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| PEARL TYPES |
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- Freshwater Pearls.
- Seawater Pearls.
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FRESHWATER PEARLS:With new improved culturing techniques of harvesting freshwater pearls in lakes, rivers and ponds, the quality of these Freshwater pearls has not only improved but pearl farms are able to produce large quantity and therefore, have become affordable too. Although many parts of the world have pearl-producing mussels but are mostly found in Yangtze River Delta region of China, Kasumigaura lakes of Japan, Indian Ocean and also in the Mississippi River Basin of America.
After healthy mussels are hand picked from the lakes or riverbeds, these are sorted out as donor and recipient mussels. After the necessary cleaning, the mantle tissues removed from the donor mussels are then grafted surgically into the recipient mussels. After few days of healing period, these mussels are then placed in special small cages and dropped back into the waters for pearl formation. Normally it takes about 1-2years for a full harvest. Best is, that large number of pearls can be produced in a single mussel.
Freshwater pearls chiefly contain calcite and often luster gets less luminous over time as compare to Seawater pearls.
Freshwater pearls
can be found in various sizes and colors. Although white and cream colors are very common and natural but these can be color-dyed to meet fashion demands. Designers are now using these types of freshwater pearls in their regular fancy designs of jewelry.
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SEAWATER PEARLS
Similar to freshwater pearls, Seawater pearls are cultured too but they are grown in the seawater around the world. Their quality is superior and normally takes longer time to harvest. The climatic conditions of seawater are also great contributing and determining factors among other things.
A small incision is made in the body or mantle tissue of mollusk and a small nucleus is implanted alongwith a tiny speck of mantle tissue to naturally form a pearl over time. Basically, the bead nucleus or soft mentle tissue serves as a kind of 'seed' and this process is popularly known as bead-nucleating technique.
As a thin concentric layer of pearl sac gel gets deposited over time all around the nucleus –the nuclei element, saltwater pearls normally grow perfect in round shape. Also Saltwater pearls tend to have everlasting luster on its surface body due to Aragonite Calcium Carbonate component in its formation.
Seawater
cultured pearls
are also known by various popular names such as Akoya pearls, South Seawater pearls, Tahitian pearls etc.
Akoya pearls
Akoya Seawater pearls are typically more expensive than the fresh water pearls and are well sought after now because of its brilliant luster and quality. They are farmed in seawaters. They are predominately grown in Japan and China and in some other small areas of Far Eastern Asian regions. Akoya pearls are produced from the pinctada fucata martensii osyster family. Kokichi Mikimoto of Japan back in early 20th century had invented the bead-nucleating technique and patented it. These
Akoya pearls
are also available in many colors such as white, gray, pink and silver overtones and can be colored-dyed. Because if its perfect round shape, bright luster quality and color they are preferred choice for many ladies, retailers and designers and affordable too.
South seawater pearls
South seawater pearls are known for their extraordinary beauty and unrivalled quality. South seawater pearls are primarily farmed in the world's most prolific pearl beds in the unspoiled coastline with its pristine oceanic environment of northwest Australia. The rarest and largest pearl oysters in the world - the giant silver lip and gold lip Pinctada maxima are mostly found in the oceans off the north coast of Australia. Other harvesting areas for south sea pearls are in Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines and other Pacific Islands.
Seawater conditions, unpredictable as they are, affect the quality, quantity and size of pearls. Therefore, these Pinctada maxima oysters during their growing period are closely monitored for the growth of pearls. Pearl farm owners keep constant watch all the times. Gestation period time is much longer than freshwater and akoya seawater pearls.
South Sea pearls come in sizes 10mm to 20mm. The perfect spherical round shape pearls are the best kind of South Seawater pearls. Because of the rarest and sensational beauty of this queen of gems and the large size, south sea pearl jewelry usually command high premium prices.
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Tahitian pearls
Tahitian pearls are formed in Black-Lipped Oysters or Pinctada margaritifera.
Natural black pearls are known as the "Pearl of Queens" and the "Queen of Pearls".
Tahitian pearls also have other magical names like black pearls and gray pearls
and are harvested largely in the deep turquoise waters of Polynesian lagoons.
These exotic Tahitian pearls are often called the secret treasures of coral islands.
Many islanders still consider these natural divine finds as gifts from God "Oro", the King of the Firmament. Black pearls have a reputation for exceptional value and rarity and were also used in royal crowns in the past.
Although many believe that these pearls come from Tahiti Island only but they can be found in other Pacific Islands Near by. Other known farming areas of Tahitian pearls are
French Polynesia, the Micronesian Islands and the Cook Islands. Some come from the Far Eastern Asian regions of the world as well.
Tahitian pearls
are known for their natural black color all over the world but these come in light, creamy white, gray and peacock green too. These pearls are bead-nucleated and the nacre is typically thick. Average size pearl is of 9-14mm. To make a single well matching size pearl strand takes a huge amount of efforts to choose from hundreds of loose pearls. Tahitian pearls are unique but expensive and most sought after.
Besides round shapes, baroque pearls are very popular. Tahitian pearls, both black pearls and gray color pearls have become very popular now.
SYNTHETIC OR IMITATION PEARLS
These are look alike pearls. They have no values as such and mostly used in fine jewelry and are man made in the factories and colored dyed. Words like “fashion, faux, simulated, organic, man-made, ‘Mallorca’,” are used to mislead consumers. They are made of glass, plastic and shell beads and lacquered with pearlescence. You can buy such imitation type pearl necklaces perhaps less than five dollars in the market.
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