Clear and Beautiful

Since recorded history, man has coveted the luminous white gems we call pearls.tiffany , Revered around the world for his or her rare beauty, otherworldly sheen and understated elegance, pearls are as popular in modern society because they were with European royals and Egyptian princesses centuries ago.skor , Today, pearls connoisseurs have a new love: black pearls.pandora , Exotic, lavish and rare, a rich black pearl necklace presents a striking picture--the gems definitely don't have the demure, chaste picture of their classic white counterparts. For the woman who has everything, a black pearl necklace, whether showcased alone inside a pendant or in a wonderfully matched strand, constitutes a wonderful addition to her jewelry collection. Think about how lovely a black pearl necklace will look on any skin tone!
Where do jewelers get the pearls they use in a matched black pearl necklace? 'Black' pearls will also be referred to as 'Tahitian cultured pearls,' but both names are misleading. Not just are Tahitian cultured pearls not exclusively black, they're also not grown in Tahiti. Called 'black' because of their exotic dark colors, Tahitian cultured pearls can be gray, blue, brown and green. And they're grown in the lagoons of small islands which are part of a group referred to as French Polynesia. Tahiti, the biggest island, can serve as the group's center of commerce, and not like a pearl growing mecca. Interestingly, fine Tahitian cultured pearls only have been in the marketplace since the 1970s. Yet they've become very popular in that small amount of time.
Growing Tahitian pearls Tahitian pearls are cultivated for approximately two years in Pinctada margaritifera cumingi, a large saltwater mollusk that is native to French Polynesia. One of the ways this unique oyster is different from other species is the fact that its interior shell color is dark. This so-called 'black lipped' oyster also offers black mantle edges--the 'lips' that provide your pet its descriptive name. Due to overfishing, adult wild oyster populations aren't as plentiful because they used to be. In order to reverse this trend, the government protects the animals; pearl farmers in French Polynesia who wish to culture the black lipped oyster must enhance the oysters from spat (baby oysters). When the farmer works in nurturing the spat to adulthood, around 2 . 5 to three years of age, the oysters are implanted with mantle tissue along with a mother-of-pearl bead to begin the pearl growing process. This delicate operation is performed by specially trained workers called nucleators; even so, based on the Gemological Institute of America, a lot more than 50 percent of the oysters die or reject the nucleus. Literature from GIA says, 'Add those oysters to the ones that don't satisfy the implantation criteria: The farmer's potential pearl-producing stock is less than half the number that lived of sufficient length that need considering for nucleation. When the pearl growth period begins, after three years of work, the farmer has only 20 % of the oysters he collected as spat.' No wonder a fine quality Tahitian cultured pearl is really rare!
Tahitian pearl growth generally takes place inside a closed lagoon that is ringed by coral reefs. Such a setup offers protection and a stable environment for the implanted oysters to accomplish the pearl-growing process. Following the oysters happen to be submerged for 22 to 26 months, they're hauled towards the su***ce, where any pearls they were able to grow are harvested. The farmers then clean and lightly buff the gems just before providing them available. Farmers also sort the pearls by color, shape, etc. and grouped with like pearls.
Ultimately, just one to 2 percent of the Tahitian cultured pearl crop consists of fine quality round cultured pearls.
Color Today, the most sought-after Tahitian cultured pearls are dark green-gray to blue gray with rosé or purple overtones. But how do pearls obtain color? No one is completely sure, but we all do know that pearl colors are based on several factors, including variations within the host oyster, color variation from the implanted donor mussel tissue, the amount and thickness of nacre layers, and variations in growing environment such as temperature and water quality. Tahitian pearls are generally variations of gray, black, green and blue, but other colors exist. Make an online search for Tahitian cultured pearl images, and you'll see they aren't an all-black costume!
Purchasing a black pearl necklace In an average size 8mm-14mm, Tahitian cultured pearls--especially those specimens which are gem-quality and round--are very expensive. (GIA estimates that certain first-quality, unusually large Tahitian cultured pearl costs thousands of dollars!) If only one to two percent from the harvest produces a high-quality round Tahitian cultured pearl, imagine just how long it requires to make a matched strand! No surprise a black pearl necklace is so costly. Choose carefully, keeping in mind that pearls having a desirable overtone (secondary color) and pearls which are bigger than typical could be more expensive. Search for pearls that are well-matched, not pitted or marked in a obvious way (minor su***ce characteristics are acceptable). Be sure to check return policies in advance, too, in case you have an issue. Ask your retail jeweler for his or her store policy or, if buying online, look into the site's guarantee prior to *** a purchase. When you receive your pearls, make sure to examine them closely. After wearing, store your pearl necklace away from other gems; while fairly durable, pearls are susceptible to scratching and their nacre will erode with time, particularly if exposed to harsh chemicals like bleach, perfume and chlorine.
Black pearl necklaces in modern fashion Although slow to catch on in the beginning, thanks simply to publicity from stars such as actress Elizabeth Taylor, a renowned jewelry collector who wore an uplifting black pearl necklace in publicity photos for her Black Pearls perfume launch, Tahitian cultured pearls are incredibly popular today. You can find examples of fine black pearls in modern society. Browse around and you'll see black pearl necklaces on everyone from businesswomen to moms to Hollywood A-list actresses, models and celebrities. Take Kiera Knightly, for example, who wore a stunning black baroque Tahitian cultured pearl choker at the premier of her movie, The Black Pearl. Stars like Christy Turlington, Naomi Watts, Heidi Klum, Michael Michelle, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Shalom Harlow are also pearl fans. Perhaps black pearls' popularity is the reason why designers like David Yurman, Elsa Peretti and Paloma Picasso (for Tiffany & Co.) are incorporating stunning black pearls, as well as black baroque and black keshi pearls, into modern designs like long chain necklaces, brooches, chokers and charm bracelets. Black pearl drop earrings and pendants are also favorites, as they require little matching--or none whatsoever. Whimsical designs on cufflinks as well as in popular frog, dragonfly and other animal pins incorporate black pearls as well.
Black pearl necklace alternatives When many people think of black pearl jewelry, they naturally think of Tahitian cultured pearls. But price is high of these rare gems, in part because of their large size, unusual colors, and the very high cost producing them. If you wish to wear real Tahitian cultured pearls, one method to achieve this having to break the financial institution would be to select a pendant-style necklace with a single pearl; black pearl stud earrings; a single black pearl ring, or black baroque (non-symmetrical) pearls. These designs are just as exotic yet much more affordable than a matched black pearl strand.
For customers for whom Tahitian pearls is beyond reach, there are some inexpensive yet beautiful alternatives to the classic black pearl necklace. Today, freshwater pearls--round, drop, button and baroque--are color-treated to make a look that closely resembles the hue of Tahitian cultured pearls. The natural-looking result is beautiful and looks great in such pieces like a baroque black pearl bracelet, black pearl drop earrings or black pearl necklace. Just as real as their Tahitian cousins, black freshwater cultured pearls' color is man-made, but remember that almost all pearls are treated somehow (bleaching is easily the most common enhancement).
If you're after not only the colour but the size of fine Tahitian pearls, consider a black 'pearl' necklace produced from black mother-of-pearl beads. Their generous size, lustrous sheen and affordable price make them a well known option to a fine Tahitian pearl necklace.
A graduate from the Gemological Institute of America's Graduate Pearls program, Amy Drescher is a fashion writer and