Next to diamond, there is no gem that has fascinated mankind more than pearl. The oldest known natural pearl necklace is more than 4000 years old. Pearls are one of the most used gemstones in beading and jewelery making, but they vary immensely in quality, price and availability. Pearls is the only gem created by a living creature, requiring no enhancement to reveal their beauty. Pearls have fascinated and delighted us for centuries, both for their beauty and their mystique.
The most highly prized pearls are those which are perfectly spherical to the naked eye.
Various shape of pearls are:
•Round Round pearls are the most expensive variety. They are truly spherical and will roll in a straight line. Very few pearls fall into this category, but they often include pearls that are nearly round.
•Semi-Baroque These pearls have symmetrical shapes, but are not truly round. These include tear-drop, oval, or rondelle.
•BaroqueThese pearls have an irregular shape. Though generally less expensive, some unique-shaped specimens can fetch a higher price than round pearls. Baroque pearls have been made into famous or important jewellery pieces throughout history.
The colour of the pearl has some bearing on the value of the pearl jewellery, but this factor is mostly in the eye of the beholder. Cultured freshwater pearls come in a range of colours including whites, creams, pinks, lilacs, silver and gold shades. Black pearls are even available from Tahitian black-lipped oyster. Pearls are sometimes dyed to achieve a particular colour. Colour is mostly a personal choice and is also dependant on the desired use of the jewellery, but when comparing two identical pieces, the one that is naturally coloured (not dyed) has more value than the one which is dyed.
In general, the larger the pearl size the more valuable it is. This is generally because the larger the pearl size, the pearl would have had to remain in the mollusc longer, increasing the pearl farmer's investment.
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