If the world is your oyster, then a pearl can be your guiding star. Natural pearls are rare-found in perhaps one out of ten thousand pearls. However, the process of cultivated pearls has made pearls much more available. Pearls are cultivated by placing a tiny bead within the oyster. The oyster then gradually covers the tiny bead with layers of calcium carbonate crystals that are called nacre. This slow building up of nacre layers eventually produces the luminous magic of a pearl. Choosing the right pearl for your occasion is simple and easy.

Color



Although white is the classic color for pearls, they also come in cream, yellow, pink, silver, and black. The primary color of a pearl is often complemented by a secondary color or "overtone" that can be seen when light reflects off the surface of the pearl. For example, a beautiful silver pearl can have pink overtones when in the right light. South Sea pearls are whitish almost to the point of being silver. Tahitian pearls are also called black pearls, taking their color from the black-lipped oysters they come from. Tahitian or black pearls can have overtones of blue, purple, or even green.

Luster



The layers of nacre gradually built up by the oyster create the deep shine or luster of the pearl. Light reflects off of the calcium carbonate crystals in the layers of nacre to create the beautiful glow of the pearl, especially when worn next to the skin. Larger pearls have more luster, because the greater the size of the pearl (and hence the greater the number of layers of nacre), the greater the luster.

Shape



Perfectly round pearls are the rarest and highest quality pearls. Off-round pearls can range in shape from slightly off-round to oval shape and even teardrop shape. Akoya, Tahitian (or black), and South Sea pearls tend to be rounder in shape than freshwater pearls.

Surface Condition



Although a smooth, clean surface is always best, the surface of a pearl can have slight imperfections, such as spots, bubbles, or places where the nacre layering doesn't adhere. These imperfections are part of the natural process of the making of the pearl. South Sea pearls are especially known for their smooth surface.

Size



The size of a pearl generally depends on what type of pearl it is and how long it has been cultivating and building up the layers of nacre. Freshwater pearls are generally 3 to 7 mm in diameter, Akoya pearls are usually 6 to 8 mm in diameter, and South Sea and Tahitian (or black) pearls can be up to 13 mm in diameter.


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