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Bl. Cultured Pearls
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Cultured Pearls
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F.W. Biwa Pearls
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Blister Pearls
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In the early 1900's the Japanese perfected the
technique for culturing spherical Pearls by placing a round bead inside a
mollusk or oyster. As with any irritant the mullosc proceeded to coat this
foreign object with nacre (the Mother-of-pearl material lining the inside of
it's shell). Prior to this all pearls had been formed naturally and most were
baroque (irregular) in shape.
The market today consists of "Cultured
Pearls" farmed in salt water and "Fresh Water Pearls" cultured and farmed in
fresh water. Either of these may be spherical or baroque in shape. The insert
nucleus for the baroque Fresh Water Pearls is either a carved piece of
Mother-of-Pearl or a piece of the mantle tissue from another mollusc. The
properties of both varieties of Pearls are virtually identical as shown in the
tables below.
We carry both Cultured and Fresh Water
Pearls in spherical and baroque shapes and in many sizes and colors.
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CULTURED PEARLS TECHNICAL DATA
FRESH WATER PEARLS TECHNICAL DATA
CULTURED AND FRESH WATER PEARLS ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
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Color
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The body color of Pearls varies from light (white,
cream, pink) to dark (black, bronze, gold, silver, gray). Any of these may
have an overtone of rose, green, blue or purple). Some Pearls, noteably black
or dark gray may have an irridescence or "orient" (a play of colors like
mother-of- pearl).
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Sources
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Historically, natural Pearls were found in the
salt waters of the Persian Gulf. The bulk of all Pearls on the market today
are cultured Pearls which were originally developed in Japan but are now
produced in China, Australia and the South Pacific (notably Tahiti). The
original Cultured Fresh Water Pearls came from the Biwa Resevoir in Japan.
They had a flat baroque shape and very high lustre. Currently, China is the
principle source of F.W. Pearls. The Mississippi River system also produces
cultered F.W. Pearls and some natural ones.
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Treatment
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Some F.W. Pearls are dyed to produce costume
jewellery. The few pieces in our stock that are dyed are so noted. Blister
Pearls are created by inserting a Half Pearl inside the shell which the
mollusk coats with nacre. Mabe Pearls are assembled from large Blister Pearls
attached to a mother-of-pearl base. A 3/4 Pearl is produced when a blemish is
ground off from a spherical Pearl.
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Care
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All Pearls are relatively soft and should be
cleaned carefully with a damp, soft non abrasive cloth. Any chemicals or
perfume will attack the surface and destroy the lustre.
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Uses
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Pearls can be used for rings, earrings, pendants,
bracelets, and, necklaces.
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Value
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The value of a pearl is dependent on size, lustre
and color. Naturally, the larger the pearl and the higher it's lustre, the
greater it's value. A white pearl with a rose overtone or a black pearl with
an intense orient also have a higher value. Any surface blemishes should be
minor. The symmetry of a round pearl also affects the price.
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