Unveil the mystery of the pearl❤️

For thousands of years, pearls have been a classic favorite; coveted for their natural beauty, rarity, luster and shine. To find one is invaluable. Out of 10,000 oysters, there may only be one treasure among all treasures... a single, natural pearl.
Pearls today, whether designed in a necklace, bracelet, earrings, or ring, are commonly referred to as cultured pearls. Pearl jewelry has become a favorite due to its classic design and affordable appeal.

A cultivated pearl is created by intentionally placing a tiny Mother-of-Pearl bead inside an oyster. The oyster gradually coats the bead in layers of a pearlescent, organic substance called nacre, which builds-up to eventually create a lustrous pearl.

Whether you prefer a dainty pearl earring or a bigger-the-better pearl bracelet, the size of a pearl depends on the type you select. This Sidney Thomas pearl chart can help you in understanding the different types of pearls and their sizes from the largest and most exotic Tahitian pearl to multi-sized and multicolored, cultured freshwater pearls.
Remember that a pearl is measured by its diameter in millimeters. Pearl sizes can range from 1 millimeter or less to as large as 20 millimeters for an incredible Tahitian Pearl.

Pearl Characteristics:
Luster: Pearls produce a deeply intense shine, known as luster, when light is reflected off the many layers of nacre or tiny organic crystals.
Nacre: When shopping for a pearl, the larger the pearl, the more nacre it has and the greater the luster. The amount of luster a pearl has is as visible as the differences in pearl sizes.
Pearl Color: A pearl's color is called its body color. Since pearls are produced in living creatures, their colors typically vary among white, cream, yellow, silver, pink or black. Pearls can also have a glow of a secondary color, which can be seen when light reflects off of the pearls. This hint of color is known as its overtone.

Pearl Shape: Pearls are natural, organic substances and because of that, they come in many unique and interesting shapes. A completely round pearl is very difficult to find and the rounder a pearl is, the more expensive it becomes.
Pearl Shapes

• Round: Round pearls are perfect spheres and the shape most people think of when they think of a pearl
• Near-round: A pearl that visually appears almost round.
• Button: A pearl that is circular in shape with a flat bottom and a flattened or domed top.
• Drop: Drop pearls are pearl or teardrop-shaped. The drop can either be "long" or "short" and are typically used in earrings or pendants.
• Semi-baroque: These pearls are slightly irregular in their shape.
• Baroque: A pearl that is not symmetrical and is irregular in shape. It can be abstract and even resemble a stick or some other unique shape.
• Coin: A coin pearl is a flattened disc-shaped pearl. It can be circular or slightly more irregular.

Pearl Types:
Cultured Pearl .....Cultured Freshwater pearls are typically grown in Asian waters in a spectrum of colors. These colors include some of the most popular offered in a variety of styles from white, pink, black and champagne.
While some colored pearls can be achieved naturally, some Freshwater pearls are treated to produce a distinctive or particular color. The color you select should be based on your complexion. Their affordability makes them a popular choice when searching for your next pearl jewelry purchase.

Akoya Pearl ......Whether it's a pair of delicate studs or a pendant surround by dazzling diamonds; or a simple strand, you'll enjoy the look of Akoya pearls.
Akoya pearls are truly the perfect choice and most popular if you are considering a pair of pearl earrings or an elegant strand of pearls! Cultured in the Akoya oyster and primarily found in Japan and China, they are lustrous and are generally white or cream colored with overtones of rose, silver, or cream. Although Akoya pearls may seem surprisingly similar in appearance to Freshwater pearls, they are very different when the two are compared side-by-side. Akoya pearls are renowned for their incredible luster and are considered the classic pearl. They are smoother and rounder than Freshwater pearls. Akoya pearls range in size from about 6.0 - 8.5mm.


South Sea Pearl .....South sea pearls are the rarest of pearls and simply spectacular with a unique satiny luster, as well as an array of colors considered more unusual in other types of pearls and are typically white, silver and golden. Cultivated in the white-lipped oyster, larger than the oysters used to produce Akoyas and Freshwater pearls, the size of pearl they produce is considerably larger... reaching sizes as large as 15mm. White-lipped oysters are rare, sensitive and difficult to cultivate, making the pearls they produce more expensive and highly desirable.

Tahitian Pearl....Enchanting and mysterious, Tahitian pearls are unique unto themselves due to their natural dark colors: metallic silver, to the color of graphite. Within this range of colors, they can have bluish, purplish, or greenish overtones.
Found in the waters off of the islands of French Polynesia, the natural black color comes from the color of the oyster's black lips. They are much larger than average oysters and are extremely sensitive to the cultivation process. This makes the large pearls they produce extremely valuable and sought after.

Sidney Thomas Jewelers....12-14mm Black Cultured Tahitian Pearl Necklace With Diamond Accent 14kt White Gold 18"
Item#: 841783
From the waters of the South Sea, Tahitian pearls are prized for their large size and dark hue. This chic, single strand necklace features 12-14mm black cultured Tahitian pearls with a near-round shape. Necklace fastens with a diamond-accented 14kt white gold ball clasp. Tahitian pearls are unique and may vary.
Price: $4,995.00

Blister Pearl and Keshi Pearl JewelryBlister and Keshi pearls are accidental creations of nature – beautiful ones at that!
A blister pearl is a pearl that grew attached to the shell of the mollusk. Since a blister pearl needs to be cut off the shell in order to be used, pieces of the shell are often left attached and in a free-form shape. Blister pearls make intriguing pendants and earrings, especially when set in a bezeled frame.
A Keshi pearl is an irregular-shaped by product of a pearl cultivation, composed entirely of nacre and containing no nucleus. When a mollusk rejects the pearl cultivation process, a beautiful and unique Keshi is born. Keshi pearls make interesting beaded necklaces and bracelets.
Both blister pearls and Keshi pearls have an irregular shape and no two are alike. For this reason, each piece of blister pearl and Keshi pearl jewelry will be special and one-of-a-kind. You'll find abstract and artisanal designs full of imagination. And the look they create is organic and whimsical.

Sidney Thomas Jewelers .....23mm Gray Cultured Blister Pearl Earrings in Sterling Silver
Item#: 274223
Earrings of 23mm gray cultured freshwater blister pearl cast a muted, multicolored glow. Clip/post earrings in sterling silver.
Price: $150
All the jewelry pictured above is available for purchase . Please contact me for any inquiries,



The article above can be found on Ross Simons.com.