When many people think of pearls, they picture shiny balls of milky white country club perfection. But the world of pearl jewelry is much more than that. Freshwater pearls cultivated from pearly mussels can be purchased at bead shops and department stores, in dozens of colors from salmon to silvery blue.
Choose The Right Pearl Jewelry For Her
One of the best things about gifting freshwater pearls is that no two necklaces or earrings will look the same, so it is possible to individualize pieces according to the styles of the women in your life. Bead shops sell pearls individually, and separate them into containers by size, luster, and color, making it easy to create custom pieces. For the less crafty shopper, many major department stores carry a variety of freshwater pearl jewelry within the $10-20 dollar price range.
A Pearl For Every Occasion
Freshwater pearls are not as formal looking as saltwater pearls, so they need not be reserved for rare special occasions like wedding anniversaries and college graduations. Since no two freshwater pearl jewelry items are the same, it is feasible to give the gift of pearls for many different occasions throughout the year. Luminous freshwater pearls make fun, appropriate presents for relatives and friends of all ages, and they can be given for birthdays, holidays, and graduations, or whenever women need presents. Tip: Individualized pearl necklaces make great bridesmaid favors.
How Are Saltwater Pearls Formed
The traditional pearl market is based on naturally occurring saltwater pearls found in certain oysters and mussels in the ocean. Pearls form as a result of a biological defense mechanism. When sand and other foreign objects get into mollusk shells (typically oyster shells), the mollusks releasing a substance called nacre to coat the foreign substance and protect the delicate lining of their anatomy. This nacre builds up and eventually forms pearls. Finding perfectly round pearls and matching them by size and color is extremely time consuming and difficult, and so saltwater pearls became highly prized commodities
How Are Freshwater Pearls Formed
After many years of fishing for perfectly formed pearls deep in the ocean, someone came up with the bright idea of cultivating pearls—not making fake pearls, but giving mother nature a little push in the direction of pearl production. After some trial and error, it was discovered that pearls would form in freshwater more readily than in saltwater, and that their products could be encouraged by making a small incision in the lining of a mussel, which would prompt the mussel to release nacre.
Why Are Freshwater Pearls so Cheap
This process led to freshwater pearl farms, where thousands of different colored, shaped, and sized pearls are produced each year. Freshwater pearls are readily available, and are sold in the variety of shapes they are formed in (not just circles), so they are less expensive than saltwater pearls.
This holiday season, instead of buying overpriced precious gems, consider giving the women in your life vibrant, versatile freshwater pearl jewelry.
