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Pearl Luster
Luster is what many experts term the heart and soul of
the sea-grown gem. Throughout history, this unique luster has separated
Pearls from all other gems. For cultured Pearl experts, luster is
perhaps the most important indicator in evaluating cultured Pearl
quality. Luster is what separates the inferior Pearl from the superior
and the ordinary from the extraordinary. Early man, captivated by this
mysterious sphere born from the ugliest of all sea creatures, likened
the luster of a Pearl to that of the shimmering moon. In fact, Pearls
were once believed to be teardrops of the moon that had fallen into the
sea only to be swallowed by oysters. Luster, in more scientific terms,
is the reflection and refraction of light as it passes through the
layers of aragonite crystals (often referred to as nacre) that comprise
a cultured Pearl. The intensity of luster is determined not only by the
amount of these crystals but also by the specific geometric pattern in
which they are secreted upon the nucleus by the oyster.
What is Pearl Luster Exactly?
Luster is an important attribute of a Pearl. Do not confuse luster with
"shine". Pearls have a characteristic luster known as Pearlescence.
Pearl luster is the brilliancy and soul of Pearls. It displays the
Pearl’s unique beauty and helps people discover this precious
water-grown gem gift from the Mother Nature. Iridescent orient is a
quality of Pearl that creates a soft play of colors across the Pearl&9;s
surface. Like Pearlescent luster, the thickness of the nacre layer is
responsible for this effect. However, for iridescent orient to be
present in a Pearl an unusually thick layer of nacre must be present. In
addition to thickness, each layer of nacre must be well crystallized and
aligned. These factors work together to create this effect by creating a
prismatic effect as light passes through the outer layer and is
reflected back. It is rare to find round cultured Pearls that display
orient, and therefore, these types are highly sought after.
The Birth of a Pearl
The birth of a Pearl is truly a miraculous event. Unlike
gemstones or precious metals; which must be mined from the earth, Pearls
are grown by live oysters far below the surface of the sea. Gemstones
must be cut and polished to bring out their beauty...
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The History of Pearls
No one will ever know who were the earliest people to collect and wear Pearls. George Frederick Kunz a gemologist in his 1908 masterpiece - The Book of the Pearl, states his belief that an ancient fish-eating tribe, perhaps along the coast...
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Types of Pearls
Although there are many
varieties of Pearls available today, there are 5 basic
types of Pearls. Pearls may be rice-shaped,
round, pear-shaped, button-shaped, or irregular
(baroque) and are valued in that order. Pearls found
attached to the inner surface of the shell...
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Natural Pearls
A natural Pearl is a Pearl that forms in nature with no
human intervention. Natural Pearls, What is a Natural
Pearl Natural Pearls are grown in wild oysters. The
process begins when an irritant, such as a grain of sand
or a piece of shell, gets inside an oyster's shell...
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Freshwater Pearls
Freshwater Pearls are a kind of Pearl that comes from
freshwater mussels. They are produced in Japan and the
United States on a limited scale, but are now almost
exclusive to China The U.S. Federal Trade Commission
requires that freshwater Pearls are referred to as..
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Biwa Pearls
Biwa Pearl is a freshwater Pearl cultivated in a mollusk
only in Japan's Lake Biwa. Biwa Pearls are produced at
lake Biwa, Japan using freshwater clams. They are
irregular in shape but have good color and luster.
Instead of a bead a small square of mother of...
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Saltwater Pearls
Although freshwater Pearls can be grown in mussels and
other mollusks, saltwater Pearls are always grown in
oysters. Most saltwater Pearls are harvested in the Red
Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the coastal waters of India
and Japan. Generally, saltwater Pearls...
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Cultured Pearls
Cultured Pearls are those in which humans take a helping
hand. By actually inserting a foreign object into the
tissue of an oyster or mollusk, Pearl farmers can induce
the creation of a Pearl. The same natural process of
Pearl creation takes place...
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South Sea Pearls
South Sea Pearls is a generic name for the
Pearls, usually 9mm-16mm in size, produced by the two groups of large
Pearl producing oysters. These oysters can grow to 25-30 cm in size, and
are much rarer than their Akoya counterparts....
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Tahiti Cultured Pearls
Tahiti cultured Pearls are Pearl concretions
that are secreted inside the black-lipped Pinctada Margaritifera species
of Pearl oysters cultivated mainly in the lagoons of French Polynesia.
They consist of thick Pearly layers containing organic substances..
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Akoya Pearls
Akoya Pearls are found only in Japan, China,
and Vietnam. Japanese Akoya Pearl farms are shifting towards the warmer
Chinese waters, where these Pearls take only half as long to grow.
Overtone colors of Akoya Pearls include white, cream, rose, silver, and
green...
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Mabe Pearls
Mabe Pearls are large, hemispherical cultured
Pearls that grow attached to the inside shells of oysters. Mabe Pearls
are of hemispherical shape, grown against the inside of the oyster's
shell, rather than within its tissue. Mabes occasionally appear in
nature...
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Blister Pearls
A blister Pearl (also called a button Pearl)
is a Pearl that developed attached to the inside of a mollusk's shell.
This type of Pearl must be cut off the shell, and is therefore
hemispherical. Because of their shape, blister Pearls are mostly used
for earrings...
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The Pearl Myths
There are many myths
about Pearls that have continued through the centuries.
"Pearls of Wisdom", is a common saying and even
shares the title of some books in areas such as
medicine, country living, inspiration and wisdom
collections and Oriental teachings...
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How to Care for your Pearls
Pearls give the most natural glow under the morning
sunlight. Spotlights also enhance their appearance. Therefore, if, when
shopping for Pearls, the items are being displayed under direct sunlight
or bright artificial light, it would be best to request to have them...
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Back to 'All About Pearls' Summary
Ever since the ancient Egyptians first started creating
jewelry, Pearls have become one of the highest regarded gemstones. Even
today Pearls still hold their value due to the rarity of "mother nature"
creating this form of jewelry. Pearls are created from a core. The core
of a natural Pearl is simply a fragment of shell or fishbone, or a grain
of sand that strays into the unsuspecting Pearl oyster's shell. To
protect itself from this irritant the oyster secretes multiple layers of
nacre, forming a Pearl...
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What is Pearl Luster?
