Pearls are a natural product. A beautiful pearl commences from a humble grain of sand. The grain of sand in a oyster's shell is an irritant. The oyster, to protect itself, covers the sand with a nacre coating which eventually becomes a pearl. Today, oysters are injected with a tiny sphere of natural material such as ... oyster shell particles! The oyster takes over and eventually produces a luminous cultured pearl.
Pearls come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, colors, and lusters can be found. These include cultured, round saltwater, elongated fresh water, mabe, Tahitian Black and South Sea pearls. These come in a range of natural colors from white, cream and gold, to grey, blue and black with hues of rose, lilac, and green. Different colors may be achieved through bleaching, dyeing or chemicals with heat or irradiation.
Pearls are judged by their size, shape, color, freedom from blemishes and lustre. It is worthwhile to buy a book and learning to evaluate these different characteristics before buying them. A pearl is soft and should be stored in a protective fabric pouch. Clean them with mild soap and water. Avoid household chemicals, hair sprays, cosmetics and perfume, as they will damage the pearl's luster. NEVER use an ultrasonic or steam jewelry cleaner.
