Pearls of Creation A-Z of Pearls, 2nd Edition BRONZE AWARD: Non Fiction

By Marge Dawson

"PEARLS OF CREATION A-Z OF PEARLS" WILL APPEAL TO READERS OF ALL AGES, WITH NUMEROUS DIFFERENT INTERESTS, INCLUDING LIBRARIES, SCHOLARS, PEARL LOVERS, JEWELLERS AND GEMOLOGISTS. IT COVERS GOD'S CREATION OF MARINE LIFE, NATURE CONSERVATION, HATCHERIES, ANTIQUES, COLLECTABLES, DIVING, KNOWING REAL PEARLS FROM FAKE PEARLS AND MANY MOR

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pearls Of Creation LLC
• Release date: Sep 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9780692284698

Book preview

Pearls of Creation

A-Z of Pearls - 2nd Edition

By

Marjorie May Dawson

Pearls of Creation

A-Z of Pearls-2nd Edition

www.pearlsofcreation.com

Copyright © 2011 Marjorie May Dawson

ISBN: 978-0-692-28469-8

Disclaimer:

All rights to all published written words and Pictures remain the private property of the Individual Companies represented in this Edition. 

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Pearls of Creation

Is intended to

Increase your Knowledge of,

Interest in, and Love of pearls.

Recognize the difference between Natural, Cultured, Freshwater and Seawater Pearls.

Learn how to Care for your pearls, and

The simple ‘test’ to Know

the Difference

between

‘Real Pearls’ and 

‘Imitation Pearls’.

PEARLS OF CREATION

A-Z of Pearls - 2nd Edition

CONTENTS

The History of Pearls and Pearl Farms

Aloha!

Pearls All over the World

Credits to the Pearl Farmers

CHAPTER 1:

HOW TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!

Don’t get caught! A truly fool-proof test to

find out whether pearls are ‘real’, or ‘imitation’.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CHAPTER 2:

IMPORTANT POINTS!

Selecting quality natural colored freshwater or

saltwater cultured or natural pearls and *mabé.

CHAPTER 3:

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR PEARLS

CHAPTER 4:

THE HISTORY AND STORY OF PEARLS

AND PEARL FARMS, ALL OVER THE WORLD

American Pearl Company Inc

Aquaculture

Conch Pearls

Eyris Blue Pearl Company

Fiji Pearls – J. Hunter Pearls

Gemological Institute of America –

See notes for *

General Information

Global Interest 

Jewel of the Underground

Jewelmer International Corp.

Medicinal Features

Micronesia Pearls

Paspaley Pearl Company P/L

Pearlies London Pearly King & Queen Society

Preparing Pearls for Sale

Sunken Treasure Pearls

The ‘Craze’ USA Pearls

William Saville-Kent

Alphabetical List – Cross Referenced

& Acknowledgements

CHAPTER 5:

Different types of pearls from Countries around the world and pearl terminology, cross referenced.

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

CHAPTER 6:

Appendix

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ALOHA!

My passion for pearls originated in 1980, when I had the franchise for Pearls in the Oyster. Over a period of three years we opened hundreds of akoya oysters containing the most beautiful pearls.

Since then it has been wonderful to discover all the interesting aspects of this very special gift from God.

Pearl and Margaret became popular names for girls. Coincidently, my full name is Marjorie, derived from Margaret, which is a derivative of Margaritis.

I was born in June and pearls are the birthstone for the month of June.

Pearls are also the symbol of the 30th Wedding Anniversary.

Margaritae is the Greek word for pearls, which came into use at the end of the 19th Century. It means something ‘cherished’ or ‘valued’, which very aptly describes beautiful, natural, and now cultured pearls.

Pearls of Creation is designed to build your knowledge of, and self-confidence in buying and caring for your beautiful pearls. 

I sincerely hope you will find this handbook a lovely keepsake, which will stimulate your interest in God’s Creation of pearls. This book is dedicated to God, for His Gift of pearls to mankind.

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The perfect gift for all to treasure

EYRIS BLUE PEARL FARM - CHRISTCHURCH,

NEW ZEALAND

PEARLS ALL OVER THE WORLD

Many different varieties of pearl-bearing mollusk have been found in freshwater rivers, around remote archipelago islands, atolls, and coral reefs in oceans around the world. Natural pearls in a plethora of colors, shapes and sizes, have been found in the different waters.

Developing knowledge of God’s beautiful pearls is a fascinating subject to explore, and gives one great pleasure and excitement to discover all these pearl farms.

Pearls are available in many different stores from very high class Pearl Specialty Boutiques, Gem Dealers, Department Stores, to Wholesalers, Bead Shops or your Local Jewelry store.

A local Gold or Silversmith, who specializes in personalized Jewelry, would be able to set pearls with or without other precious Gems to your own specifications.

All *asterisked items refer to:

Gemological Institute of America

See: Chapter: 4.

THE KIMBERLEY COAST

NORTH WEST COAST OF AUSTRALIA

CREDITS TO THE PEARL FARMERS

Pearl farmers are extraordinary people who have the passion, patience, and endurance to actually devote their lifetime to perfecting the art of culturing perfect, naturally colored pearls for us.

Many thanks to the seven different pearl farmers featured in our book, who will introduce you to an exciting array of natural color, cultured pearls. Using their local varieties of oysters, pearl farms have been set up in remote areas to take advantage of the local mussels and oysters available.

It takes real courage, strength of character, and determination to succeed in building up any business, and all these pearl farmers have those qualities.

Many of them have been honored with different Prestigious Awards by their governments. Awards for their contributions to the Economy, Pioneering, Highest Degree of Service, Most Outstanding Businessman of the Year, Champion Global Small Enterprise, Chevalier of the National Order of Merit Award, Unique Exporter of the Year, Champion Canterbury Award.

All pearl farmers work for the betterment of their fellow islanders. Each of these pearl farms deserves our congratulations for achieving outstanding success after initiating their pearl farms.

If you are a World Traveler able to pay a visit to any or all of the Pearl Farms featured in our book, you can be assured of a very gratifying experience.

Just imagine being able to buy the naturally colored pearls, from their source and possibly meeting the farmers personally.

See: Chapters: 4, 5, and 6

CHAPTER: 1

HOW TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!

DON’T GET CAUGHT!

A truly foolproof test to find out whether pearls are

‘Real’ or Imitation

Pearls are fascinating to people around the world. Obviously, if you are buying the best pearls in Specialty Boutiques, or from your trusted Jewelry Store, you should not have to worry about testing the pearls you are about to purchase, to find out whether they were ‘real pearls’ or imitations.

That would be an insult to their integrity and creditability, as they are professionals in their field. Most likely, you would receive a warrantee and a valuation certificate for Insurance purposes.

Appraisers can examine your pearls, but unfortunately appraisers are not always easily accessible, and that would not be necessary for less expensive pearls. For obvious reasons, strings of pearls would not consist of a combination of ‘real’ and imitation pearls.

The beautiful, soft, pearly crystalline surface of nacre on pearls is secreted by the mantle tissue of mollusks. Nacre is deposited in concentric layers, which build up on any irritant, forming ‘natural’ pearls over many years in the atolls, sea, lakes or rivers.

The real test should be to take a pearl in each hand, and lightly rub the two pearls against each other. You would know that they are both ‘real pearls’ if they feel grainy or gritty, and rough like fine sand paper. Although they have this rough sensation, the pearls will typically be smooth to the touch.

Very few people can identify ‘real pearls’ as they come in a vast variety of shapes, forms, colors, and different types: natural, cultured, saltwater, and freshwater.

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Natural pearls are found in many different mollusks, growing in the waters of the world. They are always irregular shapes and sizes and are called baroque pearls.

Cultured saltwater/seawater pearls are typically spherical, can also be baroque or *half-pearls/ *mabé, or fancy shapes. Saltwater/ seawater oysters have different shaped shells with more space and capacity to produce cultured spherical pearls of all sizes.

Freshwater mussels are always flatter, so cannot produce spherical pearls, but instead yield many uniquely shaped pearls or *half-pearls/*mabé.

There are numerous other differences, but these are simple guidelines. For easy reference, I refer to all the above as ‘real pearls’, which are always cold to the touch, except when around your neck.

‘Real pearls’ take heat from your body, and thrive on being worn regularly, as it helps to preserve their natural brilliance. 

‘Real Pearls’ are very seldom identical in shapes, sizes or colors, as they are all individually created.

Once a mollusk has been nucleated and replaced in the water, nature takes over and individual pearl farmers have no control over them, other than to provide them with the best environment in which they can grow. It is the farmer’s decision, when their mollusk, are ready to harvest their pearls.

That is another interesting story covered in our book.

See: Chapters: 4, 5.

As the makers of good imitation pearls are improving their techniques, and even making the weight the same as ‘real pearls’, it is harder to distinguish the difference between them, until you know the ‘real test’.

Since pearls vary so much, here are a few simple guidelines that will help you to know the difference between ‘real pearls’ and imitation pearls.

Place pearls in the palm of your hand, as ‘real pearls’ are surprisingly cold to the touch, and heavy for their size. However, you must be aware that they could still be imitation.

One ‘real pearl’ and one imitation pearl rubbed lightly together feel smooth, as only one has the ‘real nacre’. The other one has been dipped in acrylic, and that is one of the easiest, most obvious ways to test pearls. Imitation pearls are as smooth as dentures and nail polish, as they have been coated with acrylic. It is only by a process of elimination, that ‘real pearls’ can be correctly identified, as explained above. 

Most people, when asked whether they know how to tell the difference between natural, cultured pearls and imitation pearls, would reply thus: Oh, just rub them lightly on the edge of your teeth. Dentures are made of acrylic, so that test will not work for many others, including me. That test would not be polite to try when selecting pearls from any outlet or in any store!

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                    BEAUTIFUL ‘REAL’ KESHI PEARLS

A great variety of pearls are available from so many sources and outlets today, including catalogs or ‘on-line’, their advertisements may often be misleading.

I would not advise you to purchases pearls this way, as there is no way for you to test them. Unless the company has a return policy, or the company has been personally recommended to you, this could be risky.

Supermarkets and local vendors at county fairs, bead shops, and more, are also selling ‘real pearls’, therefore being prepared and knowing the tried and proven way to ‘test’ them yourself, is most reassuring. You can purchase ‘real pearls’ at more affordable prices, if they appeal to you, with this invaluable knowledge.

There are many choices of very pretty ‘dyed’ freshwater ‘real pearls’ available in the market, which are sold at very reasonable prices, in many different outlets. They are useful and economical to buy for everyday wear, as they look good with different fashionable colors and are suitable for casual, and all occasions.

Pearls are not the only valuable and useable product, as the nacre coated *mother-of-pearl shell also has many uses. *Mother-of-pearl is the beautiful product, on the inside of the shell of some species of abalone, mussels and oysters. Technically speaking, all products produced on the inside of the shell, including *mabé, are *mother-of-pearl but are now accepted as pearls.

For most enhanced or dyed black pearls, an easy test to know if a black pearl is ‘real’, is to scratch the surface lightly with your nail. A genuine black pearl gives off a whitish dust, while a dyed black pearl gives off black dust. By law, anyone marketing imitation pearls is supposed to label them as such, but unfortunately, that law is not always enforced.

Imitation pearls can easily be identified if they are identical in color, size, and shape. Additionally, they are usually, but not always lightweight, and when rubbed together lightly, will slide off each other!

A word of caution when purchasing pretty, colored *mabé bargains from an uncertain source.

Sometimes  these sources claim to sell ‘real *mabé’, but it is how they are being cultivated and enhanced that makes them unreliable imitations.

A plastic dome is used to grow a *mabé pearl. It is fixed in place under the mantle tissue on the shell of a mollusk, with adhesive. After a few months in the water, the mollusk would have given it a number of layers of nacre.

The *mabé pearl is then cut away from its *mother-of-pearl backing, and the thin nacre dome is separated from the plastic dome. The fragile nacre dome is dipped in Pearl Essence/Essence d’Orient, which is a pretty blue or other currently fashionable color. Thereafter, it is filled with epoxy and glued onto a *mother-of-pearl backing. You will be advised to be very careful about purchasing these cheaper ‘*mabé imitations’, as they could easily crack.

It is hard to believe how many different artificial, imitation, pealed, skinned, simulated, waxed or other-wise ‘worked-on’ pearls, are on the market.

Pearl farms use several different methods to modify the imperfect cultured pearls by peeling layers of nacre off the pearls, with a sharp knife or file. They continue to peel the layers off, until a more perfect layer is found. This sounds impossible, but is sadly true.

Some large, generally ‘perfect round, dyed pearls’, (not the ‘dyed’ freshwater pearls, referred to earlier), are another form of imitation pearls to be aware of. Creamy pearls are often conditioned or coated with organic or inorganic acrylic materials, and buffed to enhance their appearance. All this processing is interfering with nature, as they have been ‘enhanced’, ‘processed’, ‘treated’ or ‘dyed’, and as such are imitations which should not be sold as real pearls.

However, there is actually a great demand for ‘dyed pearls’ in Costume and Imitation jewelry.

Now you know how to test them, and to distinguish the ‘real’ from the Imitation.  Try the test - you will find it works! 

Having said all this, everyone wearing pearls, even imitation pearls, show how elegant and fashionable pearls are for every occasion. Ultimately, women will buy what they can afford, so if imitation are the only option, then I consider that a good decision.

See: Chapter: 5. Costume Jewelry, Imitation Pearl.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my pearls are ‘real’?

For the benefit of easy reference in the book, I refer to natural and cultured pearls as ‘real pearls’. This is fully explained in the book. See: Chapters: 2, 5.

Which pearls, are the best value for my money?

Good quality pearls are a very good investment, so the price is justified. If you can compare pearls, choose the best quality, colors and shapes that you desire, and can enjoy wearing without breaking the bank. See: Chapters: 2, 5.

How to choose the best quality string of pearls?

Make a comparison between other similar strings of pearls, matching them in luster, size, shape, and color. This will characterize a string of top quality pearls. The Luster/Orient and Matching/Make are most important factors. All these are detailed below in alphabetical order. See: Chapters: 2, 5.

How to take care of your pearls?

Wear your pearls and wash them regularly.

Have them re-strung professionally, depending on how often you use them.

Take extra care if you have an acidic skin.

Keep your pearls away from perfumes and hair sprays, as your pearls may die! See: Chapters: 3, 5.

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KIMBERLEY COAST AUSTRALIA

                                    PEARL DIVERS

CHAPTER: 2

IMPORTANT POINTS

Selecting quality, natural colored freshwater or saltwater cultured pearls, and *mabé.   

Knowledge is the key to protecting yourself and your investment. The purpose of ‘Pearls of Creation’ is to illustrate the variety of pearls available worldwide, to help you to understand why good quality pearls are expensive, and to teach you how to appraise and select the best quality, for the price you are able to afford.

If possible, purchase your pearls in the morning before Midday, preferably in natural, indirect sunlight. Bring a white cloth along on which to display them. Pearls are classified into different categories according to their complexion, grading, luster, nacre thickness, orient, shape, size, surface skin quality, and weight etc.

Four classifications exist for surface quality:

A - A flawless, quality, fine pearl, with high brilliance / clarity of nacre = EXCEPTIONAL.

B - Pearls, which are less brilliant, and have 2 or 3 surface flaws = GOOD.

C - Pearls that are somewhat dull or have shallow pinpricks or scratches = AVERAGE.

D - Pearls, which are definitely dull or marred by deeper flaws = POOR.

It is a good idea to request a certificate of quality as proof of purchase and for insurance purposes. Even if certificates are not available from smaller dealers, the knowledge gained in this book, will allow you to test them yourselves, and feel confident with your purchase.

Qualified appraisers are not available at all Jewelry Stores, and not all persons who sell pearls are qualified to appraise pearls. Worldwide terminology, advice, choices, and prices differ.

My advice is to follow your heart, and your personal preferences when purchasing pearls.

The most important points to remember when selecting quality pearls, in alphabetical order are:

Buy the best pearls you can afford which match your coloring, your type of wardrobe, and which will give you pleasure when wearing them.

Complexion / Surface Blemishes

Decorative jeweled clasps are expensive and can often be purchased separately.

Luster / Lustré / Orient / Quality

Matching / Make / Blending/ Color

Nacre /Purity/Spotting 

Shapes /Surface Blemishes/ Spotting

Size  is measured in gaps of 0.5mm

See: Chapter: 5.

Skillful jewelers can be very successful at mounting imperfect pearls by drilling directly into the flaw. Pearls on rings or brooches, etc. are always drilled, mounted and glued on a knurled ‘peg’, unlike diamonds which are mounted in ‘claws’.

When set in jewelry, pearls complement other stones, like diamonds or other gems. Interesting rings and pendants can be created by combining two different color pearls in a simple setting.

Beautiful natural color cultured pearls are only farmed in limited areas of the world’s oceans, atolls, lakes and rivers.

Quality, rarity, and variety of colors of exceptional pearls, increase the value of pearls.

A huge selection of freshwater and saltwater pearls, are available all over the world. Unfortunately, not everyone has the good fortune to travel ‘all over the world’ to buy them. The answer is to become knowledgeable about what is available locally.

Answers to all the questions you may have, the terminology used on pearl farms and in the ‘pearl world’, and many other interesting topics are presented in our book.

For interesting details of specific pearl farms in Australia, Fiji, Micronesia, New Zealand, Philippines, and the United States of America.

See: Chapters: 4, 5, and 6

CHAPTER: 3

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR PEARLS

Pearls are precious jewels, which add real style to your wardrobe.

It does not matter whether you are casually dressed, dressed for the office, or for any other ‘special’ occasion. There are pearls for every occasion, so treat them with