Kiwi
Jewels
Handcrafted Beaded Jewelry, Swarovski, Semi Precious Gemstone Sterling Silver Jewelry
New Zealand inspired jewelry, made in America
Information on Pearls
An explanation on different shapes of pearls as well as the background behind Saltwater and non-Saltwater Pearls.
Kiwi Jewels is proud to present:
How to take care of your Kiwi Jewels
Natural Pearls
Natural pearls are very rare and expensive, they tend to be found in older jewelry. They are produced if a piece of grit manages to find its way into the Oyster. The grit generally irritates the pearl and in turn, the pearl secretes a nacre, which is a combination of calcium carbonate and organic substances. Over time, the build up of this nacre produces a natural Pearl. Most jewelers use cultured pearls in their jewelry.
Freshwater Pearls
Pearls are formed when an oyster or
mussel is irritated by grit such as sand being trapped in their shells.
Layers of aragonite nacre are secreted around the irritant and gradually
build up to form the solid pearl. Pearls get their opalescent color from
light reflecting in these layers producing an iridescent luster.
Sometimes, an irritant is introduced to the mussel or oyster to start the
formation of a cultured pearl (such as a Mother of Pearl Bead).
Saltwater Pearls
These pearls are made by taking an oyster, prying it open slightly and then
making a tiny incision into the Gonad (a reproductive organ of the oyster).
A small nucleus (grit) is inserted in the slit and mantle tissue placed
behind it. The cells in this tissue grow around the inserted nucleus
which produces a pearl sac. This is the beginning of a cultured
Saltwater Pearl. The three major types of Saltwater Pearls are the
Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea pearl.
Akoya Pearls
Akoya pearls are the specialty of Japanese pearl farms. These were the first pearls to be cultured early in the 1920s, they have a white color with a slight rosé overtone. Akoya pearls are a high-quality pearl, they are well matched for size, shape, and color.
Akoya looks very similar to the Freshwater pearl. When compared side-by-side, the difference is a more rounder shape than a natural Freshwater Pearl and a very slight pinkish hue. Akoya pearls are more expensive than a Freshwater Pearl and are on average larger, smoother, rounder, and more lustrous than Freshwater pearls.
Sometimes, more than one nucleus can be inserted into the Oyster, producing more than one pearl at a time.
Tahitian Pearls
Black Tahitian pearls are created by the black-lipped oyster in the islands of French Polynesia. The oyster can reach up to 12 inches across and can weigh up to 10 pounds each. This results in sometimes larger than normal sized Pearls. Most Tahitian Pearls have darker colors, gray, silver, charcoal or similar shades. True black pearls are extremely rare, most 'black' Tahitian Pearls are a darker gray.
Tahitian Pearls come mainly from the surrounding Islands of Tahiti in French Polynesia, it is true that Tahiti is the main selling center for Tahitian Pearls.
In the early 1960's, cultured Tahitian Pearls began and these pearls were more readily available, still keeping their unique size and coloring. The larger size of a pearl may be created by inserting a larger nucleus into the Oyster at an early stage.
South Sea Pearls
South Sea pearls are among the largest
commercially harvested cultured pearls in the world (Tahitian Pearls are also
larger than 'normal'). The average size of a South Sea pearl is 13mm, with most
farms producing a range of sizes from 9mm up to 20mm.
As the Tahitian and sometimes Akoya Pearl, the South Sea pearl also grows in a
larger Oyster, thus producing a larger Pearl. Because of the larger
Oyster, a larger nucleus can be inserted to cause a larger pearl.
The outside of a South Sea Oyster is known as Mother-of-Pearl which is
responsible for the color of the cultured South Sea Pearl.
Swarovski Crystal Pearls
View Swarovski Crystal Jewelry here
Swarovski pearls are formed with iridescent, mother of pearl-like layers applied to a Swarovski crystal core. They are resistant to wear, ultraviolet radiation, perspiration, perfume and scratches. The crystal pearls are perfectly round with a uniform hole size and weighted to feel the same as real pearls. The closest imitation to a real pearl. If you are wanting a perfect round shape in your Pearl Jewelry, it is best to choose Swarovski Peals, as naturally round Freshwater or Saltwater Pearls are very expensive.
How Pearls Get their Color
Pearls vary in color from white,
cream or silver/gray with a hint of color (often pink) to brown or black,
depending on the type of mollusk and the water. They are sensitive to acids,
dryness, and humidity, and so are less durable than many other gems.
Please read here for information on how to take care of your KiwiJewels
Pearl Jewelry.
Where Pearls are Cultivated and
Naturally Found
Freshwater and Saltwater pearls are
mainly found in Japan and China. and the Mississippi River. South Sea,
Tahitian Saltwater Pearls are found off the coast of Australia and
Polynesia.
Pearl Shapes
Keshi Pearls
Keshi Pearls are created when the Oyster spits out the implanted nucleus before the culturing process is complete. This results in a more freeform shape of pearl, ranging in color, shape and size. Keshi Pearls are usually smaller than other pearls.
Kehshi Pearls are more rare than they used to be as Pearl Farmers sometimes X-ray the pearl during the harvesting period to see if the nucleus has been discarded, if it has been discarded, another nucleus will be implanted to create a more rounder pearl.
Mabe Pearls
A Mabe Pearl is a naturally occuring, where the pearl grows just inside the shell, rather than in the Oyster tissue. An oval shaped nucleus can be implanted in the Oyster, resulting in an oval shaped pearl, sometimes with a flat back.
Stick Pearls
Stick Pearls are stick in shape, usally a more imperfect shape and color, similar to a Keshi Pearl. These pearls can be drilled from top to bottom or front to back.
Coin Pearls
A Coin Pearl is a much harder to produce pearl, usually around 10-12mm in heigh and around 2mm-3mm in width. The coin pearl is very similar to the shape of an actual coin, round and flat. Coin Pearls can be drilled from top to bottom and also from center to back.
Potato Pearls
These are the most commonly used pearl that KiwiJewels.com uses. The potato pearl is an off-round shaped pearl and can come in sizes from 3mm to 12mm.
View a detailed list of Gemstone Meanings and Properties here
Birthstone Colors (commonly used)
Garnet
Amethyst
Aquamarine
Diamond
Emerald
Pearls
Ruby
Peridot
Sapphire
Opal
Topaz
Light Sapphire
