Since ancient times, the sophistication of pearl products has amazed and captivated the eyes of men and women. The mysterious birth of pearls has made the jewel one of the most mysterious. Not all representatives of the fair sex can control the magical properties of pearls, because only a strong, self-confident girl can cope with them.
Pearl is born in a very unusual way - in the shell of a mollusk. Once in the shell, the foreign body is simply overgrown with nacre, becoming a real pearl. However, not many people know that not only sea mollusks can create pearls, but also river mollusks. Freshwater or river pearls are very different from sea pearls, and the difference is not only in price:
- A pearl born in the sea shines much brighter due to the high salt content in the water.
- The color of freshwater pearl will be less pronounced, while sea pearl will be white as snow.
- The shape of a sea pearl is always extremely round, while a river pearl can have an oval shape and be extremely uneven.
Of course, freshwater pearls are not as attractive as sea pearls, but they still have their value and beauty, unlike cheap fake jewelry. How to distinguish cultured pearls from artificial ones?
How to distinguish fake pearls?
There are many different methods for detecting counterfeit. By resorting to basic tests, you can distinguish a fake from a piece of jewelry.
- It is often recommended to try pearls “for the tooth”. A real jewel will creak in your mouth.
- Having rubbed natural pearls, dust will form between them, but fake pearls will damage each other.
- Having tried on this product, you will feel a slight coolness even on the hottest and stuffiest day. The fake decoration will not show itself in any way and will rather be at room temperature.
- Of course, an x-ray will help to 100% accurately determine the naturalness of a pearl jewelry, which will see the contents of the pearl.
- Real cultured pearls, unlike fake ones, cannot have a perfectly even and smooth surface; on the contrary, each pearl is unique, has roughness, abrasions, uneven edges and individual shine.
- Natural cultured pearls glow green under ultraviolet rays. The artificial one does not glow at all.
- You can distinguish black pearls from fakes using the following methods. Also pay attention to the edges of the drilled hole of the bead; a smooth and even edge is a sign of a fake.
You can purchase products with real pearls by visiting the online store of natural precious and ornamental stones in St. Petersburg. Here you will find a wide selection of jewelry inlaid with precious gems and minerals, learn how to distinguish natural pearls from artificial ones (photo), how to choose a talisman stone and choose an amulet that attracts money!
Eleonora Brik
Exquisite pearl jewelry has long been adorning the female body, endowing the owner with a mysterious charm and emphasizing the sophistication of her image. In Eastern countries, precious stones are a measure of a person’s social status, telling about the spiritual values and worldview of the owner of the mineral. Only strong-willed people can cope with the inexplicable magical properties of pearls, so not all female representatives are suitable for an energetically powerful stone as a body accessory.
Pearls appear as a result of a foreign body entering the shell of a mollusk, which over time “overgrows” with nacre, acquiring rounded outlines. Organic minerals bring longevity, prosperity and beauty to the owner, and have a healing effect on the body. Stones stabilize intestinal function, improve the condition of the nervous system, respond to changes in acid balance, detecting the formation of tumors no worse than medical equipment. Pearl jewelry fades in a short period of time if a person develops cancer.
Queen Cleopatra of Egypt drank a cup of pomegranate juice every day with the addition of crumbs of sea pearls.
According to historians, such an “elixir” helped the ruler maintain natural beauty and youth for a long time.
Current ways to distinguish real pearls from artificial minerals
The level of demand for pearls determined the appearance in stores of artificial fakes that imitate the structural features of an organic mineral.
Silver brooch with pearls and cubic zirconia, SL; silver brooch with pearls, SL; (price on the link)
Reliable ways to know the difference between a gemstone and a cultured pearl:
Lack of thermal conductivity properties, because pearls are a cold stone.
The rough coating of the mineral differs from the smooth surface of fake jewelry.
If you rub “peas” of pearls against each other, crumbs or dust will form, which is not typical for artificial materials.
Natural products are heavier than hollow fakes.
Round-shaped pearl stones bounce when dropped on the floor, while synthetic “peas” do not have such properties.
Natural pearls vary in place of origin, as they can be obtained from both marine and freshwater shells. Such products have different prices, so when choosing stones, pay attention to the structural features of the mineral.
The process of stone formation inside shells is the same for both natural and cultivated minerals.
However, the influence of seawater, which contains much more organic matter, changes the visual characteristics of pearls, determining the cost of jewelry."
The main differences between sea pearls and river minerals
Saltwater pearls differ in cost from freshwater stones, so when purchasing expensive jewelry, you need to be sure of the origin of the mineral. In the 21st century, several proven methods are known that allow one to visually determine the habitat of the shells from which mother-of-pearl is extracted.
Silver ring with pearls and cubic zirconia, SL; (price on the link)
The visual characteristics of the stones will help the buyer to distinguish sea pearls from river minerals:
Shine. Mother of pearl, formed in the shells of sea mollusks, shimmers in the light, and river minerals often have a matte surface.
Color. The shades of sea pearls, unlike river stones, are rich and monochromatic.
Surface. The coating of products formed in salt water is much smoother and the shape is more rounded than the texture of “peas” from fresh water bodies.
Time. River stones retain their original appearance for many years, but on products made from sea minerals, abrasions and roughness are noticeable.
You can identify sea or river pearls by visually inspecting the stone. The main thing is to remember the above rules to help you make a choice in favor of the option you need. In the photo it is impossible to distinguish an organic mineral by origin, because illustrations are often processed using special programs on a computer. You should only choose pearl jewelry in jewelry stores, where, in the presence of a sales consultant, you have the opportunity to look at the product, touch the stone, paying attention to the texture of the mother-of-pearl.
When purchasing bracelets, necklaces and pendants made from pearl peas, consider the degree of matching of the stones.
Jewelry made from sea mother of pearl is more expensive due to the similarity of the round shapes of pearls, in contrast to river minerals.
Purchasing gemstones is a significant financial investment, so before purchasing, be sure to ensure the authenticity of the organic mineral. Knowing how to determine the origin of a stone presented in a store, you can have no doubt about the quality of the jewelry.
November 25, 2014, 11:50And where is it mined? This is definitely not a mineral or a natural stone. These are deposits inside a sea oyster or in river shells, covered with mother-of-pearl. There are freshwater and sea pearls.
How to distinguish river pearls from sea pearls, how much do jewelry made from natural pearls cost, does it have magical properties and who is it suitable for? You will learn about all this from the article.
What are natural pearls and what are they like?
Let's start with the fact that natural pearls cannot be completely identical. Firstly, these are beads of different colors, ranging from white mother-of-pearl to black and even pink. Secondly, the sizes and shapes differ.
How to check naturalness? Pay attention to the quality of the surface. If these are natural pearls, then they necessarily have a rough surface, are quite heavy and cool.
Which pearls are more valuable - river and sea pearls, are there any differences or are they far-fetched? From the name it becomes clear that sea pearls are formed in the sea, in salt water. River - in mollusks from freshwater.
Unlike sea beads, river beads are more affordable. The reason is simple. The process of cultivating beads in freshwater rivers takes less time. In the mantle of mollusks, 12-20 beads are grown at once, while no more than two or three foreign bodies can be introduced into a sea oyster.
How much does a natural pearl cost on average? It all depends on the shape, size, cultivation method. The price can range from several hundred dollars to several tens of thousands.
Production in Russia yesterday and today
Once upon a time, Russian pearls became famous throughout the world. There was so much of it that there was enough for everyone, including for export. Delicate natural beads were used to decorate royal clothes and crowns, icons and kokoshniks, and the wedding dresses of noble ladies could not do without them.
Freshwater pearls, black, silver, white, and even with a greenish tint, were actively used in Russia to create designer jewelry. At that time they were:
- earrings;
- rings;
- necklace;
- bracelets;
- beads;
- brooches, etc.
The most valuable material was considered to be extracted from Karelian rivers. Pearls from this area had a unique bluish and silvery glow. It is noteworthy that a lady with any level of income could afford a bracelet or pendant with natural pearls. The jewelry of both the queen and simple fisher girls, each of which had several threads, was equally highly valued.
The uniqueness of products in Russia in the 19th century is mentioned in the description of a visit to the Nizhny Novgorod province of a German researcher. He wrote about how much he was amazed by the beauty of the whitish or yellow, soft blue and even black jewelry worn by Russian women. The higher the lady's position, the more items she wore. This made an indelible impression on the foreigner.
In those days, the mother of Russian pearls was the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera. Dozens of provinces traded on pearl rivers. These are Arkhangelsk, Siberian, Yaroslavl, St. Petersburg, etc. Shellfish production was especially active in Karelia and the Kola Peninsula.
Not so often, but Margaritifera margaritifera was found in the Moscow region. In which rivers were shellfish harvested? The pearl mussel was found in the basin of the Dnieper, Amur and tributaries of the Volga. In total, there were up to 150 pearl-bearing rivers in the country, half of which were used for fishing on a large scale. A third of the production at that time came from the provinces in the northern part of the country.
Today in Russia they do not figure out which pearls are best in the country; they are mined mainly on an experimental basis in Karelia. Every year the state treasury is replenished with hundreds of pearls of the highest quality.
How are pearls mined these days? More than 25 years ago, they began to use delicate methods of influencing mollusks with partial opening of the valves, allowing them to be left alive. Near the Northern capital there is a reserve for the protection of fish of the salmon family and mollusks. In 2006, research work was carried out on its territory for the presence of margaritane. Several populations of no more than a few dozen adults were discovered.
Are there pearl mussels today in the previously “prolific” Novgorod region? So far, mollusks have been found only in one river, and the number of individuals is no more than a thousand; all of them are on the verge of extinction due to their replacement by pearl barley, which is less demanding on environmental conditions.
So what is the difference between past centuries and modern times, why did the country's pearl reserves dry up? It's all about the salmon. There is too much demand for them. Pearl mussels can only exist in rivers where salmon live. After all, larvae develop on their gills.
Is there a possibility that the mining industry will be revived at its previous level?
Work is underway to revive it. To do this, they are establishing the process of breeding salmon and protecting freshwater rivers suitable for the life and development of pearl mussels.
What is the difference between freshwater pearls and sea pearls?
Returning to the topic of differences, including from the photo, between sea and river pearls, let’s determine the main points:
- Shine. Sea pearls emit a brighter glow in daylight, while river beads appear dull and almost matte in comparison.
- Form. Freshwater pearls, like natural stones, by the way, have an irregular shape. Sea beads also rarely have ideal parameters, but still look more neat. In addition, river beads are often oval-shaped, while sea beads are predominantly round.
- Price. Important difference. Sea pearls are always more expensive than river pearls. Why? This was mentioned above.
- Nacre. Another significant indicator. Sea beads have a thinner coating, on average from 0.5 to 6 mm. This explains the abrasions that occur over time. Freshwater pearls are made almost entirely of mother-of-pearl, which means they last longer and require minimal care.
You can also distinguish between freshwater and sea pearls by analyzing their sizes. Freshwater specimens are usually smaller than marine specimens. Previously, cultured freshwater pearls were grown for several years, which negatively affected the quality of the coating, shape, and of course, size. Not long ago, the growing period was extended to 6 years, which made it possible to correct the situation and achieve almost complete identity of pearls with sea pearls in shape and size.
The magical properties of freshwater pearls
People have believed in the magic of natural river pearls since the first acquaintance with them. It was believed that mother-of-pearl products would help one live happily ever after and reward the owner with strength of mind and body.
Psychics confirm the powerful energy of pearls, claiming that people of any age can wear jewelry with them with equal benefit.
Many believe in the properties of freshwater pearls to attract love; they are sincerely convinced that products with mother-of-pearl beads will help you meet your soulmate and live happily ever after with them for many years.
There are also some signs regarding freshwater pearls. It is believed that they should not be owned by people with a nomadic lifestyle, as well as families with small children.
Who is suitable for pearl jewelry?
So, who can wear freshwater pearls? Astrologers recommend wearing jewelry for representatives of the water signs of the zodiac. That is, the beads will feel most harmonious in life:
- Rakov;
- Scorpios;
- Aquarius.
Other signs (do not forget that beads are intended more for the female half of humanity) can also wear pearls, but without much hope for an energetic relationship.
The exception is black river pearls. It is recommended to be worn by strong signs Leo and Aries for peace of mind and tranquility.
How to clean pearls at home and how to store them
Natural freshwater pearls are stronger than sea pearls, but they are not stone; they are vulnerable and subject to destruction over time. To extend the life of mother-of-pearl beads, you need to follow simple operating rules and provide delicate and regular care.
For example, to maintain the shine of a pearl, you need to clean it from time to time. Under no circumstances should this be done with cleaning agents or vinegar. The latter will corrode the layers of mother-of-pearl and will be certain death for the jewelry (some people use it to check whether pearls are real or not).
Clean products with warm soapy water and a soft cloth. Before storing in a box (kept separately), the pearls are allowed to dry and rubbed thoroughly.
How to care for pearls
How to care for pearls according to folk recipes? Potato starch or a teaspoon of salt diluted in a glass of water will help. They replace soap solution.
A separate box for storing pearl jewelry is not enough. For a complete set, take care of the accompanying protective fabrics. These could be:
- silk;
- atlas.
It is important that the materials are not only natural, but also unpainted. Is heat dangerous for pearls? It happens, so take care of the beads from drying out in the summer, store them next to a glass of water. And also, if you do not want to shorten the life of your pearl jewelry, never store it hanging without a case or box.
You have learned what freshwater pearls look like and how they differ from sea pearls; now you definitely won’t go wrong when purchasing products. Share the article with your friends! See you again!
Team LyubiKamni
South Sea pearls are cultivated in the waters of Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar (Burma), Japan and Thailand.
The oyster that gives birth to this type of pearl is called Pinctada Maxima and often has golden edges, for which it is called “golden-lipped.”
No other type of pearl reaches the size of South Sea pearls. As a rule, the diameter of pearls varies from 10 to 18 mm, less often up to 20 mm, and some collectible specimens, mostly having a baroque shape, can reach 25-30 mm or more.
South Sea pearls are the most expensive of all types of cultured pearls, due to their size and color, which can be white, white-pink, silver, cream, and also have golden hues or a rich gold color.
This variety of colors depends on the type of mollusk Pinctada Maxima. Oysters with silver lips produce pearls in white, silver and bluish overtones, while oysters with golden lips produce pearls in cream, vanilla and champagne tones.
The history of South Sea pearls begins more than a thousand years ago, when Aboriginal people began to use shells and the pearls found in them not only to decorate their tribal outfits, but also as currency to exchange for food and tools. With the advent of European explorers in the 16th and 17th centuries, South Sea pearls became a treasured global commodity.
In 1845, French explorers returned to Europe with South Sea pearls larger than any previously seen. The Empress of France, Napoleon's wife, often wore these pearls, rare in beauty and size, thereby giving rise to a new fashion. In 1900, gold jewelry with South Sea pearls became a highlight at the World's Fair in Paris.
By the 1930s, strict regulations were introduced to protect the fledgling South Sea pearling industry, which remained in effect until the 1950s, when pearl farms began to produce a consistent, high-quality harvest.
Over the past 4-5 years, South Sea pearls of rich golden color have been in steady demand from the Chinese jewelry market, which has led to an increase in their value by 2.5-3 times compared to white South Sea pearls. Therefore, clients who want to buy golden-colored South Sea pearls are often content with dyed analogues or imitation.
In this article:
Pearls are truly feminine jewelry. It gives the appearance sophistication and sophistication, so it has been valued for many years. This stone makes excellent jewelry, such as earrings, bracelets, beads, and sometimes pearls are set in rings. A set of pearls looks very beautiful; you can even wear it to social events. But how to choose and how freshwater pearls differ from sea pearls can be difficult to understand.
freshwater pearls
Pearl mining
Pearl is a natural stone, it is obtained as a result of the activity of living beings. The hunt for pearls began a long time ago. Even during the first discovery by people of stones in mollusks, their beauty was appreciated, so the stone was even used as money for goods. Hunters caught it in huge quantities, so over time, pearls became less and less until the moment when hunting was recognized as poaching and was prohibited at the state level. If you believe the statistics, then to find 3-4 pearls it was necessary to open up to a ton of mollusks. Accordingly, the cost of the stone was enormous.
Many pearl mollusks are found in China, as well as in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Although today the methods of obtaining pearls have changed. Now the stone is being cultivated. This is not easy to do, but the process of obtaining the stone occurs faster than in natural conditions.
The bottom line is that today there are special “farms” where pearl cultivation takes place. Such establishments are especially popular in China, where colonies were established on the site of former rice plantations. It was there that a good microclimate developed in order to ultimately obtain freshwater pearls. Such stones cannot be called artificial or fake. Of course, their cost is cheaper, but the composition is practically no different from natural pearls. The only difference is that the growing process occurs under human control.
River and sea varieties
A pearl is obtained when a foreign substance enters the mollusk. Over time, a mother-of-pearl shell forms around it, which is the goal of the process. For a mollusk, a pearl is nothing more than a way of natural protection from a grain of sand, since the capsule neutralizes it. And for us it is a treasure. So, you can grow:
- Sea pearls. It can also be grown in shellfish colonies on the seashore. There are varieties such as: Tahiti, South Sea, Akoya pearls. They all differ in color and size. In this case, the process is more difficult, since a storm may occur at sea or the current may change to cold, which will also affect the mollusk.
- Freshwater pearls. The technology for growing such stones can be different. If we talk about a more natural method, farmers plant a grain of sand or several grains of sand inside the mollusk. The technology is called nuclear-free. The process lasts from three to eight years, and at the end, up to ten pearls of different sizes can be found in one mollusk. But sea pearls are always found alone, even if they are cultivated and a few grains of sand are planted. At the same time, the farmer monitors the composition and acidity of the fresh water, and also stirs the shellfish from time to time, since the pearl may grow unevenly. The sizes of freshwater pearls range from 4 to 6 millimeters, although stones with a diameter of up to 8 millimeters can be found.
For river pearls, the mollusk Hyriopsis schlegeli is used. The resulting stone color ranges from cream to purple and brownish. And the shape can be either round, egg-shaped or teardrop-shaped.
There is also a method for making mabe pearls, which also involves shellfish and river water. Such freshwater pearls cannot be called natural, since during the process a plastic core is placed into the mollusk, which over time becomes overgrown with a layer of nacre. The core is then drilled out and the cavity is filled with epoxy resin. But such a core grows perfectly, and the pearls turn out even, “one to one.”
Today no one conducts natural extraction at an industrial level, since the profitability of this business is unknown. It is much easier to grow a colony of mollusks and know that there will be freshwater pearls in it.
Freshwater pearl bracelet
Differences between types of stone
Since the difference in price between the varieties of pearls is noticeable, it is worth asking the seller for documents for the product that confirm the origin of the stone. You can also try to distinguish the two varieties right in the store. This is easy to do by eye if you know these rules:
- Freshwater pearls rarely have a regular round shape. Most likely, it has oblong or irregular contours. But there is no perfect circle. But sea pearls always have an even shape. It is not known exactly what this depends on, perhaps on the pH of the water or on the effect of ebbs and flows - farmers do not know.
- The cost of a product made from sea pearls is always higher than from a river stone. This is explained by the complexity and painstaking nature of the process, as well as the number of pearls mined.
- The luster is also different between the two specimens. Thus, freshwater pearls have a matte tint, while sea pearls are more shiny and pearlescent. This should be remembered when choosing a product, although you need to focus on taste.
- If the product is more than one year old, then pearls obtained by the river method retain their appearance longer, but the shiny layer of sea stone can wear off over time, this is especially noticeable at the joints between pearls. But this does not mean that the product is a fake.
Natural pearls are much more expensive than mabe pearls or other fakes. The price also depends on the number of pearls, their color, size and class. On average, a good quality freshwater pearl necklace can be purchased for $50. This is a good price for the average buyer. Prices for sea pearls are 5 times higher than for river stones; the cost of one copy can reach $400.
