We are girls, and we love pearls! Baroque, Keshi, Tahitian, South Sea, Freshwater…you name it, we’ve got our eye on it! That’s not to say all pearls are created equal, because they most certainly are not. There are natural pink, white, grey, green and black pearls out there, and there is an informal system to determine their value. That being said, luster is by far the most important quality to look for in a pearl! We all have our preferences to shape, size, uniformity and color, but the pearl you are seeking should have the utmost shine and luster. (This is why it is oh so important to never put your pearls in contact with harsh chemicals or perfumes, that luster can be lost, never to return.) With exceptional quality comes exceptional beauty…when you see it, you will know it!
Some questions we get asked all the time about pearls are:
Are these pearls ‘natural’? Don’t worry about finding a ‘natural’ pearl. They are extremely rare and even more costly. Just about all the wild pearls have already been harvested. There are exquisite pearls being cultured and farmed in a sustainable way, which is something we can all feel good about!
What is the difference between saltwater and freshwater pearls? There are different types of mollusks that produce very different types of pearls, so depending on the desired style, you will be looking for a saltwater or a freshwater variety. Saltwater pearls include South Sea and Tahitian. South Sea pearls are the largest of all the pearls and range from white to cream to golden in color. Tahitian pearls are grown in several of the French Polynesian islands (including Tahiti) and range in exotic metallic-like colors including black, grey, blue, green and hints of purple. Freshwater pearls are exactly that, grown in freshwater lakes, rivers and ponds. Many are white and perfectly round, but they can also be found in various shapes and colors.
What about Baroque, Akoya and Keshi pearls? There are so many kinds of pearls! These names refer mainly to the overall shapes they are found in. Baroque pearls are irregular, non-spherically shaped. Akoya pearls are the specialty of Japanese pearl farms, perfectly white and spherical is the typical form we see them in. Keshi pearls contain no nucleus, giving them their organic shape and meaning they are composed entirely of nacre (the strong and resilient mother of pearl!).
Discover the infinite beauty of pearls!
We’ve always wanted to be the Girl With Pearl Earring, and what we’ve finally realized (thanks to our artists) is that we can – and so can you! What is your favorite kind of pearl?!