The Great Big Pearl Information & Picture Thread

[Japster]

Candace here is a pair of 9mm Akoya studs (top) compared to 10.2mm South Sea pearls. I hope this helps.

[Candice0985]

Thanks Japster, when I bought the akoyas they looked a little more white in the store but when I tried them on at home they were too ivory, creamy for my skin (canadian girl with irish skin and freckles) and the SS were more silver which I think will suit my complexion more. I think i'm going to exchange them for the SS today, the SS were a bit more expensive but they're classic and I think its worth the price. Thanks for your help Japster!! I'll post pics when I get them

[Japster]

Hopefully this isn't too geeky and technical, but I thought I'd share some information on how an oyster is nucleated to entice it to make a pearl.

One of the most important parts of marine pearl culturing is actually from the US. The shell bead that is used for nucleation is actually from a North American freshwater mussel, Megalonaias nervosa. I actually got to tour the Camden, Tennessee pearl farm when I was younger. American Pearl Company also sells freshwater pearls and jewelry: http://americanpearlcompany.com
Smaller versions of the pics below appear on their website.

The shells are shipped whole to Japan where they are sliced & cubed (right), than milled into spheres ranging in size from 2mm to 14mm (bottom left).


They are implanted into the gonad of the oyster with mantle tissue(picture below) from a donor oyster. The mantle tissue has vital epithelial cells that are needed for pearl formation.


North America was a huge source of natural pearls in the 17-1800's, especially the areas along the Mississippi River, Iowa, Ohio and Wisconsin. Pearls are still found in WI and neighboring states in freshwater mussels such as Muckets, sand shells and Threeridge mussels. There is a very knowledgable FW Mollusk expert in Wisconsin named Marian Havlik that consults with the government and other environmental groups on mollusks. There is also talk of a pearl museum being planned in WI.
One of the greatest North American pearls found was a pink pearl sold by Tiffany to Empress Eugenie of France that was found in a little stream in New Jersey.

[Mininana]

wow thanks for the info japster! you are THE pearl connoisseur amongst us! :)

[Gator bag lady]

Thank you for the GREAT thread!!

Do pearls scratch easy and do you think they could scratch 18k gold easy?

I have a gold Cartier love bracelet that I would like to wear on the same wrist as a gold watch and I am afraid the two pieces will scratch each other. Do you think if I got a pearl bracelet with large pearls to wear in between the two that would work to keep all three pieces scratch free?

Also, can you wear pearls in water/the shower?

[Japster]

Originally Posted by Gator bag lady

Do pearls scratch easy and do you think they could scratch 18k gold easy?

Pearls have a Moh's hardness between 3-4.5 so while a fingernail would not scratch them, it is possible that metal prongs on a diamond bracelet, for example, would. It's probably not the best thing to wear pearls regularly with gold that would be hitting it. If the bracelet is fitted I don't think it would be a bad idea though. I also don't think pearls would damage gold.

Originally Posted by Gator bag lady

Also, can you wear pearls in water/the shower?

It wouldn't be a good idea because of the soap. Soaps with perfumes, detergents, and acidic substances can severly damage pearls and erode them. However, I always recommend that at the end of the day, you should wipe down your pearl with a cloth lightly moistened with plain water and lay them flat. Pearls are partially composed of water and the moisture is actually good for them.

[Japster]

Originally Posted by Mininana

wow thanks for the info japster! you are THE pearl connoisseur amongst us! :)

Thanks that is really sweet. I'm definitely no expert just someone that loves working with pearls.

[Gator bag lady]

Originally Posted by Japster

[/FONT][/COLOR] Pearls have a Moh's hardness between 3-4.5 so while a fingernail would not scratch them, it is possible that metal prongs on a diamond bracelet, for example, would. It's probably not the best thing to wear pearls regularly with gold that would be hitting it. If the bracelet is fitted I don't think it would be a bad idea though. I also don't think pearls would damage gold. [COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] It wouldn't be a good idea because of the soap. Soaps with perfumes, detergents, and acidic substances can severly damage pearls and erode them. However, I always recommend that at the end of the day, you should wipe down your pearl with a cloth lightly moistened with plain water and lay them flat. Pearls are partially composed of water and the moisture is actually good for them.

Thank you so much for the info!! The Cartier Love bracelet is fitted and both gold surfaces are smooth (no pointy prongs sticking out) so I think this just might work for me!

Love all the knowledgeable ladies on TPF!!

[mistikat]

Loving this thread .... lots of great pix. Thanks!

[lily25]

I've posted this before, I got it from the internet some time back...

Proper Care and Cleaning Will Keep Your Pearls Beautiful!

Storing Pearls Safely.....

Remember, pearls are a relatively soft gem, and they should be protected from objects which can scratch them. Proper storage and care will keep them lustrous and beautiful. Keep your pearls in a soft cloth bag or pouch. If you don’t have a bag or pouch, wrap them in a soft cloth. Don’t just toss them into a jewelry box. If you toss them in a box or drawer with other jewelry, and they are unprotected, they may be scratched or marred by metal edges, prongs, or harder stones in your other jewelry. Do not store pearls in an airtight environment, such as a plastic bag, or in an excessively dry place. Pearls need moisture, and exposure to humidity is good for them. If they become dehydrated, they can become brittle and crack.

Protecting Your Pearls.....
Put on your pearls after you put on make-up, perfume, hair spray, or other cosmetics. These substances can harm the surface of the pearl and cause spots or disintegration.

Do not expose pearls to vinegar, ammonia or chlorine! These substances are deadly to pearls and can actually eat holes in them and dissolve them. Be especially careful when wearing a pearl ring. It’s not the right jewelry for house cleaning, since many household cleaners contain ammonia. Do not wear pearls in a swimming pool or hot tub that contains chlorine.
,
**Protect pearls from flames or extreme heat. They can burn or become discolored.

**Perspiration can damage pearls, so do not wear them while engaged in hard work or heavy exercise.

**Avoid wearing pearls with very rough fabrics which might scratch them.

If your pearls are set, such as in rings or earrings, check the settings periodically. If settings are loose, have a jeweler repair them.

If your pearls are strung, they will need to be restrung periodically. If you wear them very frequently, restringing once a year is recommended. They should be strung with knots separating the pearls to prevent them from rubbing against each other. Knots also help prevent the loss of pearls if the strand should break. Silk or nylon are recommended for stringing.

Cultured Pearl Stud Earrings...

Your cultured pearl stud earrings were made by gluing a 14k gold post into the hole of a half-drilled pearl. Occasionally a pearl will loosen and come off the post due to changes in temperature and humidity. If this occurs, use super glue to repair your earring. Squeeze a small amount of glue onto a piece of paper. dip the back end of the post in the glue and reinsert into the pearl. Let the earring set up for 1-2 hours before wearing again.

Cleaning Your Pearls....

After wearing, gently wipe pearls off with a hot damp towel. This cleaning will remove body oils and perspiration, which can change the color of pearls. It will also remove any traces of cosmetics which may have gotten on the pearls. If there is a spot of dirt which can’t be rubbed off, use your fingernail. Do not use toothbrushes, scouring pads, or any abrasive material to clean pearls.

Periodic washing is recommended. Pearls can be washed in water with a mild soap such as Ivory. (Do NOT use detergent or any cleaning solution!) Use a soft cloth or a very soft brush to clean the knots in the string. After washing and rinsing, lay the pearls flat in a damp dish towel to dry. (Do not hang wet pearls - the string will stretch.) The pearls will be dry when the towel is dry. Do not wear pearls if the string is still wet. It may stretch and can attract dirt.

DO NOT CLEAN PEARLS WITH
-commercial jewelry cleaners
-an ultrasonic cleaner
-steam
-detergents
-bleaches
-powdered cleansers
-baking soda
-ammonia based cleansers
-toothbrushes
-scouring pads or abrasives

[bbbochap]

thanks for the pics so I can ogle & drool - love this thread!!!

[Candice0985]

I went and exchanged my studs and I am soo happy that I did i'm 110% satisfied with this pair of SS studs, they are 10mm, silver tone but with a pinky in it too..maybe orient? again my pictures are not great they're from my cellphone. sorry for the quality but I wanted to show the size and colour on my skintone. For size reference i'm 5'10, so bigger jewelry looks proportionate on me. The luster on these studs are amazing!! so much better then my other pair, I get a crystal clear reflection of myself when I look at them, its somewhat noticable on the pics but again cell phone pictures don't have the best pixels.
Once again thanks for your opinions
pearl3.jpgpearl4.jpgpearl5.jpg

[Japster]

Posting some gorgeous Baroque Shaped Pearl Eyecandy. This first batch are all antique- some freshwater and some saltwater.

Canning Jewel

16th Century Flemish Bird

[Japster]

These are new designs with freshwater pearls from Avi Raz

[Ascella]

These designs are so creative!! Thanks for sharing, Japster.