Description
Factors affecting the price of pearls.
Pearl types, Lustre, thickness of nacre, colour, shape, size, surface quality, treatment status. The most expensive type of pearl is the natural pearl, these were the only type available until about 1900, when Miki Moto started to produce cultured pearls. Cultured pearls are from farmed oysters, whereas natural pearls come from “wild” oysters. Also we have sea water pearls from the oceans and fresh water pearls from the rivers and streams. Seed pearls were very small pearls used extensively in Victorian jewellery. Artificial pearls are made from many materials often coloured glass.
Pearls are traditionally the birth stone for June
Care of your Pearls.
Pearls are delicate and can easily be damaged, pearl is just 2.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. They should be wrapped in cloth or tissue so as not to be scratched by other hard objects or jewellery.
Also pearls are not resistant to sprays and perfumes.
Notes: Paste is hand cut glass. It stimulates the fire and brilliance of gemstones, clear paste sparkles like diamonds. Fine paste will often look better than natural gemstones. It was used extensively in the 18th and 19th century where it was popular with royalty and aristocrats
