South Sea Pearls - A
Piece of Undying Romance
There
is something about the pearl that captures your imagination and touches your
heart. May be it has something to do with the old stories of how the oyster
spent its life giving birth to the perfect pearl or may be it has something to
do with the lustrous perfection of the rounded pearl, so smooth, rich and
adorable. Whatever the reason, it is no exaggeration to say that pearls
perfectly encapsulate romance, wonder, beauty and mystique. Not surprisingly
then, pearls are one of the world’s most enduring precious gems. Of these, South Sea Pearls are the most valuable
and revered.
South Sea Pearls have the perfect luster and size for
the perfect piece of jewelry. These beauties are the epitome of valor and romance,
reminding you of impossible dreams, dangerous dives, and perilous treasure
hunts, changing destinies and lasting love.
One
of the reasons for this passionate admiration for South Sea Pearls is the nature of its birth. South Sea Pearls are
very difficult to culture because the South Sea Pearl Oyster (Pinctada Maxima)
is an extremely sensitive creature that needs its freedom in the wild to
produce the pearl. However, natural pearls are very much a thing of the past.
So, experts have been able to culture South Sea Pearls by mastering the
intricacies of the South Sea Oyster. These days, artificially created South Sea
Pearls of equivalent quality are available in the market. But, even when these
oysters are grown in hatcheries, they need to be released into the wild for a
few years if they are to produce pearls. Warm, uncontaminated waters and
peaceful, unruffled existence seem to be a prerequisite for producing these
pearls. Like a great artist perfecting his art to the minutest detail, the
oyster works in perfect conditions to yield the perfect pearl. The oyster
naturally grows to a great size, so its pearls are substantial in size. That is
why these pearls have been cherished as the most valuable of all pearls.
Every
pearl is evaluated on the basis of certain characteristics. These are called
the Virtues of the pearl. They include:
Ø
Complexion
Ø
Shape
Ø
Natural
Luster
Ø
Surface
Ø
Size
Pearls
come in various shades but the most coveted pearls are the rare white rose
pearls found in the waters of Australia. Of course, white pearls too are very
popular, but not as expensive.
It
is very rare to get perfectly rounded natural pearls. Fortunately, the
voluptuous shape of natural South Sea
Pearls is just as captivating when they are Baroque or semi-baroque.
South
Sea Pearls have a defining luster and they exhibit a gentle glow that markedly
distinguishes them from the rest of the pearl family.
Flawless
pearls fetch more money. However, natural pearls always have their
distinguishing marks and these marks are just as essential to the beauty of the
pearl as are natural shapes and shades.
When
it comes to pearls, any pearl size matters. Large pearls are scarce. Pearls
that are of approximately 18mm diameter are very rare indeed and expensive too.
Since
South Sea Pearls are so rare, it is
difficult to gather enough pearls to make a necklace. But when completed such a
jewel is truly stunning which also explains why these pearls are so
unbelievably expensive.
