With all the different pearl colours and types out there, it can be difficult to know just what you’re looking at when you want to buy pearl earrings. With this in mind, here is a useful guide to help you along the way and give you some background into the world of pearls.
Can You Buy Various Colours Of Tahitian Pearls?
You would think that these pearls come from Tahiti but actually they don’t, and they’re also not exclusively black in colour. Although black is a popular choice for pearl fans, Tahitian pearls can also be bought in beautiful blues, browns, greens and greys. This type of pearl comes from a group of islands known as the French Polynesian range.
Cultured Vs Natural Pearl Earrings
To start with, natural pearls are formed when a foreign object gets into an oyster. In order to shield itself, the oyster will over the parasite in an organic substance called nacre, which then creates the mother of pearl we know today. Over time, the layers of nacre build up around the intruder and eventually form the organic gem we all know as the pearl.
Cultured pearls are formed in the same way as natural pearls, with one big difference: they get their start not by chance, but deliberately, when man intervenes with nature. A technician will place the irritant in the oyster and then place it back into the water. At the end of it all, you have some beautiful cultured pearls that end up in the shops for you to buy pearl earrings or pearl necklaces etc.
Saltwater Pearls Vs Freshwater Pearls
Many people would say that the quality of cultured freshwater pearls are better value than the saltwater versions. Over the years, improved pearl culturing processes have meant that freshwater pearls are now being produced that are large, rounded and stunningly beautiful.
If you’re a pearl fan, you can buy freshwater coloured pearls in many different variations and these can vary from cream to pink. Lavender is an on-trend colour option for pearl fans at the moment. White pearls are bleached to enhance their natural shine. Black freshwater cultured pearls are treated with dye or heat to produce their inky colour.
At the end of the day, it is freshwater pearls that appeal most, and the fact they are more affordable helps make them a number 1 choice. So, for all the pearl fans out there, there has never been a better time to buy pearl earrings.
Tags: earrings, fashion, jewellery, jewelry, pearl earrings, pearls