FUN FACTS ABOUT PEARLS
SIZE
Pearls are measured by their diameter in millimeters. Pearl size is one of the main factors that determines the price. When other value factors are the same, the larger the pearl, the greater its value. Even 1 mm difference in size can lead to a substantial jump in price. One of the factors that determines the size of a pearl is the species of the oyster that creates it.
SHAPE
Shape is one of the value factors that defines the price of a pearl. Generally, the more perfectly rounded the pearl is, the more expensive it is. Although there are many other shapes, like oval, button, drop and baroque shapes that can also be very valuable. However, this value is mainly reflected in personal preferences and in the design, rather than in the price of the pearl.
COLOR
The color of a pearl is one of the first things that are noticed, and it is one of the main features that determines one’s choice when buying a pearl. However, it doesn’t really affect the value of a pearl. Still, the combination of the different layers of colors is what makes pearls so mysterious, fascinating and beautiful.
There are different types of colors that can be potentially observed on a pearl:
BODY COLOR: the dominant, main color of the pearl
OVERTONE: it is a reflection of light through the various layers of nacre.
ORIENT: when there are more than 2 overtones that can be observed in the pearl, the pearl has an orient.
LUSTER
Luster defines the strength and quality of the shine of a pearl. The shinier a pearl is, the better its luster. When a pearl has a great luster, the light travels through its various layers of nacre, gets refracted and reflected not just from the surface of the pearl, but from within the pearl, creating a unique visual experience. Luster is one of the main factors that defines the value of a pearl.
SURFACE
As pearls are creations of nature, their surface is not always perfectly smooth. The closer they are to perfection, the more value they have. Pearls that have a clean surface without any blemishes, cracks, chalky spots, pits or wrinkles represent a higher value.
The pearls used in the Ivonne Hercia jewelry have the cleanest possible surfaces thanks to the rigorous pearl selection process in place. The only case when our pearls are not perfectly smooth is when it has an interesting and unique shape and color that gives an aesthetical value to the pearl and acts as a main feature in the design of the jewelry.
NACRE QUALITY
Nacre is a natural substance created by certain types of mollusks (clams, oysters and mussels. This is the same material that covers the inner surface of the shell, which is named mother of pearl.
The quality of the nacre is determined by its thickness. The thicker the nacre is, the higher its quality. When the nacre is very thin, it will affect the luster of the pearl, resulting in an almost matte, less shiny surface. The quality of the nacre also plays a role in its durability – the thicker the nacre is, the more durable and lasting the pearl is.
Furthermore, if the nacre is too thin, the bed can become visible in the middle of the pearl, appearing as a dark patch. This can look as if the pearl would be blinking at you as the thin nacre reveals the bead underneath. The dark patch itself takes away from the quality of the pearl but it also results in a weaker luster and a likelihood to chip, or peel.
MATCHING
Matching is a quality that describes the jewelry, rather than the individual pearls. It describes the extent of uniformity and harmony of the pearls in a given piece of jewelry. To evaluate the matching, all other value factors have to be taken into consideration: shape, luster, nacre quality, surface, size and color.
Setting up a beautifully matching piece is a form of art and can take a very long time until the designer collects all the pearls with which perfect harmony and matching can be reached in jewelry.