Category: Pearl Jewelry

For ages now pearls have been revered as a sign of status. Pearl jewellery can, however, be quite the expensive addition to your collection. Pearls are rated much like gems, and each different type of pearl will have a different value. Natural pearls are extremely rare and make the most expensive jewellery. These pearls are naturally created by hard-shelled mollusks in the wild. Matching strands of naturally occurring pearls is almost unheard of. Almost, if not all, naturally occurring pearls are purchased and sold by serious collectors because of their rarity.

There is an option, however, for jewellery lovers that don’t have the bank account of a collector: cultured pearls. Essentially cultured-pearls are grown by adding a bead and a piece of tissue into a shelled mollusk, or by grafting a piece of tissue from one mussel to another. In enabling the growth of the pearls for mass production, the rarity of the gem has been toned down for cultured pearls. They are still quite breathtaking, retaining the beauty and elegance you would expect from jewellery, yet at a significantly more affordable price. There are many types of cultured pearls, each one having a different value, and thus each one used creates pearl jewellery of different value. If you are a pearl lover it would be wise to get to know the different types of cultured-pearls.

The most expensive cultured-pearl jewellery would be made using the South Sea pearl. They have an insurmountable color of white, cream, and gold. South Sea pearls can grow to be quite large. The Tahitian pearls would be next in line for expensive pearl jewellery. These are sometimes referred to as Black South Sea-pearls. Next are the Akoya-pearls. The most inexpensive pearl jewellery is made using the freshwater pearl. Freshwater pearls have been cultured since the late 20’s, making it a fine-tuned art. All levels of cultured pearl jewellery have their own unique identifying features; just because the cost is less doesn’t necessarily mean the aesthetic value is affected. In addition to personal preference each type of pearl has a different look and feel, transferring this uniqueness to the jewellery it is used to create.

Pearls have a variety of colors and sizes. Luxurious, mirror-reflective, pink Akoya pearl jewellery would make an amazing addition to the jewellery box. If you are going with one color spectrum though, don’t forget to include some dazzling black Tahitian as well.

Pearls will continue to be synonymous with elegance and class. They will always be a dazzling sign of status; however that status no longer has to be defined by income.

Freshwater pearls originate from freshwater mussels, which live in ponds, lakes and rivers. Traditionally, they are produced in Japan and the United States on small scales but currently China dominates the freshwater pearl market. Production has greatly improved from the 1990s through to 2000s in China. According to the Times Online, China produces approximately 90% of pearl necklaces globally and with 1,600 tonnes of pearls produced annually, accounting for more than 95 per cent of world pearl production.

Prior to the 90s, China was accused for undermining the pearl market with poor quality pearls. Over the last two decades, China starts to commercial its pearl production processes and investing in R&D to eliminate mussel related diseases. China is now making much higher quality pearls at low costs, stirring its counterpart pearl markets. The high-end pearls from China are freshwater farmed, a process that has become increasingly automated, allowing producers to sell their pearls at lower prices.

While the Chinese freshwater pearls are not the same as the saltwater forms, they do make the gems more affordable to the average consumers. The price gap reveals remaining differences in hue and lustre between saltwater pearls and freshwater pearls. It is very easy for a jeweller to spot these differences when comparing freshwater pearls against saltwater pearls.

A white south sea pearl necklace strandis gleaming with silvery white pearls whereas an equivalent size freshwater pearl necklace with similar blemish free pearls will have a slightly chalky hue. This is largely due to the species of mussels used. Freshwater mussels are usually pinky or orangey on the insides, resulting in less than whiter pearls. However, freshwater pearl necklace with great shape and surface costs much less than south sea pearl necklace or Tahitian pearl necklace, sometimes at about 10 times less or more.

Affordability aside, freshwater pearls have solid nacre, making them quite durable, resisting chipping, wear, and degeneration under normal wearing conditions.

Jewelry making
Pearl, being a symbol of unblemished perfection, is the queen of all gems for its elegance, natural beauty and forever attraction. Unlike other gemstones, pearls can be directly used in jewelry making. They are often used to make rings, bracelets, pendants, bangles and pearl Wholesale beads inserted in other gemstones. Pearl jewelry can be extremely expensive and relatively cheap too. Pearls mainly fall into two types: cultured ones and natural ones. It’s self-evident that natural ones are much dealer than cultured ones. The pearls come in a wide range of colors and shades consisting of red, white, ice cream white, purple, pink, brown, and black and so on. All kinds of shapes are available in the market varying from round, semi-round, oval, to teardrop, button and circled etc. Pearl jewelry wins great popularity in the market for it can immediately increase the femininity, elegance of a woman with a relatively low price.

Medicinal use
Pearls have been used in medicinal purposes since 2,000 years ago in China. In ancient times, pearls were crushed in powder. At present, pearl powder and capsule are available. Pearls can be taken orally or used externally. With respect to internal taken, it can bring five main advantages for people. First, it can increase immunity. Pearl powder contains as many as eighteen amino-acids including leucine, methionine, and lactamic acid and so on, while amino-acids are the necessary elements for one’s immunity. Second, the main component of pearls is calcium which makes up 90%-92% of pearls. The calcium is natural and actively absorbed. Third, it can make people young forever. Pearls contain trace elements like Manganese, copper and zinc which are the basic components of SOD preventing aging of skin. Fourth, taking pearls is good for one’s sleep. Fifth, it can also help clearing heat and detoxicating. As for the external use, it’s mainly for the beauty purpose. It’s is known to all that pearl powder can whiten skin, remove acne, get rid of blackhead and speckles. What’s more, it plays a great roll in recover from cut wound and scald. This is also the reason why women are particularly fond of pearls.

Accessories
Due to its beauty and practicality, pearls are also used as accessories on many objects. We can often see that clothes, hair accessories, door curtains are embellished with pearls. With the fashion updating, pearls are used as a fashion statement on many other things such as knife hilts, cigarette holders, pearls-handled guns which fully shows personality, taste and wealth to some degree.

These are the main three uses of pearls. Of course, there are many other uses like religion offerings in somewhere especially in sea area. All in all, pearls are gifts endowed by the nature. Human beings fully make use of pearls to bring beauty, health and happiness to people’s life.

Pearl is the astrological gemstone of Moon or Chandra Graha as known in Vedic Literature. Pearl is an organic gemstone and has hardness of 2.5-4.5 on the Mohrs Scale. It has a Specific Gravity of 2.60-2.85 and is primarily known for its luster. Pearl is known as Mukta in sanskrit, Moti in Hindi, Pearl in English and Murabeed in Urdu.

Pearl gemstone is essentially a compound of Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and is commonly referred to as a living gemstone. Pearls are available in different shades from creamy white to golden and from blue, pink to blackish grey. These colors also correspond to the four varnas or types of Pearl that can be classified into. For astrological purposes Pearls are of 3 types viz, Natural, Cultured and Keshi. Each of them works equally effectively and based upon ones budget one may choose the best.

Pearls are cultured in China, India, Burma, Japan, Tahiti, USA and South China Sea. Highest quality Pearls are the South China cultured pearls which are famous for their top notch luster and thick nacre coating. High quality and authentic Pearls are most auspicious and sought after.

Brahmin Varna – Pearls that are creamy white in color belong to the Brahmin Varna and these are the ones that resemble the color of tusks of an elephant or a conch shell. These whitish Pearls are suitable to be worn by those who are engaged in teaching, consultations and other spiritual practices. Wearing such white colored Pearls makes the person very peaceful in nature and gives spiritual inclinations. These pearls are most expensive as the white color is most desirable and round shape makes them even more exquisite.

Kshatriya Varna Pearls that have a reddish hue are known as Kshatriya Pearls. These gems should be worn by those who seek power and position as wearing such gems gives administrative powers. These gems should be worn by people engaged in politics, administration, and bureaucracy and by those who occupy high positions. Wearing such pearls makes a person very active and they become go-getters in life.

Vaishya Varna – Pearls that are deep yellow or golden in color or resembling the color of the gold are the vaishya varna. These gems are suited for those involved in trade, business and those who are self-employed and own some kind of business or organization. These kinds of gems should be worn by people who only seek to amass wealth and are primarily engaged with finances, loans, mortgages and insurance.Such gems have very high prices since there is a saying that whosoever dons a yellow/golden pearl always has Sri Mahalakshmi (Goddess of Wealth & Fortune) by his side. This variety of gem is most sought after their whitish counterparts.

Shudra Varna – Pearls that are blackish grey in color are known as shudra varna and these gems are the cheapest amongst all the Pearls. Such gems are worn by those who are engaged in some kind of service or to people who offer their services and talents on a professional basis. They must be worn by people working in financial institutions. Wearing such Pearls is very helpful for those who seek employment and require stability in life. These gems are very cheap. These pearls can also be worn by those who are born with a combust moon or on amavasya tithi.

One of the oldest grains is barley and this grain is extremely versatile. It used to be cultivated as a cereal grain in the traditional days by nomadic tribes before people started using it in brewing of beer. Barley is known to be a great source of complex carbohydrates, proteins and fiber while it is also full of vitamins. Barley has an unique flavor and can be used for different purposes and this will include in stews, soups, casseroles, curries, desserts as well as salads. It is also low in fat as well as no cholesterol. If you wish to know how to cook barley you first have to get familiar with several basics. It is available in many forms and the nosy common one is the pearl barley which has the outer hull removed.

Pearl barley is classified into two namely the regular one and the easy to cook one. Pearl barley can be used in making hot cereals in a similar way as making oatmeal. Baked goods can also use pearl barley. Parley barley can be prepared using different recipes an example being the soothing barley and chicken soup recipe and after using this you will never ask how do you cook pearl barley again. This recipe requires you to have a couple of ingredients.

These ingredients will include 4 large chicken thighs, 6 cups chicken stock, 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms, 1 medium peeled and diced onion, canned tomatoes with the juice, 1 tablespoons olive oil, ? cup pearl washed barley, 4 medium peeled and diced carrots, 2 cloves freshly minced garlic, 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley leaves, ? tablespoon oregano, ? tablespoon basil, ? tablespoon thyme as well as salt and pepper to taste. You can now start to cook the pearl barley starting with placing a big pot on medium heat and pouring 1 tablespoon olive oil.

The chicken thighs are then supposed to be added when their skin is facing down and wait for them to turn golden brown. The 2 cups of the stock should then be added and the heat reduced to medium low. This mixture should be covered and left to cook for approx 40 minutes. The cooked chicken can now be removed and put aside for cooling and later refrigerate it. You should then use the remaining stock with 2 cloves of freshly minced garlic, ? cup pearl barley, ? a teaspoon each of basil, thyme and oregano, 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms, 4 medium sized peeled and diced carrots, 1 peeled and diced onion as well as 1 can of tomatoes with its juice.

This mixture is then supposed to be covered and cooked for about 1 ? hours on low heat and this should be until the barley and the vegetables are properly cooked. The chicken should then be taken out of refrigeration and its skin removed while discarding its bones. The meat should then be chopped and added to the already cooking soup during the last hour of the cooking process. The salt and pepper can then be added to the soup to taste. Regular check ups are required for determining the consistency of the soup especially its thickness and if it is too thick you can add water. Garnish the dish using the finely chopped parsley.