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Pearls: Everything you need to know
Table of Contents:
- Pearl trend is back for 2023
- Men are not afraid of wearing pearls
- Get to know value of pearls – Natural vs Cultured pearls
- How much are pearls worth?
- Taking care of your pearl jewelry
Pearl trend is back for 2023
History of pearls
It is no secret that pearl jewelry has been loved for generations. Pearls have been used as gifts and in jewelry by ancient Chinese royalty, the Romans, and have even been found in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess. Pearls became more widely available when a way of creating them was discovered in 1893. Since then, saltwater and freshwater pearls have been widely included in jewelry and fashion, for everyone to enjoy.
Pearls are famously the shimmering birthstone for those born in June and hold meanings ranging from purity, humility and innocence.
When you think of classic, retro accessories, pearl jewelry is probably one of the first styles that come to mind. After all, icons like Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe immortalized pearls both on and off-screen, and the style has continued to hold up for celebrities and everyday people alike.
Pearl trend is back
Pearls are seeing a particularly strong resurgence as one of spring 2023’s jewelry trends.
This lustrous gemstone is set to be one of the most popular jewelry trends this year, with brands incorporating pearls into modern and chic designs.
Men are not afraid of wearing pearls
No longer a classic jewelry favored by only women, we can easily see that men today are not afraid to wear pearl jewelry with a variety of types from necklaces, bracelets, rings to earrings. Gender boundaries are really being blurred!
Musician, producer and style supremo Pharrell Williams walked the Chanel Metiers d’Art show at the Ritz in Paris in 2016 rocking a particularly fabulous look of grey trousers, classic Chanel long-line jacket, fur yarmulke and ropes of pearls.
Major League Baseball players are flaunting strings of pearls around their necks on the field. Rappers and pop culture icons like Drake and Harry Styles are popularizing them. So are Hollywood actors and male models on the runway.
Gentlemen are unabashedly donning pearls in all kinds of settings.
According to Alibaba.com‘s Spring/ Summer 2023 jewelry trend report, men’s jewelry has attracted more and more consumers, driving the emergence of new designs in the industry. Pearls are important and key trend materials, which match well with daily dressings.
Get to know value of pearls – Natural vs Cultured pearls
Is pearl jewelry expensive?
The value of a pearl can vary dramatically depending on many factors, such as pearl type, size, color, surface quality, and more. Generally, a wild pearl will be worth more than a cultured pearl.
Natural Pearls: Natural pearls grow in the wild without human intervention. They are very rare, and most natural pearls in the market today are antique.
Cultured Pearls: Cultured pearls are grown in pearl farms, and are the direct result of human intervention. The vast majority of pearls in the pearl/jewelry market are cultured pearls. Cultured pearls may be bead nucleated, tissue nucleated or otherwise non-bead cultured, and they are produced in both saltwater and freshwater mollusks.
After many, many years of diving for pearls, divers have made natural pearls so rare; some say they are close to becoming extinct. Therefore, they are hard to find on the ocean’s surface these days. Because of this rarity, natural pearls are generally much more expensive than cultured pearls.
How much are pearls worth?
South Sea Pearls
Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines are leading sources of these saltwater cultured pearls. South Sea cultured pearls can be white to silver or golden, depending on the type of oyster. Their large size and thick nacre, due to a long growth period, plus their limited critical growing conditions are all factors contributing to their value. South Sea pearls are considered the most valuable. They are also the largest pearl variety on the market
Tahitian Pearls
Cultivated primarily around the islands of French Polynesia (the most familiar of these is Tahiti). These saltwater cultured pearls, sometimes referred to as black pearls, have a wide color range. They might be gray, black or brown, and they can have blue, green, purple or pink overtone. Tahitian pearls are exotic, with dark colors. These magnificent beauties come in a variety of qualities and pearl sizes, as well as some of the most stunning pearl colors.
Akoya Pearls
Akoya cultured pearls are the most familiar type of saltwater cultured pearl to most people in the U.S and other western markets. Many customers think of white or cream colored akoyas as the classic pearl used for jewelry, especially single-strand necklaces. Japan and China both produce akoya cultured pearls
Akoya pearls are the classic round, white pearls. They were the first pearls ever to be farmed, and are a little bit smaller. Generally, these are the smallest type of cultured pearl on the market. They were the very first to be cultivated on a pearl farm.
Freshwater Pearls
Freshwater cultured pearls are the most commonly produced pearls and they are one of the most popular pearl types among shoppers and jewelry designers. This is due to their remarkable range of sizes, shapes and colors, plus their commercial availability at lower price points. They are usually cultured in freshwater lakes and ponds, often with many pearls grown in one oyster. China is the leading source for freshwater cultured pearls. Freshwater pearls come in a huge range of shapes and sizes and colors. Round freshwater pearls look almost identical to Akoya pearls but are less expensive.
If you are a pearl fan searching for classic pearl strands or contemporary pearl jewelry with a reasonable budget, freshwater pearls are your best match. High productivity and production help Freshwater cultured pearl have low selling prices.
Shop our latest Pearl collection:
Moreover, at PNJP we also have high-end pearl jewellery lines from Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea cultured pearls to meet the diverse needs of fashion lovers who have endless passion and cherish the value of pearls. Take a look!
Taking care of your pearl jewelry
The nacre of pearls is natural, meaning it can lose its luster over time if not looked for. We recommended adorning your freshwater pearls after you’ve applied makeup, and after you’ve spritzed yourself with perfume. Store them in soft pouches or lined jewelry boxes to ensure they’re cushioned when you aren’t wearing them.
The same care applies to your metal pieces. Cleaning gold jewelry is essential to keep your collection looking its best. You can also clean silver jewelry to ensure it stays looking brand new. That way, you’ll never feel like your jewelry is going out of style, because it always feels like a new addition to your ensemble.
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