How Do You Buy Pearls Guide
About Our Pearl Guide
In this comprehensive pearl guide, you'll gain valuable insights from our owner, a distinguished pearls graduate of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and a renowned pearl specialist. We invite you to explore this essential resource, which addresses a frequently asked question of our customers: How do you buy pearls? Here, you'll discover expert advice to empower you to make informed decisions in your pearl-buying journey!
This guide not only delves into the captivating history of pearls and the fascinating process behind their creation, but it also equips you with essential knowledge on pearl grading and quality assessment. You'll learn how to care for your pearls to ensure they last a lifetime.
Plus, you'll discover our exclusive trademarked brands of pearl jewelry, My First Pearls® and Create-A-Pearl®, designed to offer you and your family the finest pearls in the world.
Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding and appreciation of beautiful cultured pearls!
First, Discover How Rare and Valuable Natural Pearls Are
All pearls are either natural or cultured.
Natural pearls form in the wild and are incredibly rare, making them truly special. These vintage gems often appear at auction houses and estate sales, commanding astonishing prices. For example, a renowned 16 mm natural pearl famously sold for over $50,000. Imagine the extraordinary value of a baby bracelet made with natural freshwater pearls; it would be a remarkable treasure for any collection.
The rise of pearl cultivation has transformed our access to these coveted gems, with over 99% of pearls available on the market today being cultured. This shift allows more people to experience the beauty and elegance that pearls offer. Cultured pearls demonstrate human ingenuity, as they are produced through efforts to replicate the natural pearl-making process. Since the 1950s, cultured pearls have dominated the jewelry market, becoming the most celebrated choice for those seeking sophistication.
In contrast, natural pearls have a legendary past, often hidden away in luxury collections or auction houses. With only one in ten thousand mollusks yielding a natural pearl and just one in a million achieving the exceptional quality needed for jewelry, their rarity underlines the value of pearl cultivation.
By investing in cultured pearls, you can enjoy an extraordinary gem that enhances your style and sophistication, making it a must-have addition to any jewelry collection.
Second, Discover How Pearls are Formed
Cultured pearls radiate the same exquisite beauty as natural pearls; the only difference lies in their formation.
A pearl emerges when a mollusk is gently annoyed by an object that enters its shell. This process may happen naturally or through the intentional action of humans who place a small object inside the mollusk. This deliberate method is known as cultivation, leading to the creation of cultured pearls. These gems are authentic treasures formed through the same remarkable process of nature, with the sole distinction being how the irritant is introduced.
Freshwater pearls originate from a unique mollusk called Hyriopsis cumingii, known as a mussel, while Akoya saltwater pearls from Japan come from the remarkable Pinctada fucata martensii, also known as the Akoya pearl oyster.
In essence, mussels and oysters that create freshwater and saltwater Akoya pearls are extraordinary representatives of the soft-bodied invertebrates within the phylum Mollusca.
Embrace the charm of cultured pearls and the inspiring journey behind their creation.
How Many Pearls Are Needed to Complete a Pearl Necklace?
We get this question a lot. Four 6 mm pearls equals one inch.
- 1 inch = 25.4 mm
- 4 pearls * the average pearl size of 6 mm = 24 mm (1 inch)
- the knots account for about 2 inches
- the clasp and end components account for about 1 inch
Therefore, to create a 16-inch pearl necklace, you'd need 52 pearls (i.e., 4 * 16 = 64 - 12 = 52); to create an 18-inch pearl necklace, you'd need 60 pearls (i.e., 4 * 18 = 72 - 12 = 60). The 12 we are subtracting is the three inches that account for the knots, clasp, and end components.
- 16 inch necklace = 52 pearls
- 18 inch necklace = 60 pearls
If you stay on track by purchasing four pearls per year, your beautiful little girl will have a complete pearl necklace by age 16 or 18, making a perfect sweet sixteen birthday present when she's sixteen or a high school graduation present when she's eighteen.
How Do I Start a Create-A-Pearl® Pearl Necklace?
Starting a Create-A-Pearl® pearl necklace is easy. Simply select your pearl preference below, and we'll do the rest. We recommend starting a pearl necklace with one pearl on her first birthday or for her christening. Her first pearl is knotted several times to her chain with pearl silk to keep her pearl beautiful. The initial knots are large, but they serve a purpose in keeping her pearl safe from scratches.
How Are My Create-A-Pearl® Gifts Packaged?
We package all Create-A-Pearl® necklaces in a wood mahogany necklace box. You may have us personalize your necklace box for an additional charge.
All loose pearls on pearl cards are packaged in a gift box with wrapping paper and ribbon matching the pearl card occasion your gift is for.
I Still Have Questions. How Can I Get Help?
Call us at 1-888-707-7772 or visit our Contact Us page to leave us a message.