|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As long as pearl jewelry have been known to people, they have been a highly sought commodity for their beauty. It's only in recent times however that the industry has taken the hunt for the perfect pearl to a whole different level. Today, the shiny orbs that we see on in display in jewelry stores have actually almost always been grown in farms.
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.
Naturally, this dangerous activity was reserved for the desperate or the powerless - in many cases slaves or extremely poor peasents. Today, this method is all but obsolete in most places of the world. The cheaper cultured pearls have become popular and are many times the only pearls available to the consumer.
There are however still a few isolated areas that practice this old art of pearl diving. Some of the finest natural pearl speciments come from the gulf of Bahrain. Here, divers still risk their health to retrieve what are considered the top of the crop in the world. In fact, Bahrain wants no part of the sale of cultured pearls, banned from trade. Bahrain is one of the few places on earth that does an active job in trying to preserve the natural habitat and waters from pollution.
It's an interesting story and one that continues to fascinate buyers around the world. Somehow, the beauty of the pearl grows when it's been retrieved from the depth of the ocean.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Buying pearl jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of pearl jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality pearl jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.
Pearls
Natural or real pearls are made by oysters and other mollusks. Cultured pearls also are grown by mollusks, but with human intervention; that is, an irritant introduced into the shells causes a pearl to grow. Imitation pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organic materials.
Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pears. A cultured pearl's value is largely based on its size, usually stated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating, which give it luster. Jewelers should tell your if the pearls are cultured or imitation. Some black, bronze, gold, purple, blue and orange pearls, whether natural or cultured, occur that way in nature; some, however, are dyed through various processes. Jewelers should tell you whether the colored pearls are naturally colored, dyed or irradiated.
Clams, oysters, mussels and many other mollusks with limy shells are known to produce pearls. But very few kinds yield gem pearls of jeweler's quality. The pearl is an abnormal growth of mother-of-pearl, or nacre, imbedded in the soft bodies of these shellfish. It is built up, layer upon layer, in the same way as nacre is added to the lining of the growing shell and always has the same color and luster. For example, over the country, hundreds of good-sized pearls are found each year in the oysters we eat. Unfortunately these have no commercial value regardless of whether they have been cooked or not because they are dull opaque white or purple like the shell of the parent oyster. In recent times almost all pearls of gem quality come from the oriental pearl oyster which has a bright shimmering translucent nacre.
A pearl starts growing when some irritating foreign substance such as a sand grain, bit of mud, parasite or other object becomes lodged in the shell-producing gland called the mantle. Pearls formed in the soft flesh where nacre can be added on all sides are most likely to be spherical and the most highly prized. By far the great majority are flattened or variously distorted and have little value. Size, color, luster and freedom from flaws are other essential qualities. Unlike other gems, such as diamonds, pearls have an average life of only about 50 years. In time the small amount of water in a pearl's make-up is lost and its surface cracks. Because they are mostly lime, necklaces which are worn often are injured by the acid secretions of the human skin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in trends are constant, and fashion must be able to captivate the people in order to cause a major trend. It seems to be that classic jewelry is making its way back to the freshwater pearl necklace surface, as people are more inclined to go back to gemstone jewelry and Murano style glass. The beauty of fashion jewelry renews the age of glamor, making every wearer of a jewelry piece feel like royalty. It uplifts the spirit of the wearer. An we then say that the next trend will be fashion jewelry's golden era? Only the future can tell.
But then, there came the costs and the consumer dollars, and consumers nowadays want something else with regard to designer jewelry. People wanted to go back to freshwater pearl earrings what was the trend two decades ago, and that was wholesale fashion jewelry. Eco-green then seemed to pale in comparison with the wholesale jewelry design two decades ago. Although premier jewelry design houses cannot give these jewelry pieces at an affordable price, fortunately, fashion jewelry can do just that.
Now, the past of fashion jewelry is paving way to its future. People are now looking back to freshwater pearl bracelet the magnificent jewels in the 40s and 50s, in which bracelets, brooches, and sparkly necklaces were the trends. The golden era of jewelry is now being looked back on, as people remember the pieces made by Juliana, Coro, Dior, Trifari, and Eisenberg, which are now considered to be highly valuable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Large diamond mines are closing in South Africa and the whole of Africa, and sooner than later the big companies will have to dig into their resources to find diamonds to sell - and for silver pearl necklace this they WILL charge an arm and a leg. The demand is big, the supply is little!
That is an increase of 15% over 9 years. This isn't good math for any business, and for this reason hundreds of medium sized mines had to close their doors, or pits in this case. In turn, with production going down, the consumer will pay even more for coral necklace this precious stones.
Another factor, which kept the price low for the producer and high for the consumer, is the gold price. Any diamond producer can tell you that a high gold price = low diamond value for the producer, it's an unwritten rule! I reckon it works like this: The market needs jewelry in all shapes and sizes, diamond gold rings, diamond gold earrings, diamond gold watches etc., with the emphasis on diamond and gold. If either the gold price, or diamond price should unexpectedly rise, the market wouldn't be able to cope with the dramatic increase in price. Because gold is the currency of trading in the worlds, diamonds have to play second fiddle. Since 1998 the gold price grew from $250 to turquoise necklace a whopping $1000 in 2008. 400% increase. But the market didn't only compensate for the increase in the gold price, but also charges for a 250% increase in diamond prices. But the producer never sees this increase and the money ends up in the pockets of the middleman!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Buying gold jewelry online is not risky at all when you know what to look for and whom to buy from. With a little care, you can wear your gold jewelry for as long as you wish without having to pearl strand wholesale spend hours on shopping.
Understand the seller's terms: You are not ready to buy even after you have selected a seller and a product. Before you click the 'Buy Now' button, read and understand the site's policies regarding delivery and return of the jewelry. Check whether the site is secure and whether they have a contact number. Write to pearl earrings wholesale them with your queries. A speedy response will tell you a lot about the quality of their customer service.
Order wisely: Many people who shop online feel cheated when the product finally reaches them. Before you buy, understand the exact size and weight of the item you are buying. Often, the web store will provide you with an enlarged image of pearl necklace wholesale the item. Even so, it is difficult to make out the exact size. The secret is to check the dimensions, ALWAYS.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|