quality. This ensures that the pearls exported are of the best conditions and beauty.

Freshwater Pearls range in size from 4mm to 11mm. The majority is of oval, button and coin shape. Unlike saltwater pearls, they are not quite a perfect circle. Colors range from white, cream, gold, peach, pink, and purple. Some may even have a rose and/or a green over tone to it. Freshwater Pearls tend not to have the same intense luster by comparison to Akoya Pearls, but still have an excellent sheen to them. This and the general oval shapes they come in, tends to make Freshwater pearl jewelry less expensive than other types, and thus making them very popular. Freshwater Pearls do have a thicker nacre, however, which makes them more durable against chipping and general wear and tear.

Akoya Pearls are considered to have the best luster of all the types of pearls. Saltwater pearls, these derive from the Akoya oyster, which is the smallest of the pearl oysters. Therefore, Akoya Pearls tend to be the smallest of pearls. Sizes range from 2mm to 10 mm, but on average, you will find an Akoya Pearl that is 6mm to 7mm. Harvested primarily in Japan and China today, cultured Akoya’s were actually introduced early in the 20th century.

Akoya pearls are closest to being a perfect sphere compared to other pearls. On average, they are 70% to 80% round or near-round. The rest tend to be baroque or semi-baroque. The surface of an Akoya ranges from a clean surface to lightly or moderately blemished, while the nacre can be thick, medium, or thin. Again, the thicker the nacre of the pearl, the more durable it will be. Akoya’s also range in a variety of natural colors including white, cream, some yellow, pink, and blue. Some may even have a rose or green overtone as well.

Tahitian Pearls were first introduced internationally quite recently in the mid-1970’s. Cultivated from black lipped oysters, it is important to know that a pearl is a Tahitian Pearl only if it is cultured in Polynesia. Black lipped oysters tend to be large, with some weighing as much as 10 pounds! So their pearls also can be abnormally large as well. However, on average, Tahitian Pearls are generally 9 to 10 mm and can span anywhere from 8 to 14mm. Tahitian Pearls generally appear black, which some are. However most are a deep grey or green color that appears to be black. Other colors also include blue, peacock, aubergine and pistachio. The luster of the pearl can be quite beautiful from the dark shades of colors present in Tahitian Pearls. The shape of the pearl is split between mostly round or near-round and baroque or semi-baroque. The last 20% of average pearls generally have an oval, button or drop shape to them. With the dark colors, Tahitian Pearls also tend to have a variety of surface types; with clean, lightly, moderately or heavily blemished. So depending on the surface, this will affect the quality and pricing of your Tahitian Pearl jewelry. These types also come with a thick nacre, making them strong against nicks and other wear and tear.

Lastly, we have South Sea Pearls. South Sea Pearls derive from anywhere on the coasts of Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Generally, 60% of your South Sea Pearls will come from Australia. However, those that are more creamy or yellow are generally produced in Indonesia. Today, South Sea Pearls are considered to be the most cultivated type of pearl on the market.

Traditionally, South Sea Pearls are larger, ranging in size from 9mm to 18mm. On average, however, you will find a pearl about 13mm. The shape of it tends to be oval, button, or drop shaped 40 to 60% of the time. However, you can find a variety of baroque or round pearls as well. South Sea Pearl jewelry tends to be a little pricier because of its unique characteristics. The luster of the pearl tends to look more satiny and has a distinct shine to it. The surface of the pearl is also quite naturally good, with a range from clean to lightly blemished. In addition, South Sea Pearls come in colors that are not common in other types of pearls, which include gold, white, and silver. The golden hues are especially exquisite with the natural satin finish of the pearl. You can also find South Sea Pearls in blues, creams, with possible overtones of rose or green. The nacre of the pearl also tends to be much thicker than other types of pearls as well, making it quite durable.

All four of these pearls have their positives and differences. Knowing what makes each distinct and special will help you make a knowledgeable decision when selecting your own pearl jewelry. You can ask the right questions, make the right choices, and hopefully select an exquisite piece of authentic pearl jewelry that you will enjoy and care for, for years to come.