on Jul 22nd, 2008The Elegant, Odd Forms of Freshwater Pearl Jewelry
The Elegant, Odd Forms of Freshwater Pearl Jewelry
Freshwater pearl jewelry has existed as long as humans have known about freshwater pearls for thousands of years, in fact.
Historically, perfectly spherical pearls have commanded the highest prices in the market. They are the rarest of an already rare gem. While freshwater mussels, like their salt-water cousins, can produce spherical pearls, the typical freshwater pearl is a freeform shape. The pearls can come out roughly spheroid, or even teardrop shape, but others come out with a lovely furrowed texture and shapes that dont fit in any category.
Besides unique shapes, freshwater mussels produce pearls in more colors than salt-water mussels. Freshwater pearl jewelry can come in a range of colors from a luminous dark grey through blue, lavender, green, pink, and champagne.
Furthermore, freshwater pearl jewelry sometimes has a price advantage because it is easier to gather up one hundred irregular pearls than one hundred round pearls of identical size. Not to mention, artists are finding great ways to freshwater pearl jewelry that is truly one of a kind.
Necklaces
Chokers or collars made of tightly massed small seed pearls or pill-shaped pearls have already become a modern classic. They look like luminous pebbles, but without the matronly aspect that some women associate with round pearls.
Earrings
Teardrop-shaped gems have long been one of a jewelers best-selling items. Especially in earrings, teardrops look elegant dangling from a fine chain. Pearls are no different. In fact, some people prefer the irregular shapes and color range from freshwater pearls.
Stick Shape
Originally produced only in Japans Lake Biwa, one of the most unusual pearl shapes is the stick shape. These gems can be up to an inch long and sometimes as narrow as a matchstick. As irregular, natural products, stick pearls sometimes taper and sometimes look wrinkled. Freshwater pearl jewelry employs stick pearls drilled along either the long or short axis, or even with two small holes in one end so it can dangle. Indeed this is a very versatile form.
What Shape?
Pearls also come in a shape best described as amoeba. These gems, which look organic enough to be living creatures, must be the focal point if they are incorporated into any piece of freshwater pearl jewelry. But they are probably the opposite of jewelry tradition. Sometimes these amoeba pearls come in shapes that are pleasing to one eye and bizarre to another. A piece of freshwater pearl jewelry made out of a gem like that must be personally selected by the wearer.
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