Fishing on the Net
By Bonnie Nelson
What Type of Pearls Do You Have?
Many times we find pearls that have belonged to our grandmother, or mother. Do you know if they are valuable? You can take them to an appraiser. So here is a little history behind pearls and how to grade them so you know what the appraiser is talking about.
The pearl is known as the "Queen of Gems." Recorded history tells that a prized pearl necklace is made of matched spheres. Before cultured pearls were invented in the early 1900s, natural pearls were so rare and expensive that they were reserved almost exclusively for the noble and very rich. At the height of the Roman Empire, Suetonius, a historian, wrote that the Roman general Vitellius financed an entire military campaign by selling one of his mother's pearl earrings.
It is not known exactly who began collecting and wearing pearls. It is believed that an ancient fish-eating tribe, maybe along the coast of India, appreciated the shape and luster of saltwater pearls discovered while opening oysters for food (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pearl/time.html).
Pearls are unique among the gems. They are formed naturally in an oyster and therefore is have a different grading system. It is a standard recognized worldwide. The gradings go from A, A+, AA, AA+, AAA and AAA+--AAA being the highest grade. The grade of pearls is determined by the following 7 factors:
* Luster--The shine from the surface of a mineral.
* Nacre--the iridescent internal layer of a mollusk shell†like in Mother-of-Pearl.
* Glossiness and Blemish--having a shiny or lustrous surface. Also look for a mark that detracts from appearance
* Shapeóare they perfectly round, or a slightly off round
* Coloróare they a pure white, or slightly off color
* Sizeóare the pearls approximately the same size
* Matchingóare the pearls in the strand close in all the above areas.
It also makes a difference whether the pearl is formed from sea water or fresh water. In a completely natural state, only a very small percentage of oysters will ever produce a pearl at all. It is commonly assumed that only one in ten thousand oysters will naturally produce a gem quality pearl, hence, the development of cultured pearls.
* Avoid contact with acidic and alkaline substances like hairspray.
* Don't use toothpaste to wash pearls - Use mild soap and water
* Don't wear your pearls constantly.
* Regular maintenanceócheck them for damage.
* Avoid frequently touching your pearlsóhuman oils can be harmful
* Don't put your pearls in the washing machine--Yes, people have done this. Pearls cannot withstand the shaking in supersonic washing machines, and may break apart if left in the wash.
* Bring a storage bag with you if you need to take them off.
* Put your pearls on last (http://www.nobelpearl.com/z_tour_guide.html).
Taking care of your pearls will give you a lifetime of enjoyment and a treasure that you can hand down to your children.
Bonnie Nelson is a freelance writer living in Fountain, CO. If you have comments or questions, email her at waltbon@comcast.net.
CONTACT THE WRITER • WALTBON@COMCAST.nET
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