Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are freshwater pearls and how are they different from other types of pearls?
2. How is a freshwater pearl made?
3. What does “cultured pearl” mean?
4. How can I tell the difference between a real pearl and a synthetic or stimulant?
5. What is the best pearl color for me?
6. What is the right necklace length?
7. How do I care for my pearls?
8. What shapes do pearls come in?
9. What colors are available in freshwater pearls?
10. What exactly is a pearl?
11. My pearls do not hang gracefully. What can I do?
12. What is the most desirable color?
13. What are the differences between saltwater and freshwater pearls?
14. How often do pearls need to be restrung?
15. How is the quality of a pearl determined?

What are freshwater pearls and how are they different from other types of pearls?

Freshwater pearls form in various species of freshwater mussels, family Unionidae, which live in lakes, rivers, ponds and other bodies of fresh water. These freshwater pearl mussels occur not only in hotter climates, but also in colder more temperate areas such as Scotland (where they are totally protected under law). However, most freshwater cultured pearls sold today come from China. The difference between wild and cultured pearls focuses on whether the pearl was created spontaneously by nature – without human intervention – or with human aid. Pearls are formed inside the shell of certain mollusks as a defense mechanism against a potentially threatening irritant such as a parasite inside its shell, or an attack from outside, injuring the mantle tissue. The mollusk creates a pearl sac to seal off the irritation.

How is a freshwater pearl made?

The mantle of the mollusk deposits layers of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the form of the mineral aragonite or a mixture of aragonite and calcite (polymorphs with the same chemical formula, but different crystal structures) held together by an organic horn-like compound called conchiolin. The combination of aragonite and conchiolin is called nacre, which makes up mother-of-pearl. The commonly held belief that a grain of sand acts as the irritant is in fact rarely the case. Typical stimuli include organic material, parasites, or even damage that displaces mantle tissue to another part of the mollusk's body. These small particles or organisms gain entry when the shell valves are open for feeding or respiration. In cultured pearls, the irritant is typically an introduced piece of the mantle epithelium, together or without a spherical bead (beaded or beadless cultured pearls).

What does “cultured pearl” mean?

A cultured pearl is a genuine pearl grown using human intervention. A piece of tissue is placed inside the pearl and is enveloped eventually by calcium carbonate or "nacre," which is the mollusk's natural defense mechanism. A non-cultured or natural pearl is created without human intervention and is virtually non-existent in the present day with the possible exception of antique pearl jewelry.

How can I tell the difference between a real pearl and a synthetic or stimulant?

The most common way to differentiate between a genuine freshwater pearl and a synthetic or simulant is to run a pearl along the "bite" of your teeth (be sure to wipe your pearls first with a non-abrasive cloth). The pearl should have a gritty feel; a synthetic pearl or simulant should feel smooth like a plastic bead. Genuine pearls also have a more intense luster than simulants or synthetics.

What is the best pearl color for me?

While pearl color is clearly a personal choice, there are certain guidelines in selecting a color that is more complementary to a specific skin tone. Women with fair skin color typically prefer white pearls with rose overtones, while cream and gold pearls are preferred more by women with darker skin complexions. However, black and silver colored pearls are usually flattering on all skin tones.

What is the right necklace length?

The desired necklace length is very much dependent on a woman's personal style and the specific occasion. There are six popular lengths of pearl strands each with a few guidelines for wear. The collar pearl necklace length is 12 to 13 inches long and fits snugly across the middle of the neck. Often made of multiple strands, this length is well suited for V-neck and off the shoulder fashions. The choker pearl necklace length is 14 to 16 inches long and lies in the hollow of her neck. The most versatile length and complementing almost any neckline, a pearl choker can go with virtually any outfit from casual to fancy eveningwear.

The princess pearl necklace length is 17 to 19 inches long and falls just below the collar line. This classic length is the most popular and a good choice for anyone who is not certain which pearl strand length is most appropriate. The princess length is suitable to wear with button up blouses, V-necks, and also complements low, plunging necklines. The matinee necklace length is 20 to 24 inches long and rests comfortably along the bust line. This length is appropriate for both casual and business attire. For a luxurious layered look, you can pair this length with one of the shorter. The opera necklace length is 28 to 34 inches long and rests in the middle of a woman’s chest. This length is ideal for layering to wear as a double strand or knotting at the neckline to create a fashionable vintage style. The rope necklace length is 36 inches and longer. This versatile length can be worn as a double or triple strand. For a more bold fashion style, pearl ropes can be knotted and slung over the shoulder to accentuate the beauty of a backless dress.

How do I care for my pearls?

After wearing your pearls, simply wipe them gently with a soft lightly damp cloth. Avoid exposing pearls to common household items such as hair spray and cleaning products. It’s a good idea to put your pearls on after applying cosmetics, hair sprays, and perfume. From time to time, a gentle soap (not dishwashing liquid soap) may be used for cleaning. It is also important that you store your pearls properly in the original pearl jewelry box you received from Pearl Amor. If you decide to store your pearls in a different jewelry box, make sure there are separate compartments for each piece of jewelry. Your pearls should also be stored in a well-ventilated area away from excessive heat and direct sunlight. Be kind to your valuable pearls.

What shapes do pearls come in?

Pearls come in eight basic shapes: round, semi-round, button, drop, pear, oval, baroque, and circled. Perfectly round pearls are the rarest and most valuable shape. Semi-rounds are also used in necklaces or in pieces where the shape of the pearl can be disguised to look like it is a perfectly round pearl. Button pearls are like a slightly flattened round pearl and can also make a necklace, but are more often used in single pendants or earrings where the back half of the pearl is covered, making it look like a larger, rounder pearl. Drop and pear shaped pearls are sometimes referred to as teardrop pearls and are most often seen in earrings, pendants, or as a center pearl in a necklace. Baroque pearls have a different appeal; they are often highly irregular with unique and interesting shapes. They are also commonly seen in necklaces. Circled pearls are characterized by concentric ridges, or rings, around the body of the pearl.

What colors are available in freshwater pearls?

Earrings and necklaces can also be classified on the grade of the color of the pearl. While white, and more recently black, freshwater pearls are by far the most popular, other color tints can be found on pearls. Pink, blue, champagne, green, black and even purple freshwater pearls can be encountered, but to collect enough of these rare colors to form a complete string of the same size and same shade can take years.

What exactly is a pearl?

A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes of pearls (baroque pearls) occur. The finest quality natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries, and because of this, the word pearl has become a metaphor for something very rare, fine, admirable, and valuable. A pearl is actually is a mineral. Its chemical formula is CaCO3.

My pearls do not hang gracefully. What can I do?

A new or newly strung pearl necklace often drapes at odd angles due to the tight setting of the pearls and the knots. The strand will relax over time, allowing the necklace to hang gracefully. You will need to wear the pearl strand for several hours before it will hang properly on the neck. Alternatively, you can hang the pearls on any sturdy bar for a few hours before wearing them.

What is the most desirable color?

No one color is most desirable as the choice of color is a personal decision. However, certain rare colors do seem to be quite popular. Among these is the famous "peacock" color, which is a combination of green and eggplant purple.

What are the differences between saltwater and freshwater pearls?

Saltwater pearls are created by oysters that live in the ocean while freshwater pearls are created by mussels that live in freshwater lakes, rivers and streams. The pearls created by both types of mollusks are made of the same substance, nacre. While cultured saltwater pearls usually have a mother of pearl bead at their center that the animal has coated with nacre, freshwater pearls are almost always created without a bead nucleus.

How often do pearls need to be restrung?

It depends on how often they're worn and what kind of material they are strung on. For June Cleaver types who wear their pearls every day even while vacuuming the house, restringing once a year is probably a good idea. But for the rest of us, every two to three years is adequate. And if your pearl necklace spends the vast majority of its time carefully tucked away in a jewelry box, restringing every four to five years is probably okay.

How is the quality of a pearl determined?

The criteria that determine the quality of a pearl are based in part on the type of pearl being evaluated. In the case of freshwater pearls, these include shape, size, color, luster and surface quality. Since most freshwater pearls are sold by the strand and not as individual pearls, some of these factors, such as color and shape, are based on conformity within a particular strand.