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Pearls

Pearls have been around for decades. They are a staple of fashionable women and one of the hallmarks of what is traditionally considered “elegant” and “sophisticated” style. The strand of pearls which were once defined as classy, are they still in fashion? The answer is YES!

Unlike most other gemstones which are mineral, Pearls are organic and are formed by living organisms.A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk. The finest quality natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries. Though Pearls occur naturally in the wild, their occurrence is very sporadic and limited.

 
You may find them in the form of fresh water pearls, akoya saltwater pearls and south sea pearls.

Freshwater Pearls- are not the rarest pearls but they are the finest and preferred by jewelry makers.

AkoyaSaltwater Pearls-have been synonymous with classic beauty and elegance.

South Sea Pearls- have an exceptional smoothness and roundness. These are the rarest and most extraordinary pearls you will find in jewelry.

Freshwater Pearls

Cultured freshwater pearls are pearlsthat are farmed and created using freshwater mussels.The quality of cultured freshwater pearls is evaluated through a grading system of a series of values, based on luster, shape, surface, colorand matching.The process begins by choosing a suitable donor mussel and cutting a strip of tissue from the mantle is known as GRAFTING.This strip of tissue is then cut into 3mm squares. These squares are delivered to a technician who performs the operation. Unlike saltwater bead nucleation, this process is not considered difficult, and technicians need minimal training to perform the operation.After the maximum numbers of grafts have been performed, the mussel is flipped, and the procedure is performed once again on the other valve of the shell.

Freshwater pearl harvests are typically bought while still in the shell. After harvest the pearls are delivered to a first-stage factory, which is responsible for cleaning and sorting the pearls by size and shape.After the pearls are treated, they are drilled and then polished with a mixture of cornmeal and wax.

AkoyaSaltwater Pearls

If you're looking for the classic set of pearls, look to Saltwater Akoya cultured pearls. These pearls were first to ever be cultured in the early 1900s. For the past 100 years, Akoya pearls have been synonymous with classic beauty and elegance. They are the roundest of all pearl varieties, and are known for their sharp luster and pink overtones.

The Akoya oyster is the smallest pearl-producing oyster used in pearl culture today, so Akoya pearls also tend to be small, ranging in size from just 2 mm to about 11 mm in size. The average pearl size is harvested at about 7.5mm in diameter.

Almost all pearls available in the market are cultured.  Most natural pearls are odd-shaped because the irritants that caused the oyster to begin creating the pearl are not round.  Beautifully round, lustrous natural pearls would cost many hundreds of thousands of dollars a strand.

South Sea Pearls

South Sea cultured pearls are exceptional quality pearls with a whitish, almost silver color. The South Sea Pearl is much larger than the average pearl. The smoothness and roundness of these pearls are exceptional. These are the rarest and most extraordinary pearls you will find in jewelry.

South Sea pearls come from the white-lipped variety of the pinctada maxima oyster. This oyster is much larger than the oysters that produce Akoya and Freshwater pearls, so the pearl that it produces is much larger as well. Because of the rarity and sensitivity of this type of oyster, cultivation of these pearls is much more difficult, making them more expensive.

South Sea pearls are among the largest commercially harvested cultured pearls in the world. The average size of a South Sea pearl is 13 mm, with most harvests producing a range of sizes from 9 mm to 20 mm. The South Seas lie between the northern coast of Australia and the southern coast of China. These waters are the native habitat of a large oyster known as Pinctada maxima. This oyster grows up to 12 inches in diameter, and can be nucleated with a much larger bead than other saltwater oysters such as the Akoya.

These types of Pearls are very precious and the most prestigious treasure you can ever give. Visit our store to shop our pearl jewelry or visit us online at
mmjewelersbirmingham.com

Metal Guide

White gold:

White gold is a sought after precious metal for engagement rings, both due to its beauty and because it is a less expensive alternative to platinum. This precious metal is beloved for its gleaming white finish that makes diamonds truly dazzle. White gold is the most popular precious metal for engagement ring settings because it beautifully complements the shiny white sparkle of a center diamond. White gold is available up to 21 karats. Most engagement rings are 14k or 18k. This gorgeous precious metal looks lovely against any colored gemstones. White gold bridal jewelry is increasingly popular now days.

Platinum:

The everlasting popularity of platinum is due to its purity, color, strength and prestige. As gorgeous as platinum is, it's not all about looks. Many of us veer towards this metal because of its hardness and resistance to tarnishing, making it a practical and glamorous metal for everyday jewelry. Platinum is a great choice for engagement rings and wedding bands as well because it won’t change its color or fade. It’s incredible density and weight make it more durable than other metals and provides assurance in value. Platinum holds precious stones firmly and securely. But, platinum does not wear away and decrease its volume, unlike other metals. Over time, platinum develops a natural patina that many people prefer over a higher polished appearance. Platinum is the rarest and most expensive of the popular precious metals.

Yellow Gold:

 

Yellow Gold is known for its beauty and versatility, gold is the classic setting for most jewelry. Unlike some metals, gold retains a beautiful luster. The 'original' gold, and many still feel the best, is yellow gold, normally an alloy including silver, copper and zinc to strengthen the metal and enhance the yellow sheen. It is the metal of choice of traditionalists, by people preferring the warmer color with their skin tone, and for its contrast with precious stones and other metals. Gold is historically the most popular choice for wedding bands and other jewelry.

Rose Gold:

Rose gold, also known as pink or red gold, was very popular in Russia at the beginning of the 19th Century.  It is a gold and copper alloy that is increasing in popularity now as well and is commonly used for rings, pendants and bracelets amongst other jewelry pieces.  The difference between red, rose, and pink gold is the copper content.  With higher copper content, the red coloration grows stronger.  Pink gold has the least amount of copper and subsequently the lowest amount of coloration in the gold; this is followed by rose gold and then red gold with the highest copper content.  The most common karat of rose gold is 14k, but it can go up to 22k which is also known as crown gold.

August Birthstone – Peridot

Those born under Peridot may bewitch others!

Peridot is the birthstone for August and the 15th anniversary gemstone.  This gemstone is said to represent beauty, mystery, passion, and even enchantment. It can also equal forward thinking, channeling both justice and power. It was believed to be a stone of springtime by ancients who considered it a gift from Mother Nature. 

Since ancient times, Peridot was said as the symbol of the sun. The Greeks believed that it brought royal dignity upon its wearer and is said to have been first mentioned in the will of a bishop.

Peridot has been known to have healing effect on the gall bladder and liver. It is a protector against negative emotions when used in a necklace. Some believed that it protected its owner from “terrors of the night,” especially when it was set in gold. Others strung the gems on donkey hair and tied them around their left arms to ward off evil spirits.

This 146.10-carat peridot is in the collection of the Natural History Museum in London

Most peridot formed deep inside the earth and was delivered to the surface by volcanoes. Some also came to earth in meteorites, but this extraterrestrial Peridot is extremely rare, and not likely to be seen in a retail jewelry store.

Peridot is a gem variety from the olivine mineral group. The bottle green color is called Peridot. Yellowish green is chrysolite. Olive green is olivine. Sources of Peridot include: St. John's Island (Egypt), United States (Arizona and Hawaii), Myanmar, Burma, Australia, Norway, South Africa and Brazil.

Some of the finest Peridot stones are called “evening emeralds” because they appear greener under artificial light.