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Pearl
FAQ’s
Why
should I buy my cultured pearls at David Orgell?
Because cultured pearls of high quality are increasingly rare today,
it is important that you deal with a jeweler you trust. At David
Orgell, we currently offer Mikimoto cultured pearls.
Is there a grading system?
Unlike diamonds, cultured pearls are not evaluated by an industry-wide
grading system. However, some merchants, including Mikimoto, have
developed their own grading scales for comparative purposes. Because
we believe quality is so crucial in cultured pearls, David Orgell
offers only those cultured pearls that would be considered the highest
grades at other stores.
Why are two different strands of the same length priced differently?
Many factors including quality, size, and luster affect the price
of a pearl strand. Larger cultured pearls are rarer and far more
difficult to match than smaller ones.
How do I care for my cultured pearls?
Fine cultured pearls with thick nacre layers will last for generations
if cared for properly. Avoid having your cultured pearls come into
contact with perfumes, cosmetics, perspiration and dirt. We suggest
that you gently wipe cultured pearls with a slightly damp cloth.
All cultured pearls available at David Orgell are strung on pure
silk. If you wear your cultured pearls regularly, we encourage you
to have your cultured pearls cleaned and restrung annually.
What
is a Pearl?
A
pearl is a byproduct of the partnership between nature and chance.
When a foreign object, such as a grain of sand, is trapped in an
oyster or mussel, it is coated with layers of a smooth, crystalline
substance known as nacre. Over time, this natural process produces
the luminescent gem we know as a pearl.
Nearly all pearls sold today are cultured. That is to say, each
one is created by deliberately inserting an irritant into the oyster's
tissue. However, the quality of cultured pearls varies widely. More
than any other factor, size determines price. Pearl size is the
result of the size of the implanted nucleus plus the thickness of
the nacre, which grows layer by layer. A large cultured pearl is
of little value if it lacks nacre thickness since a thinly coated
cultured pearl will crack and discolor. Nacre thickness can be verified
only by an expert.
Perfectly round
cultured pearls are the rarest. While most cultured pearls are basically
round, only about 1% are perfect spheres. To check a strand, roll
it on a flat surface. The movement should be even and smooth.
Pearls occur
in a spectrum of shades. The major classifications are white, pink,
silver, cream, gold and black. Fine cultured pearls will also have
a secondary color or "overtone" — usually rose, green
or blue — around the outside of the pearl. Traditionally, cultured
pearls with pinkish-white or pinkish-silver coloring are the most
highly prized. Whatever the color, it should appear to emanate from
deep within the cultured pearl.
A small percentage
of cultured pearls display rainbow-like colors that appear to move
over the surface.
Luster refers
to the surface shine that gives cultured pearls their glowing beauty.
Stand with your back to the light; the sharper the reflection of
light on the cultured pearl, the higher the luster.
Like any product
of nature, all cultured pearls have imperfections. However, a quality
cultured pearl should be free of large pits or blemishes.
Kinds
of Pearls
Every
pearl is unique. The type of mollusk and natural elements often
combine to produce unusual shapes and colors.
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