Throughout history pearls have been worn by the rich, and given as extravagant gifts. Traditionally worn by brides, for thousands of years they have been a symbol of love, purity and perfection. Nowadays pearl jewellery is available to more people than ever before, and you no longer need to be royalty to afford it. Pearls of all shapes, sizes and colours are ‘cultured’ on farms around the world and with so many varieties to choose from any bride-to-be can find the perfect pearls to suit her wedding gown. In fact, there are so many different types of pearl that it’s not easy to know which to choose, so here are a few pointers of what to look out for:

Type of pearl – The two main types of pearl are saltwater and freshwater. Saltwater pearls are found in oysters in the sea, and are usually bigger, rounder and clearer than the freshwater variety. For this reason they are also usually more expensive. Freshwater pearls are farmed in lakes and rivers, usually smaller and often less regular in shape, though they come in a large range of different colours.

Size – When it comes to pearls, size really does matter. The bigger the pearl, the more desirable it is and the more it will cost. Saltwater pearls are usually the bigger variety, and are more highly sought after.

Nacre – Pearls take years to develop inside the shell of an oyster. When a foreign object gets into the shell the oyster produces nacre, which builds up in layers forming the pearl. The thicker the coating of nacre over the nucleus, the longer a pearl will last. Some saltwater pearls from farms are made with a ‘beaded’ large nucleus used to speed up the process and ensure a round shape. Most freshwater pearls and all natural pearls are formed entirely of nacre, which accounts for their more irregular shape.

Luster – No pearl is as smooth and shiny as a mirror but they do have a sort of reflective quality to them, called the lustre. Pearls that have this shimmery effect on the surface are the most desired.

Colour – Pearls in their natural state come in various shades of white, pink and lilac although cultured pearls are often dyed so they are available in almost any colour. A pearl necklace made of matching naturally-coloured pearls will cost more than dyed ones, as it can take a long time to collect enough matching pearls for a whole string.

Shape – When we think of pearls, we normally imagine them to be perfectly round and smooth. In reality this is rare, and perfectly round pearls are very expensive as they are highly in demand. Small cultured pearls tend to be more rounded and some of the larger ones have been formed around a bead to help the shape develop. Irregular pearls are also used to produce unique pendants and earrings.

Matching – It can be difficult to find enough matching pearls to make a whole necklace, so a string of regular pearls will cost more as it is rarer and more desirable.

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