Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Pearl Matching

Pearl Matching

Because pearls are natural, organic substances, no two of them are identical. Therefore, when a piece of jewelry contains more than one pearl, some effort must be taken to insure that the pearls all match in an aesthetically pleasing fashion.

"Matching" here does not mean that all of the pearls are absolutely identical -- that would be impossible! Nor does it even mean that all of the pearls in the piece are generally uniform in size, shape, and color. It basically means that the pearls "fit together" in a pleasing manner, and that variations among them are either minimal, gradual, or for a specific purpose.

For example, a long strand of pearls may have a large pearl in the center, with pearls which grow gradually smaller strung along either side. Or a strand may consist of pearls in alternating or gradually changing colors. In any of these examples, the pearls are considered well-matched if the resulting piece is uniform and consistent, rather than haphazard-looking.

In the same way, pearl earrings, bracelets, pendants, rings, etc. -- any piece which contains more than a single pearl -- are generally matched to achieve greater beauty and value. If the piece consists of contrasting colors (such as a two-pearl, black-and-white ring), the matching will take into account the size, shape, and luster of the respective pearls, even though their colors are quite different.

Pearl matching is really an art in itself. It requires a good eye, good judgment, and a great deal of time and effort to match pearls effectively. Indeed, a strand made completely from natural pearls (rather than from cultured pearls) can require years to collect a well-matched set of pearls! Clearly, good matching greatly adds to the quality and value of any piece of multi-pearl jewelry.

YOUR REFER IS http://www.pearl-guide.com/pearl-matching.shtml

Sunday, December 23, 2007

History of Pearls

History of Pearls

Pearls have been known and valued in many cultures throughout history. As far back as 2300 BC, Chinese records indicate that pearls were prized possessions of (and gifts to) royalty. Ancients Hindu texts from India also repeatedly refer to pearls, stating in one place that the god Krishna discovered the first pearl. In ancient Egypt, mother-of-pearl was used for decorative purposes as far back as 4000 BC, although the use of actual pearls did not come until much later -- perhaps the 5th century BC.
The ancient Romans valued pearls highly, especially as a symbol of wealth and prestige -- so much so that an effort was made to prohibit the wearing of pearls by those not deserving of them. Perhaps the most celebrated incident involving pearls in Roman history has to do with a banquet given by Cleopatra, the last Egyptian queen, for the Roman leader Marc Antony.
The banquet was described by the Roman historian Pliny the Elder in his book, Natural History. Although some current historians dispute the details and significance of the banquet, there is general agreement that the incident described did indeed take place.
The essence of the story is that Cleopatra wagered Antony that she could give the most expensive meal ever provided. When the only thing placed in front of her was a vessel of sour wine (i.e., vinegar), Antony wondered how she would be able to win the bet. Whereupon Cleopatra removed one of her pearl earrings -- said by Pliny to have been worth 10 million sesterces, the equivalent of thousands of pounds of gold -- and dropped it into the vinegar. The pearl dissolved in the strongly acidic solution, and Cleopatra drank it down, winning her wager.
The ancient Greeks also valued pearls, using them especially at weddings, where they were said to bring love. With many natural oyster beds lying along the Persian Gulf, the Arab peoples also placed a high value on pearls, which are described in the Koran as one of the greatest treasures provided in Paradise.
In the Western Hemisphere, too, Native Americans valued the freshwater pearls they harvested from lakes and rivers. The story is told, for example, of a Native American princess who presented Hernando de Soto with gifts of animal skins, cloth, copper, and freshwater pearls. Colonizers from Spain, France, and England all found native tribes using pearls as jewelry and for trade. Indeed, once the colonial powers discovered the sheer volume of pearls available in America's rivers, pearls became one of the chief products sent from the colonies back to Europe. Along with freshwater pearls from North American rivers, saltwater pearls were harvested from the Caribbean and along the coasts of Central and South America. All of these pearl supplies began to dry up during the 19th century, however, as a result of overfishing and the pollution caused by industrialization.
In addition to the pearls themselves, American mother-of-pearl also became a major export, both from the North American colonies and, later, from the United States. A primary use of mother-of-pearl was to make shiny, iridescent buttons, of which billions were exported all over the world (mainly from Iowa) all the way up until the mid-20th century, when the invention of plastic quickly replaced mother-of-pearl for this use.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the history of pearls reached a major turning point. At that time, a number of Japanese researchers discovered independently the techniques which could be used to cause oysters to create pearls essentially "on demand." The man who finally combined the various technical processes with business acumen and worldwide marketing know-how was Kokichi Mikimoto, the son of a restauranteur. Today, Mikimoto is credited with having created almost single-handedly the worldwide cultured pearl industry.
The effect on the pearl industry of the discovery of pearl culturing combined with Mikimoto's marketing enthusiasm cannot be understated. Within a span of less than 50 years at the beginning of the 20th century, thousands of years of pearl history were rewritten. Pearls -- historically the exclusive possessions of royalty and aristocracy -- became available to virtually anyone on the planet. Rather than pearl divers hunting, often in vain, for the elusive, naturally formed pearls, pearl farmers could now cultivate thousands upon thousands of pearls in virtually the same way as a wheat or corn farmer grows his own crop. And pearl lovers throughout the world could reap the benefits.

Pearl World

Pearl World

Pearl World - The PublicationDevoted to covering the pearl industry, Pearl World: The International Pearling Journal, is the only English language publication of its kind. For 16 years the journal has covered every aspect of the pearling industry, from harvests, production, auctions, wholesaling, and education, to retail designing end consumer marketing.The journal is published solely for those interested in pearls, worldwide. Subscribers include producers and processors, exporters and importers, wholesalers and retailers, appraisers and even consumers. Each issue covers the recent events that are continuously shaping and reshaping the industry, and that produce the forces that affect the changing values of the primary market commodities. The Research Pearl World correspondents cover the globe to take readers behind the scenes to find out what's really happening in the industry, with the purpose of presenting pearl news clearly, concisely, accurately, and (most importantly) unbiased. Each issue contains a wealth of vital information: updated statistics, recent market developments, reports on auctions, interviews and opinions with and from industry leaders, results of trade fairs and exhibits, new products and processes, the language and history of pearling, design contests, inspection and export formalities, market trends, and more. Whatever is happening in the pearling industry, wherever it takes place, Pearl World is there! Subscription RatesThe journal is published and shipped quarterly.
$130 for annual domestic subscription
$140 for annual Canada/Mexico subscription
$150 for annual International subscription
$10 per requested back issue
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