Abalone Pearl – Abalone pearls are natural pearls found in the gastropod mollusk Haliotis. The pearls are most often an iridescent blue color and the most common shape is the horn. Although abalone pearls are highly desirable and widely sought after, culturing these gems has been a very difficult venture. Therefore, abalone pearls are some of the rarest pearls and considered by many to be some of the most beautiful pearls in the world.

Akoya Pearl – A type of saltwater cultured pearl, grown primarily in cooler water off the coasts of Japan and China. Oyster species that produce Akoya pearls include Pinctada fucataPinctada martensi. Akoya looks similar to the Freshwater pearl. Akoya pearls are on average larger, smoother, rounder, and more lustrous than Freshwater pearls.

Awabi Pearl – Japanese name for abalone pearls.

Baroque – Any irregularly-shaped pearl. Baroque pearls are valued for their one-of-a-kind, unusual shapes.

Biwa Pearl – Cultured freshwater pearls grown in a mussel that lives in Lake Biwa, Japan. Now this term is used on all stick-shaped pearls.

Blemish – Refers to any surface defect on a pearl. Blemishes include cracks, chips, dull spots, wrinkles, spots, holes, bumps, and pits.

Blister Pearl – A pearl that has grown onto the inside surface of a mollusk’s shell, so that it is dome-shaped on one side and flattened on the other. See also Mabe pearl. More details …

Button Pearl – Pearl shape where one side of the pearl is flattened. See also Mabe pearl. More details …

Choker – Traditionally, a necklace from 16-18 inches in length. In the modern usage of the term, a choker may be as short as 12 inches.

Circles – Concentric rings on the surface of a pearl. If circles cover over 1/3 of the pearl’s surface, it may be referred to as a circle pearl.

Clean – Term applied to a pearl surface that is free of surface flaws.

Coin Pearl – Pearls that’s in disc shape

Collar – Pearl necklace that just fits around the neck, usually 10-13 inches in length. Many collars consist of two or more strands of pearls.

Conch Pearl – Pearl produced by a conch. A conch is a tropical saltwater mollusk. Conch pearls occur in pink and orange colors.

Corn Pearl – A pearl shaped like a kernel of corn, usually from China.

Cornflake Pearl – Also called “Petal Pearls” because of its unique shape

Cultured Pearl / Cultivated Pearl – Pearl that is intentionally grown by introducing an irritant or substrate inside the shell of a mollusk.

Floating -Pearl Necklace – Made with “invisible” nylon strings, floating necklace create the illusion that the beads are floating around your neckline.

Freshwater Pearl – Any pearl produced by a mollusk living in fresh water. Freshwater pearls usually comes in white, pink or lavender color as shown in the photo above.

Freshwater Cultured Pearl – Cultured pearl that is grown inside a mollusk that lives in fresh water, such as a pond, lake, or river.

Grafting – Also termed nucleation or implantation. Process of inserting a hard bead nucleus or piece of soft mantle tissue into a mollusc body or mantle of the mollusc.The nucleus or mantle tissue serves as the ‘seed’ to irritate the mollusc to produce a pearl.

Imitation Pearl – Any pearl not made by mollusks. Imitation (also called faux, fake, simulated) pearls commonly are made of glass, plastic, or urea, and may be coated with any of a number of polymers, waxes, or fish scale extracts.

Keshii Pearl – Sometimes called a seed pearl or a keshi pearl. This is a small pearl that grows in addition to the intended cultured pearl. It is a non-nucleated pearl.

Luster – A pearl’s ability to refract and reflect light. Luster refers to a pearl’s depth and shine.

Mabe Pearl – A pearl that grows against the inside wall of a mollusc’s shell, resulting in a domed shape with a flattened back. In some cases, mabe pearls are grown by glueing a plastic dome (nucleus) onto the inside surface of a mollusk’s shell. Once the nucleus is coated with nacre, the pearl is cut away from the inner shell. The nucleus is removed and the cavity is filled with an epoxy resin and backed by a mother-of-pearl plate. Mabe pearls are sometimes called blister pearls. More details …

Majorica Pearl – A simulated pearl made by the Spanish Majorica company.

Matinee – Pearl necklace that is ususally 20-24 inches in length.

Momme – Standard unit of measurement of pearls in Japan. One momme equals 3.75 grams or 18.75 carats.

Nacre – The calcium carbonate-based substance secreted by a pearl in response to an irritant, such as a piece of shell (cultured pearl) or parasite (most natural pearls).

Natural Pearl – Any pearl grown without human interference. Sometimes called ‘Oriental’ pearls.

Nucleation – Also termed grafting or implantation. Process of inserting a nucleus (a hard bead nucleus or piece of soft mantle tissue) into a mollusk body or mantle of the mollusk.The nucleus or mantle tissue serves as the ‘seed’ to irritate the mollusk to produce a pearl. For freshwater pearl cultivation, the nucleus usually is a shaped piece of mantle from another freshwater mussel.

Opera – Pearl necklace that is 28-32 inches in length.

Orient – Refers to a pearl’s iridescence.

Oriental Pearl – A term sometimes used to refer to a natural pearl.

Peacock Pearl – A type of black pearl, usually with dark green tones. Genuine black pearls are produced by the oyster Pinctada margaritifera. The term ‘peacock pearl’ often is frequently applied to iridescent black freshwater pearls, which achieve their color as a result of irradiation, heating, and/or dyeing.

Potato Pearl – Refers to a pearl with an oblong shape, such that it resembles a potato. Most potato pearls are freshwater cultured pearls from China and they are very affordable.

Princess – Pearl necklace that is from 17-19 inches in length.

Rice Pearl – A freshwater cultured pearl with a crinkled surface and elongated shape, such that it resembles a grain of rice. Most rice pearls originate from China or the United States.

Rope – Pearl necklace that is longer than 45 inches.

Saltwater Pearl – Any pearl, natural or cultivated, that is grown in a mollusc that lives in salt (ocean) water.

Size – Pearl size is expressed in millimeters and is a measure of diameter.

South Sea Pearl – Pearls grown in the white-lipped oyster, Pinctada maxima, in the South Pacific. South Sea pearls occur in shades of white, silver, and gold.

Tahitian Pearl – Pearls grown in the black-lipped oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, in the South Pacific. Tahitian pearl colors include deep gray (black), purple, green, gold, and silver.

Wearing clothes are bounded with a number of rules as one has to consider the garment, the place, color of the dress according to the skin tone etc. But wearing jewellery is bound with no rules. A simple pearl beaded necklace looks elegant on any type of event and different costumes. Jewellery adds to the way that you dress. It gives a complete look. The craze of pearls is seen even today. Pearls look great in any form. It may be ring, necklace, anklets or bangles. Fashion of wearing pearls is never out. It is an evergreen material and can be adorned any time round the year.

A pearl enriches one’s beauty with gold, silver and white polish. Even if accompanied with diamond or any other kind of gem it is able to maintain its charm. Pearls are available with the wide variety. There are plenty of sizes and colors in pearl. The shapes in which pearls are generally seen are round, square, button, drop, oval etc. Round pearls are difficult to find, but they give a great look when adorned in a piece of jewellry. Pearls also are available in a variety of lengths such as collar which is 10 to 13 inches long, choker which is 16 to 18 inches long, princess which is 17 to 20 inches long etc.

Pearls are made naturally or cultivated. Now days they have been cultivated in a number of countries. Natural pearls are quite expensive but cultured once are at affordable rates. Cultivated pearls can either be made of fresh water or salt water. There are three types of salt water pearls- the Akoya, South Sea, Tahitian. Mikimoto ranges highest in the quality, Akoya is white, silver or cream in color and others are of darker shade. These pearls are valuable than the fresh water pearls. Pearl jewellery may cost more than diamond jewellery. It is life time treasure which can be passed from generation to generation.

It is very important to choose the right kind of pearl. Some important observances should be kept in mind while purchasing it. Luster of the pearl is the most important point which has to be focused on. The quality of the pearl can be judged by the kind the luster it has. One should be able to see the reflection on the pearl. The surface of the pearl should not be with any kind of unevenness, spots etc. To get the idea of the thickness one can rub the pearl on the teeth. If there is a rough feel it has good thickness.

It is recommended that the young should prefer wearing a small piece of pearl to give a delicate look. The older ones can prefer long sized pearl to enhance their personality.

About the Author
Rock Ren is the owner of xaxe.com group. You can find more information at www.xaxe.com

Alternative Birthstones: Moonstone and Alexandrite

Pearl is the official birthstone of the month of June. It is also the accepted anniversary gemstone for the 3rd and 30th years of marriage. Pearls have adorned crowns, clothing, and temples, and were said to be a favorite of Cleopatra,

Pearls come in a wide range of colors from delicate rose white to black. The higher the luster,the more valuable the specimen.

Whatever their origins, pearls are magnificent!

It’s hard to believe that the coveted pearl comes naturally from one of the humblest of life forms — the mollusk. Divers find natural pearls in The Persian Gulf as well as in the waters off Japan, the South Pacific Islands off northern Australia, and the coasts of Panama, Venezuela, and California.

Besides the popular round shape most people associate with pearls, there are also large hemispherical cultured pearls (called mabe), fresh water pearls (elongated in interesting shapes and colors) and South Sea cultured pearls (from Australia and Indonesian waters) that grow to 10 mm and up!

Gems of unsurpassed beauty and elegance, pearls have been a passion and even an obsession of people throughout the ages. They have been ground up and used in cosmetics and as a medicine to treat heart and stomach conditions. Some cultures swear by pearls as an aphrodisiac.

Only those with royal status once wore pearl jewelry, but eventually these gems were seen among all classes of people. They continue to be viewed as a mark of taste and refinement as well as a symbol of purity, and they are often given to celebrate a marriage or the birth of a child. Pearls are nature’s perfect gift, suitable for all ages, and elegantly worn with everything from jeans to an evening gown.

Alternate Birthstones

Moonstone is a type of feldspar that earned its name because of its resemblance to the iridescent sheen of the moon. Varying in color from clear to blue-white or peach, it was believed to endow the wearer with great spiritual understanding. A gift of this stone is symbolic of health and longevity.

Alexandrite. A yellowish or brownish green in color, this gemstone has the unique characteristic of changing color to a red hue when exposed to a glowing light source, such as candlelight. Because of this quality, it has been characterized by poets as “an emerald by day, a ruby by night.”

A Little Black dress just a plain one is a great way to use a Pearl Necklace, Earrings, and Bracelet with black high heels.

A long sleeve white shirt with Pearl Necklace and Earrings with a pair jeans an fashion slides.

A Wedding Dress Pearls are great to adore the Dress