Find out which pearls to choose?

Have you always dreamed of an elegant pearl necklace, but couldn't decide which one to choose? Wondering what length will be right for you? What is the difference between freshwater and saltwater pearls? In this article, you will learn everything you need to know before buying pearls for yourself or a loved one!

Cultured or Naturally Harvested Pearls?

Natural pearls, which were once for obvious reasons the only ones available, were over time replaced by cultured pearls. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in Japan, breakthrough patents for pearl cultivation were obtained, and thus their availability increased every year. In 1926, the International Jewellery Congress recognized cultured pearls as genuine cultivated pearls. This meant that from that moment on, they were pearls just as valued and recognized as natural ones.

Nowadays, naturally harvested pearls are not widely available for sale. We won't find them in any jewelry store, but only in exhibitions or luxury auction houses, where they reach unimaginable prices. This is also related to environmental protection - to find just one pearl, sometimes you have to harvest a thousand or even 10,000 oysters. And it is not certain that the quality of this pearl will allow it to be used by a jeweler.

Therefore, when we talk about pearls available on the market, they will always be cultured pearls.

Freshwater or Saltwater Pearls?

Freshwater pearls are so-called tissue-nucleated pearls (although freshwater bead-nucleated pearls have also been appearing on the market for some time). In the case of tissue-nucleated ones, the core is very small, and the nacre constitutes over 99% of the mass of the entire pearl. Such pearls are much more resistant to all types of mechanical damage.

From left: freshwater pearl, Akoya, Tahiti and South Sea

Despite their more durable properties, their price is very attractive. This results from the easier cultivation in fresh waters as well as a significantly larger amount of pearls found in one mussel compared to saltwater ones. Despite this, ideal quality freshwater pearls are a rarity and their prices can approach Akoya saltwater pearls.

So if you care about durability and intend to use your jewelry intensively, it's better to choose freshwater pearls. We also have a much greater variety of shapes and colors here. So they will be an ideal choice for ladies who value original jewelry. Freshwater pearls also have a wide range of sizes - from even 1 mm to about 15 mm (although there are larger ones).

Akoya saltwater pearls (their name comes from the name of the oyster) belong to significantly more valuable pearls. Their characteristic feature is a beautiful, tempting luster noticeable even to a layman, and an ideally spherical shape. Unlike freshwater pearls, these are bead-nucleated pearls. Their core is a sphere often constituting over 90% of the pearl's mass. The pearl coating on its surface is therefore much more delicate, and jewelry made from them should be treated with due care. They are not delicate enough to be afraid to wear, you just need to keep this in mind when using them.

Why are their prices so high then? Mainly because cultivation is much more difficult. Cultivating in the open sea involves a high risk of losing the entire population (if only due to frequent storms). Saltwater oysters are much more delicate, and their ability to create a valuable pearl is limited.

While many pearls are formed in freshwater mollusks, in saltwater ones they are single pieces. All this significantly limits their supply and thus affects their value. Despite this, the unique glow and shape are so beautiful and appreciated that for lovers of pearl jewelry, this is a must-have item in their collection.

So if you value unique beauty and excellent quality, and your necklace, bracelet, earrings, ring or pendant is to be a charming accessory for special occasions, then it is worth considering Akoya pearls. They come in sizes from about 3 mm to even over 10 mm. However, starting from 8 millimeters, their price increases dramatically.

Tahiti and South Sea saltwater pearls - precious, luxurious and impressive. Tahitian pearls come from the warm waters of the atolls and lagoons of French Polynesia. Called black pearls, although in reality they most often iridesce with shades of graphite, green and silver.

The color of these amazing pearls is the effect of nature itself. They are also bead-nucleated pearls, although unlike Akoya pearls, they have a thicker layer of nacre. They occur in sizes from about 8 mm to about 18 mm.

South Sea are pearls of the South Seas - mainly Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The characteristic feature of these pearls is primarily their size - from 10 mm to even 20 mm. They occur in colors from white, through ecru, to valued gold. They reach the highest prices at world auctions.

Jewelry made from these pearls is bought not only as an exclusive accessory, but also with investment in mind, as their price is constantly rising.

What Size and Length of Necklace?

Since we already know which type of pearls will meet our expectations, it's time to choose their size and the length of the necklace.

The most popular and most frequently ordered are medium-sized pearls (7.0-9.0 mm). Necklaces made of such pearls most often have a length of 45 cm - this is the so-called Princess. If you choose such a necklace, it will be suitable during special occasions and for everyday wear, nicely highlighting a small neckline or decorating an unbuttoned shirt.

Smaller pearls will work great for young girls, but also as a decoration for any woman who values subtlety in accessories. Such necklaces can also be shorter, close to the neck, the so-called Choker. A length of 42 cm may be appropriate in such a situation.

As the size of the pearls increases, longer necklaces (Matinée) 50 cm and more look best. Such jewelry will catch the eye while falling loosely onto the neckline. Of course, the length should be selected appropriately to height and neckline type.

Next, we have long necklaces with a clasp, or strands of pearls of the Opera type, up to 200 cm long. Strands can be a decoration for almost any outfit. For a light spring dress, an elegant gown, or even your favorite sweater. The advantage of such a strand is the ability to wrap it several times, thanks to which we are able to achieve the effect of a multi-row pearl necklace.

Nevertheless, for formal wear, classic styles will fit best, namely a Choker or Princess with medium-sized pearls.

Which Clasp for the Necklace?

The choice of clasp should depend primarily on the use of our necklace. If we intend to wear it often and want it to match most clothes in our wardrobe, it is safer to choose a classic lobster clasp or a ball-shaped clasp. It can also be a small, decorative clasp with a single pearl or cubic zirconia.

However, if our necklace is to be an exclusive accessory, the clasp should also tempt with its elegance. Then we can choose a decorative clasp embellished with gemstones. We can choose from large silver or gold lobster clasps, gold balls with rubies or sapphires, or magnetic clasps, which we can fasten very quickly and conveniently.

In the case of the metal from which the clasp is made, you should be guided primarily by your taste. In white and light pearls (salmon, pink), both silver and gold clasps (white and yellow) look nice. On the other hand, in all dark pearls, clasps made of white gold or silver look best.

Which Pearl Color to Choose?

If you are buying jewelry for yourself, it doesn't matter much whether it will be classic white, slightly cream, salmon, pink, gray or dark - choose according to your taste. Classic, muted colors suit almost everything. However, with more vivid colors, e.g., green, burgundy or brown, you should consider whether they will match your wardrobe in terms of color.

If you are buying pearls as a gift, it will be safest if you choose light pearls - white or slightly ecru. Because this is a classic that will surely satisfy the recipient, a loved one.

Discover our unique collection and check out elegant pearl jewelry at the Apearl store.