Pearl Jewelry Throughout History

Throughout history, pearls have been a symbol of beauty and high status. The natural rarity of pearls contributes to their worth and unique appeal. Although naturally occurring pearls are quite rare to find in modern society, there are a number of methods used to create and enhance a pearl in order to make these precious objects available to the masses to wear as jewelry or to adorn clothing. Deeply rooted in the depths of the oceans, pearls have mystified and intrigued humans for thousands of years and they continue to garner mass appeal today.

The historical origin of pearl jewelry goes back to ancient times when pearls were rare symbols of natural perfection. The reason it was so difficult to find these pears was due to the fact that divers had to scour the ocean floor in order to search for the perfect pearl from the mouths of mussels and oysters. The acquisition of these pearls was a far cry from the process we use today. In the year 206 BC, the Chinese were among the first to search for pearls. Royal subjects were among the lucky few to attain this most rare gem at the time. As a natural circle, pearls symbolized mystical forces in the universe and their display was said to bestow a certain power over the owner.
Since the beginning of pearl cultivation these beautiful gems have been used for a variety of jewelry adornments. In addition to placing pearls on royal crows and the clothing fashion of royal subjects, pearls have always been a focal point in a beautiful piece of jewelry. The Incas and the Aztecs prized pearls for their magical powers, and displayed them prominently in beautiful necklaces. Pearls have also been made into rings, earrings, and brooches. In most cases, the larger the pearl- the more valuable it is. In addition to its size, the luster, the color and the shape of the pearl contribute to its worth.

During the middle ages pearls were prominently featured among the noble class as a symbol of a person”s high class and stature. It is fascinating to take note of pearl adornments in famous paintings; as they can illustrate the fashion and the status of the woman who is the subject of the painting. One of the most famous paintings with a subject wearing a pearl accessory is Johannes Vermeer”s Girl With a Pearl Earring. Painted in 1665, this portrait has captivated the attention of millions of artists and lovers of fine art alike. The teardrop earring gracing the jaw line of the subject is an alluring detail that critics have discussed for hundreds of years. There are also many other portraits from this time period that depict noblemen and women draped in pearls. With a single strand of pearls, a choker made of overlaying strings, a set of earrings, or even a pearl pendant, the English high society was quite fond of displaying their status with a pearlescent glow.

Another fascinating historical fact about pearls is their presence in biblical references. Due to the fact that pearls are naturally occurring, they have been around for thousands upon thousands of years and owning them is simply a matter of finding these hidden gems and knowing that they exist. In the New Testament, Jesus spoke of heaven as “a pearl of great price.” The Qur”an also makes reference to a heavenly place adorned with pearls. The Hebrew bible takes a different approach to the pearl nod, with possible references to Onyx pearls. Although the translations for these references are disputed among Hebrew scholars it is most probable that the writings refer to pearls.

Due to the combination of beauty and scarce natural occurrence, the pearl has historically been cherished and prized. The reason it is so common to find pearls in modern society is due to new and improved methods of pearl production. Unlike the ancient Chinese methods, current pearl farming is done in a highly systematic and accurate fashion. Pearls still grow in the water- but customers now have the option of buying saltwater or freshwater pearls. Although saltwater pearls are incredibly rare, freshwater cultures offer a less expensive and more accessible range of styles and price.

The Story Behind Pearl Divers

Pearls – sought after for their intrinsic beauty for thousands of years. They used to be the pinnacle of jewelry, more expensive than gold and silver combined and its’ only within the recent 100 years that modern technology has changed this fact. Today, most pearls are cultivated and grown in huge farms, making them available to the mass consumer market. Pearl necklaces are particularly popular.

That’s a far cry from the dangerous extraction and collection methods used before the invention of modern technology. In the past, not more than 100 years ago, the only way to retrieve pearls was by diving in lakes, floods and the ocean to pick them up, one at the time. The unfortunate divers who’se job it was to do this, were often poor and lured by the relative large sums they could get. The diver would sometimes have to dive as deep as 100 feet on one single breath of air. In order to preserve air and to stay submerged the longest, the divers would hold on to heavy stones on the way down.

Today, this method of pearl hunting is almost gone. The use of slaves has fortunately been abandoned and there are better ways to make a living for most people, even the poor. Cultured pearls have become the norm and there is no risk in producing and selling them. They have an almost equal quality, although the natural variant is still said to be more excuisite and beautiful.

However, there is still a few places in the world that practise genuine pearl hunting. Bahrain – the small gulf state – is one of them. Unlike so many other places in the world, Bahrain has made an conscious effort to preserve the habitat, so that pearl diving can still take place. That’s why some of the world’s most beautiful natural pearls now come from Bahrain, where trade with cultured speciments has been banned.

How To Tell Dyed And Natural Pearls

High quality dyed pearls can be quite beautiful. When you first start looking at pearls, maybe it is hard for you to realize that black was a dyed color in freshwater or Akoya. There are some ugly dyed pearls too. Some dyed black pearls that have a sooty look. They will remind us of home-dyed hair, which is a kind of over-colored and unnatural.Therefore, a lot of people are faced with the question how to tell dyed pearls.

Lets get to know how pearls are dyed firstly. Generally speaking, infiltration is the common method of dyeing pearls. Dyestuff is penetrated into the pearl surface through infiltration. Freshwater pearls can be dyed easily in a short time (few hours or few days) because of the soft nacre. While South Sea pearls need much more time (one or two months) and are very costly to be dyed. Due to the compact nacre, it requires a strong light to accelerate the penetration and uniform distribution of dye, which is so called “laser dye,” “radiation stain” or “roast color”. Currently, the method can only be found in the South Sea pearls. And some golden South Sea pearls are dyed and even look more beautiful than natural golden ones. In other words, dyed golden South Sea pearls have metallic fluorescence which will make the golden color deeper because of long-term exposure of glaring light. As for Tahitian pearls, it has high failure rate in dyeing them and also extremely expensive. Therefore, people hardly find dyed Tahitian pearls in the market.

You may want to know some skills in distinguishing the dyed pearls and natural color pearls. Well, it is not difficult if the right methods are taken.

There are some tests Shecy can provide to help:

– Price test
Some types of true color pearls are typically expensive, e.g. Tahitian pearl, Golden South Sea pearl, Akoya pearl with Rose overtone (Hanadama pearl). If the price is unbelievably low and the merchant doesn’t own a special reason for this price. The pearls are probably treated.

– Size test
If a pearl’s diameter is smaller than 9mm, and is marked as Tahitian pearl or Golden South Sea pearl, that must be false color. For almost all Tahitian and South Sea pearl, expect for their Keshi pearls, are larger than 9mm. Akoya oysters, on the other hand, can only produce a wide range of pearls below 9mm.

– Drilled-hole test
Look at the drilled hole of a pearl. If the nucleus looks dark and nacre inside looks white, the pearl is dyed. The other clue that indicates dyed pearl is dye concentrating around the drill hole or on some spot of pearl surface.

– Color test
Observe the pearl color carefully. Any of the following clues would indicate whether the pearl is dyed or not.
Anyway, dyed pearls are not fakes, but people can get them much easier than pearls of natural color. They fulfill people’s desire of special fashion in different occasions while cost less. For their soared price, few people can afford natural black or golden pearl, treated pearl is undoubtedly a great invention to fit different tastes and trends.

Pick Pearl Jewelry At Affordable Price In Kolkata

For past so many centuries pearl jewellery has been immensely popular amongst the emperors, kings, queens and other rich and famous people. Pearl jewellery is actually accepted as a sign of position and status. Even today, the pearls are extremely popular choice of people all over the world. With the prices of gold and diamonds going out of the reach of the common man, the desire to acquire some amazingly beautiful jewellery can be fulfilled by investing in pearl jewellery. Pearls look very classy and elegant. Unlike the ornaments made out of gold and other precious stones, pearl jewellery can be worn for special occasions and daily, without carrying a look of being overdressed.
Kolkata is one of the biggest metropolitan cities of India. There a lot of scope for any talented Jewelry Designer in Kolkata. Thankfully because of the talented jewellery designers today, there is some amazing variety of Pearl Jewelry at affordable price in Kolkata as well. Gone are the days when the residents of the city use to depend on the places like Hyderabad for getting hold of some exquisite pearl ornaments. One can find pearl ornaments made out of natural and cultivated/ cultured pearls. Natural pearls are quite rare and are hence very heavily priced as well. Although, pearl enthusiasts would probably declare that cultured pearls are nevertheless fairly impressive, maintaining this luxury and magnificence. The ornaments made from cultured pearls also allow you to own some amazing jewellery pieces, nonetheless with a less expensive price tag.
Today, the jewellery designers in the city are experimenting a lot with pearl jewellery. They are creating some astonishing fashion pearl jewellery. This segment of fashion pearl jewellery is becoming hugely popular amongst the young and fashion conscious crowd of the city. There are several styles of bead fashion pearl jewellery now available in Kolkata and each and every piece has different style and look. This by any chance just doesnt mean that the variety of designs in the ethnic pearl jewellery is not readily available in the city. The leading jewellery stores of the city have some really amazing and diverse range of pearl ornaments coupled with variation in design plus colours.
Some people prefer coloured ones and other desire to posses the mirror-reflective, white coloured pearls. One can choose from a variety of ornaments like, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, nose pin, bangles, tie pins, brooches, etc. Pearls will always be symbolic of type, class, elegance and sophistication. The reputed and talented Jewelry Designer in Kolkata understands the preferences and likings of the residents of the city. They are well aware of the fact that no one can resist the temptation of possessing Pearl Jewelry at affordable price in Kolkata. The various leading jeweler outlets in the city have some amazing pearl ornaments to suit the needs, taste and pocket of the residents of Kolkata. They also offer great discounts and provide a certificate of authenticity on all their products. So, simply go ahead and grab your dream pearl necklace now!

Know How To Match Your Pearl Jewelry To Clothing And Skin Tone!

Knowing how to appropriately match pearl jewelry to your wardrobe and skin tone may not be easy because the process may possibly be frustrating. No man is an island, thus, as much as possible we just love to socialize. But along with that comes the everyday dilemma of keeping ourselves presentable to our acquaintances. Take a minute to read these professional tips to guide you how to match your pearl jewelry to your outfit and skin color.

Matching Pearl to Outfit

For matching pearl jewelry to clothing, identify the following factors
Your Lifestyle
The type of clothing you have and the colors you prefer
The type of pearl jewelry that will suit your attire
The outfit you frequently put on

High quality perfectly round pearls are most suitable for women of authority and power. Your extremely crisp business suits and formal attires should only be adorned by the most extravagant pearls in the market today. Wrap up that whole elegant package with a classic pearl round pin or a brooch with a combination of pearl and gold.

The best pearl jewelry to match evening gowns is the classic perfectly round one. But dont just grab one yet. You still have to consider which color and pearl size is the most ideal.

Suppose you just got invited to an elite cocktail party or a first-class fashion show, dont panic. Accentuate your outfit with a long length pearl necklace embellished with topaz, garnet, tourmaline and lapis beads. The combination will be undeniably stunning.

For your everyday casual attire a single-strand pearl necklace is the right pick. To achieve the perfect pearl jewelry-clothing match, choose one with moderate length and medium-sized pearls.

Unleash your inborn creativity and experiment with different necklaces. Try wearing two or more together. Just remember the golden rule for peal matching. Light pearls should go with dark dresses and light dresses should go with dark pearls. For example, wear colors like purple, champagne and blue for a light colored dress.

Matching Pearl to Skin Tone

When obtaining pearl jewelry it is vital that you decide according to the skin color of the person who will be wearing it.

Matching pearl jewelry to light colored skin tone is actually effortless. If you have a light skin tone, you can choose from an extensive assortment of pearl colors. You can go for white, to pink, to green or purple pearls. However, if you dont want to look like youre wearing grandmas jewelry, never sport black pearls. If you want to look your best, simply put on a classic creamy-pinkish white pearl necklace. This pearl necklace is renowned for its striking effect on fair skin.

White pearls with silver or bright blue overtones and a dark skin tone is the fantastic match. Pearls with shade of gold and silver will enhance the lovely glow of your skin. Find a pearl necklace with medium pearls decorated with small-sized diamonds. Wear one and be the hottest thing inside the room.

Dark-colored or gray pearls are universal. They look charming for all skin tones.

Real pearls will always be in for all seasons. Even if you reach old age, you can still become one gorgeous grandma by just wearing one. Test out the new tips now or you may choose to accessorize like a Hollywood stars fashion consultant by reading more of our guide.