The Beauty and Mystery of Pearls

Acrylic Pearls, use for Fun Accessories

Acrylic Pearls are made with a coated bead and are fun accessories with a low price point and great for costume jewelry.  They come in a unlimited colors as you can dye the coating and are very lightweight, used frequently in children's jewelry.  Acrylic pearls have a short life span and over time the coating will begin to peel off.  

Glass Pearls - a step up from Acrylic

Glass Pearls is a glass bead dipped or sprayed with pearlescent material and are an inexpensive alternative to Freshwater Pearls.  Ideal for high end costume jewelry designs. These glass beads feature a wonderful pearlescent coating that adds a soft sheen to each one.  While glass pearls have a longer life over acrylic pearls, over time the surface with start to peel.  

Freshwater Cultured Pearls - Our Pearl of Choice

Freshwater Pearls are a cultured pearl the only Pearls you will find throughout our jewelry.  We strive to bring you excellent quality with high grade luster and a radiant reflection.  The majority of cultured pearls available in the High Fashion market today are Freshwater Pearls and are produced in multiple volume in freshwater mussels making them more inexpensive than the saltwater cultured pearls.

True round and teardrop-shaped Freshwater Pearls, while a major goal of pearl farmers everywhere, remain a tiny percentage of each yearly harvest – less than 3% - and are a major factor in determining a pearl’s overall quality grade.  

One of the differences between real freshwater pearls and imitation pearls comes down to their surface feel. The surface feel of real freshwater pearls is slightly uneven, while the surface of acrylic or glass beads is perfectly smooth. Because freshwater pearls are made by nature (or cultured to mimic the natural process), they will also vary slightly in size, color and luster compared to the uniform look of imitation pearls.  The biggest difference from imitation pearls (glass and acrylic) is that freshwater pearls will never peel, have a beautiful radiance, and will wear for years producing a beautiful luster.

The Beauty of Cultured Pearls

Saltwater cultured pearls are produced in a different variety of oysters, chosen for their quality, size, shape and color.  Fewer saltwater pearls are produced each year with generally only one pearl per oyster and their cost is more expensive than that of freshwater pearls.

Although the process used to create a cultured pearl is induced by human intervention, the resulting pearls are every bit as real as the natural ones and is generally used in fine jewelry of gemstones, gold and platinum.  

Cultured South Sea Pearls are the most valuable type of cultured pearl on the market today. These pearls come in a gorgeous variety of sizes, shapes and colors. 

Natural Pearls, The rarest of all Pearls

Natural Pearls are real pearls formed in wild mollusks living in their natural habitat without any human intervention. Their rarity has made natural pearls highly valued and a collector’s gemstone.

The odds of finding natural pearls in the wild are slim—it’s truly a game of chance. Because natural pearls are extremely rare, and the few that are available are exorbitantly priced,  If you do happen to find a natural pearl for sale, it’s good to know that unlike cultured pearls which are graded by millimeters, natural pearls are graded by their carat weight just like fine gemstones.

Caring for our Pearls

The top rule for pearls is that they should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off. Their luster can be dulled by hairspray, lotion and perfume. Wear them often and your body’s natural oils will keep them lustrous. Wipe them with a soft cloth every so often to keep them beautiful.  As an organic gem, pearls need to breathe. So, it’s best if they’re stored in a soft bag.