Pearl Earring

There are many fashion icons in the history of the world - Marie Antoinette, Coco Chanel, Versace and Jackie Onassis. It was "Jackie O" who captivated the world when she was first lady of the United States. At that time her "pillbox" hats and pearl jewelry were viewed as the epitome of chic and elegance. Today no wardrobe is complete without the perfect strand of pearls and the best pearl earrings.

How does a fashion conscious person know what makes a pearl earring "perfect." Just as shopping for diamonds requires knowledge of the famous "four Cs," shopping for pearls requires an understanding of what points indicate a great pearl. The first thing to consider about pearls is their origins - seawater, freshwater, cultivated and natural are all types of pearls determined by their source. Each of these sources can radically change the price of the pearls, and for some the differences are known only by the owner. For example, a strand of cultured pearls may be nearly impossible to differentiate from a strand of natural pearls. The main difference is going to be in the cost for the item, and it will always be far less expensive to seek out cultured pearls.

Pearl earrings can be made from pearls of all types including freshwater and saltwater pearls. The appearance of freshwater pearls always distinguishes them from the saltwater because they are seed shaped rather than spherical and they tend to be smaller in order to remain affordable. Most pearl experts and admirers tend to agree that the round pearls are the most desirable. Generally, any type of pearl is going to increase in price as it increases in size.

Also like diamonds, pearls can suffer from "inclusions" which are simply blemishes that mar their surface. The fewer inclusions that can be seen on the pearl, the more valuable it can become. Obviously, a pair of pearl earrings that contains a single, large, round pearl with no inclusions is going to be far more desirable and expensive than a smaller and flawed pair.

A final factor to consider with pearl jewelry is "matching"; this is trickier than it sounds because pearls are not usually made to a specific shape or size and can be difficult to match up for a nicely balanced piece of jewelry. The price of a necklace increases with the quality of the "matching" done by the jeweler.

A majority of "precious" gems are the province of gemologists, but it is to jewelers that a shopper should turn to with questions about pearls. It is the jewelers who rate the pearls used to create strands of pearls and pearl earrings and they can offer the best advice to shoppers.