Simple Buying Tips for Drop Pearl Earrings

A drop pearl earring incorporates the pearl's quiet beauty to the drop design's attention-getting look. It's dressy and casual at the same time. It draws attention but in a quiet way.

While every woman can wear pearls, not everyone can wear drop earrings. Yes, jewelry does make a difference in how a woman looks but we must remember that they are accessories and their main purpose is to enhance or complement a look. We don't dress up for the jewelry the jewelry dresses up for us. Here's why:

The shape of the face

Earrings, regardless of design, bring attention to the face which is why it is very important to choose the right pair to wear. In the case of drop pearl earrings, the pearl as the focal point of the jewelry is either used attached to a stud or hung from a chain connected to a stud that pierces or hangs from the ear lobe. This design acts as a 'pointer' and where does it point? Down, towards the chin.

Depending on the shape of the face, this design can either flatter or exaggerate. When using drop pearl earrings in a pendant design, this is a good thing to remember, since pendants can draw attention downward.

Why pearls are precious

Before the pearl got strung to hang from your drop earrings, it traveled some ways from the bowels of a mollusk to the hands of the jeweler. Pearls are as rare as they are beautiful and no two are exactly alike, which in part makes them a favorite choice for jewels.

Of the more than 8,000 different species of mollusks, there are only 20 kinds who can produce pearls consistently. That is why natural pearls are quite rare. They also are not always the ideal shape and size to use as jewelry that is why people have turned to artificial methods of producing pearls, also called cultured pearls. This method was perfected by Kokichi Mikimoto of Japan.

Cultured pearls are essentially artificial implants. This is a more ideal method of creating pearls because it affords a certain control over the size and shape. Natural pearls are formed 'naturally' without outside help from humans.

That is not to say that cultured pearls are less valuable than natural pearls. Their only difference is that cultured pearls are produced differently.

Pearl quality

The focal point of a drop pearl earring is of course the pearl. If you're planning to buy a pair, this is not only a beautiful addition to your collection, but is also a worthwhile investment.

The price of the pearl depends upon its quality which in turn is dependent on several factors: the color, shape, size, luster, nacre thickness and texture of the pearl.

Pearl color varies from the usual white, silver and cream to green, blue, gold and black. The color of the pearl depends upon the type of mollusk that produced it and water conditions. Sometimes, in the case of cultured pearls, the kind of nucleus used to stimulate the mollusk can also affect the pearl's color.

Shape is one area where personal taste may be a high deciding factor. The most expensive kind is the perfectly round ones, because these are rare. Drop pearls are shaped like teardrops but their shape doesn't mean they are not valuable at all. A lot of good-quality pearls are drop-shaped and are preferred after the spherical ones.

Generally, the larger the pearl, the more valuable and its size is measured by its diameter. It's worth noting, however that size is not the sole determinant of value. It could be the size of a cherry but if it's dull with lots of imperfections, it should not be worth much at all. Most pearls fall in the 6.5 to 7.5 mm range.

Nacre is the substance from which pearls are made of. This is the same substance that you'll find inside the shell of a mollusk or oyster. Nacre affects the luster and color of the pearl and generally speaking, the thicker it is, the higher the value of the pearl.

Texture is also a consideration, since pearls, unlike gemstones, are prized based on their surface. A clean and smooth surface is an indication of a good quality pearl. It should be shiny, reflective and without spots, bumps or discolorations.

Akoya Pearl Necklace : Chinese Or Japanese?

Beautiful. Elegant. Lustrous. These are just three adjectives normally used when asked to describe Akoya Pearl Necklaces. A contemporary piece of jewelry, each pearl necklace is hand-knotted individually showing a silky luster.

Brilliant Japanese pearls, it is always a pleasure receiving Akoya pearl necklaces. Although something so rare and precious does come with a price. The average price for an Akoya pearl necklace is $4000 dollars. Some stores offer a discount especially during the Holidays though. But if you can afford getting yourself or a significant other one, why not?

Akoya pearl necklaces assure fine beadwork, awe-inspiring luster effect and a brilliance that is so stunning that when worn, they seem to be diamonds fresh out from the sea. Akoya pearl necklaces have then on become symbols for beauty and elegance and one of the most popular pearls the world over. Akoya pearls are graded using AAA, AA+, AA and A. AAA pearls are those belonging to the Top 1% of the harvest. Their luster is excellent and they are 96% blemish free. Their matching is excellent, they have a round shape and a thick nacre.

The AA+ pearls are those that came from the top 5% of the harvest. Their luster is also excellent and they are 90 to 95% blemish free. Their matching is excellent, they have a round shape and a thick nacre.

The AA pearls are those belonging to the Top 20% of the harvest. Their luster is very good and they are 80 to 90% blemish free. Their matching is very good, their shape is round and their nacre ranges from medium to thick. The A pearls are those belonging to the Top 50% of the harvest. Their luster is very good and their blemishes are moderate when set on the light. They have good matching and a round shape.

Every pearl necklace retailer know that if there are two kinds of pearl necklaces competing head-to-head for the demands of the jewelry-loving market, it would have to be the Japanese Akoya Pearls and the Chinese Akoya Pearls. The normal public would go, "What's the difference? They're both pearls." Alas, my friend, you think wrong.

There is still a difference between the two, therefore the competition. When it comes to pearls, Japan has the best and most precious ones out there. Considering that theirs are the most spherical in shape. In the pearl industry, the rounder the pearl, the more valuable it is. Japanese Akoya pearls is the epitome for the classic quality and grace of what pearl necklaces should be.

Pearliculture in Japan is one of the highest paid labor in the world because of the tedious procedure of cultivating and getting the pearls from the oysters and mussels. But because there are so much competition out there, Japanese Akoya pearl industry being number one just had to come to a halt.

It was obvious for the last half-decade but it was only with the strong supply of Chinese Akoya pearl necklaces pouring in did the expected actually occurred. Regardless, even if it were Japanese of Chinese Akoya pearl necklaces, the price remains the same because of the rarity and the precious quality this piece of jewelry represents.

The twist of this whole competing for the best pearl necklace is that Japanese factories are quickly becoming the largest consumers of the Chinese Akoya pearl farmers. Pearls from China are imported into Japan and then later on tagged "Made in Japan."Akoya pearl necklaces today obviously contain Chinese Akoya pearls.

To say that it is Japanese Akoya pearls kinda raises the question if it really is. Is it really the rare spherical black Akoya pearls Japan is known for or is it merely made in Japan?But it is still a consumers right to know whether he is paying the right price for the necklace he is purchasing. Generally, people believe that if the Akoya pearl necklaces came from Japan, it is expensive.

For them to not feel cheated, they must not take the "Made in Japan" tag seriously.Studies show that 80% of Akoya pearl necklaces are actually Chinese cultured pearls. The strands may be from Japan but the pearls are really from China. Another question is that what about the manufacturers that gets their Akoya pearl stocks directly from Japanese farms.

The answer is that Japan pearl farms sell their pearls to factories where the items are bleached, polished, matched and drilled. Never do they sell directly to the retailers. Because of the estimated 80% Chinese pearls and 20% Japanese pearls, it is extremely hard to figure out the understandable profit when it comes to Akoya pearl necklace-making. Regardless, consumers still buy Akoya pearl necklaces simply because the standard of this fine piece of jewelry continue to prove true today.

Its standards remain topnotch and the beauty, luster and elegance of the Akoya pearl necklace be it Chinese or Japanese still make the wearer shine to the nines.