Pearls have been and are still a precious gem for most people. With the wide variety of pearls the market provides, it is daunting to make a choice for that perfect pearl for your ring without much insight.
For starters, what is a pearl and how is it made?
A pearl is a precious stone that is produced over time by a specific kind of oyster.
It all starts when a grain of sand or a piece of food gets its way into the oyster’s shell. To ease itself of the irritation being caused by the foreign object (for the reason that mature oysters are immobile and therefore cannot shake of such intruders), it produces something called nacre to coat the intruder object.
The nacre is ideally calcium carbonate and protein and is the same element that makes up its shell. The continual coating of nacre on the object over time produces a pearl.
So what should you look for when seeking for the right pearl for your ring?
Type of Pearl
Primarily, there are two types of pearls – Natural pearls and cultured pearls.
Natural pearls are sourced from oysters that survive in the wild. They are very rare and of better quality. That quality, of course, comes at a price as natural pearls are extremely expensive.
Cultured pearls are the work of men. Objects are inserted into oysters kept under certain conditions underwater and pearls are produced.
Most pearls in the market are cultured. But if you are looking for originality and class, a natural pearl is ideal. Natural pearls have more rings of nacre that are visible when drilled through compared to those of cultured pearls.
Luster
Luster refers to how much light an object can reflect. Ideally, Luster is the most important quality that you are to look for in a pearl.
A lustrous pearl has more shine; they glitter, have more sheen and gloss that’s naturally charming and are more expensive.
Avoid dull looking/chalky pearls; it’s a sign that its quality is inferior.
The Shape
Pearls come in whatever shape you can think about as it’s not naturally possible to control how the nacre settles on the object in the oyster to dictate its shape.
For that reason, round-shaped pearls are very rare and that makes them more valuable than other shapes. Round pearls look most beautiful on rings.
The Size of the Pearl
The size is largely a matter of preference. As you would have it, the larger the size, the more expensive the pearl is.
A great piece of advice is being keen on the quality of the pearl as opposed to its size.
The Color
Pearls come in many colors. However, most pearls are white in color. Whatever your preference, your choice of color should complement your skin color and the outfit you are going to wear.
When it comes to jewelry, the price is a factor that you cannot downplay. A pearl that has all the good qualities will definitely cost you more. Avoid pearls that are very cheap. The price of a pearl speaks of its quality.
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