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Which pearl jewellery is the best type?

Throughout history pearls have been worn by the rich and glamorous, and given as extravagant gifts. Traditionally worn by brides, they have long 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 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 varieties that it can be difficult to know which to choose, so here are a few pointers of what to look out for:

Type of pearl – There are two main types of pearl, saltwater and freshwater. Saltwater pearls are farmed in the sea, and are usually bigger, rounder and clearer than their freshwater cousins. 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 buying pearls, size does matter. The larger the pearl, the more desirable it is and the more it will cost. Saltwater pearls are usually bigger than freshwater, and are more highly sought after.

Nacre – Pearls take years to form inside an oyster shell. When a foreign object is introduced into the shell, the oyster produces layers of nacre, which gradually build up around the nucleus forming the pearl. The thicker the nacre coating over the nucleus, the longer the pearl will last as jewellery. Some saltwater pearls from farms are ‘beaded’ with a larger nucleus which speeds 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 perfectly shiny like glass but they do have a certain reflective sheen to them, called the lustre. Pearls that have this shimmery surface are the most desired.

Colour – The natural colours of pearls are 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 that they are all perfectly round and shiny. In reality this is rare, and perfectly round pearls are very expensive as they are hugely sought after. Small cultured pearls are more likely to be round and some of the larger ones have been formed around a bead to create an artificial round shape. 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 is more desirable and will be more expensive.