All You Need to Know to Care for Pearl Jewelry

Pearls are a timeless pieces for making a fashion statement, and necklaces made of pearl are no less in their beauty and charm. White Pearl necklaces are famous for their natural beauty and brilliance. The luster which is the hallmark of any pearl comes from the pearl's quality. Any designer can choose the pearls to make necklaces which is indeed an art. In any pearl necklace about 40 - 50 beads of pearl are carefully hand knotted and strung together to make a necklace. These necklaces goes very well with wedding gown and is a preferred choice of many a bride.

Freshwater pearls are generally used to make pearl necklaces. There are many varieties like Akoya, Tahitian and South sweater pearls. The Akoya pearls are generally more expensive than the other. Tahitian pearls come in black colours and south sea pearls are available in gold.

Why White pearls?

White pearls as a gift during marriage ensures happiness throughout the married life.They are very famous among women in U.S. and Europe. The luster of pearls is due to the overlapping of successive layers in a pearl which breaks up the light falling on the surface. White colour is dominant among Akoya and freshwater pearls.

The Effect

The wearer of the pearls looks very elegant and graceful. They are the perfect jewellery for weddings and a priceless gift for anniversaries. High quality pearls have the perfect round shape and clean surfaces.

The History of Pearls

When women started adorning herself with ornaments, pearls became her best friend. They became the most sought after gems because of their natural beauty and luster. Unlike other gems which are mined, pearls are grown in the oysters in lake or sea waters.

The Egyptians were used to bury pearls along with the dead bodies. History says the Cleopatra to prove she could consume the wealth of an entire nation in one meal drank a glass of wine that had a dissolved pearl to win a bet against Marc Am\nthony

Romans considered pearls are a symbol of wealth and prosperity. The British Royalties on the other hand had large collection of rare beautiful pearls. There were laws forbidding the wearing of pearls by common man.

The Greeks used pearls as wedding gift and its possession is a sign of happy marriage and sacred love.

The Indians on the other hand had their Maharajas and Queens adorning themselves with pearl jewellery. The Ancient Hindus and Chinese considered pearl as a sign of love, health and prosperity.

History of White Pearl Collar Necklace

The white pearl collar necklaces fashion had reached its peak during the Victorian era. Only women of nobility wore these necklaces to accentuate their necks or over their high collars to accessorize their clothes.

What is White pearl collar necklace?

The necklace consists of multiple strands of pearls worn on the high neck. These collar necklaces can be seen in the paintings and illustrations of some centuries ago. They can be seen on the necks of even queens and princesses.

The collar necklaces are generally 12 to 13 inches long. They are generally made of small pearls, big pearls or rice pearls. They are composed of three of more strands of pearls and are worn to fit snugly in the middle of the neck. They are best worn with semi formals and formals. They accentuate a slender neck and put a full stop to a pointed chin.

How to choose the right sized pearl?

When buying white pearl collar necklace consider the age, face shape and body composition of the wearer. Small pearls are best for children and teenagers, medium pearls for the 20 to 30s age group women. Bigger pearls look beautiful on older women.
While choosing the necklace it should be borne in mind that it is only an accessory. It should not look bigger than the face, so that nobody notices the wearer anymore. Therefore choose the size that is best suited for you.

Care for Pearls

Pearls are different from other types of jewelery and hence have to be handled with extra care.

a. Wear your pearl jewellery after applying make up and perfume
b. Take off pearl rings before you apply hand and body creams
c. Wipe the pearls with a soft lint free cloth after taking them off. The cloth can be dampened with water or it can be dry.
d. Pearls which are dirty should be cleaned only with mild soap and water solution.
e. Pearls should not be cleaned with solutions that contain ammonia
f. They should not be cleaned in ultrasonic cleaner.
g. Never use abrasive cleaners or abrasive cloth for cleaning. They wear away the nacre coating.

Storing pearls

Pearls should never be stored with other jewellery as there is a possibility of scratching with other metals and gemstones. There should be a special slot in the jewellery box or the pearls should be stored in chamois or non abrasive material. The pearls should be restrung periodically so that silk or nylon cord should be in good shape.

Pearls necklaces especially the white pearls look beautiful and elegant on the wearer. Wear them to your parties and let others feel that they have missed the beautiful gems for themselves.