If you’ve ever attempted to buy pearls, you’ll already understand the muddle you can soon find yourself in. Purchasing pearls isn’t an insurmountable task, but for those just starting out, it would be nice to have someone with a little expertise guiding one through what can and should ultimately be a pleasant time. For more in-depth coverage into buying pearl jewelry you will need to consult other sources, such as our Learning Center, but read on for some basic hints to help you through your first pearl buying experience.

First thing to know

Unless a set of pearls is labeled as natural, you can assume they are “cultured pearls.” If you’ve ever thought of freshwater pearls as cultured, and any other pearl not cultured, well, that’s not correct, since Akoya, Tahitian, South Sea and Freshwater pearls are all cultured. Consult a knowledgeable dealer or jeweler who will refer to pearls by their correct pearl type if you want to avoid confusion.

Figure out your parameters

You’ll need to decide what sort of pearl you need before you begin looking. Think about how you’ll be wearing them, whether at formal affairs or to the workplace. Your personal style will inform you, as well as how much you want to spend. A strand of pearls can range from thirty-five dollars, to thirty-five thousand dollars, so you’ll want to look among the choices you can afford.

Cultured pearl types

• Akoya: These are the classic white pearls which are known for their metallic, almost mirror-like luster, and their perfectly round shape. Although they are usually thought of as white pearls, they are also offered in dyed “black” versions, in a range of hues. They range from sixty-one to three thousand dollars.
• Tahitian: The only naturally “black” pearls, which range in color from silver to dark green, with multicolored peacock hues being the most popular choice. They can be seen in perfectly round to more commonly off-round shapes, and are mostly larger sized, from eight to sixteen millimeters. They can go for one hundred twenty to more than ten thousand dollars.
• South Seas: These large pearls, which range from nine to eighteen millimeters, can be anything from a silky silver to a deep gold, and are the most expensive of all the cultured pearls. Since they are so large and so valuable, they are often showcased in pendants, rings and earrings. They range from four hundred to thirty thousand dollars, the latter being for a full strand of them.
• Freshwater: Because of their long history and their recent rise in popularity as their culture has evolved this past century, this category of pearls is perhaps the most interesting. Long considered costume jewelry, due to inferior farming methods, they were widely available, but poorly regarded. Since the Chinese have improved culturing techniques, we now find Gem Grade Freshwater pearls commanding the prestige of Hanadama grade Akoyas in quality, and South Sea pearls in size. People who know and love pearls now consider high quality Freshwater pearls to be the cultured pearl of choice. They come in sizes from two to eighteen millimeters in size, and they can have colors from natural lavender to pink to bright white, so there can be one style found to suit anybody. They range from forty-five to fifteen hundred dollars.

Think about colors
Now that there are so many colors to choose from, this aspect of how to buy pearls can be a challenge. Anything from white to lavender, gold, pink, green, blue, purple, and every shade in between can be seen in natural and in treated form. If you only purchase one pearl necklace, then many think it should be the classic white. It goes with everything, and can go everywhere with you. It’s a good one to start out with. So-called “black” pearls aren’t really black, but their dark surface reflects with shades of gray, green, and blue, working well with darker skin tones and lending themselves to an exotic look. The pink, peach and lavender shades are always fun, and can be both appropriate for the younger flirty style, or matched well with an outfit, transform themselves into a sophisticated look for an older woman.

Color is such a personal choice, and since it doesn’t affect the price of the pearl, you can let your imagination and taste lead you to any color you desire. Check out our pearl color page to see some of the choices.
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Silver is a very valuable metal and has gained immense popularity in the recent times. The value of silver seems to be going up steadily and more and more people are investing in silver these days as this is also the right time to invest in silver. The price of silver keeps fluctuating owing to the demand and hence most people look at silver as a good investment option. To get the best deals in silver the smart shoppers prefer to purchase silver jewelry wholesale from one of the many online stores.

Purchasing silver jewelry wholesale from any of the online stores has its own advantages. You need not go from one place to another looking for great pieces of jewelry. It is easier to sit within the comfort of your home and make your selection online and order for the jewelry of your choice. Purchasing directly from the wholesalers has its advantages. All online purchases are secure and you are assured of the quality as well. However, you must check on the reputation of the seller prior to making a purchase.

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If there is one wedding symbol that we can all recognize, it is the wedding ring. The wedding ring has, for as long as we have known it, been the longstanding symbol of love between a man and a woman. It stands for undying love and eternal affection. This isn’t just an idea to incorporate a form of jewelry into the wedding ceremony; wedding rings have a long and rich history behind them, coming from different areas and early cultures of the world.

One of the early cultures to go into the practice and tradition of wearing rings were the early Egyptians. Their wedding rings were made out of the reeds from the river Nile. They plaited and twisted the reeds into rings and bracelets from the river they held in high esteem. This is what they believed to be the bringer of all their fortune and life and they symbolized their love using what the river had given them.
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For years, when an announcement of an engagement or wedding has been made, the focus of curiosity had always been directed to the bride’s wedding ring. This is because of the notion that the bride’s wedding ring is the one that is studded with different gems and has intricate and wonderful design, while the groom’s is just a simple band. Typically, men’s wedding rings are just bands made out of different materials without any gems or other intricacies. However, these simple bands have started to become more stylish and sophisticated while retaining the manly appeal. The following are three simple tips and considerations to help you in choosing men’s wedding rings or engagement rings.

Can you wear it while working?
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“Best E-Tailers”
For custom work, Whiteflash.com is the lord of the online rings. Unlike many e-tailers, Whiteflash customizes nearly half its jewelry.

Five measures of perfection

You’ve heard of the traditional four “C”s to size up a diamond – carat, clarity, color and cut. Some of the best diamond-raters have added a fifth “C” to that list: cut grade. Use these measures to make sure you get the right diamond for your needs, especially when buying one sight unseen.
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