Right at the onset, you should decide which type of pearl you wish
to buy. There are basically three kinds of pearls - natural, cultured
and artificial.
- The shape of the pearl will determine the cost. Pearls can
be round, symmetrical or irregular. Round, sphere like pearls
are the most expensive. Symmetrical pearls, such as teardrop shaped
ones, should be evenly shaped.
- The size determines the price. The bigger the pearl, the more
expensive it is.
- A double strand necklace of smaller pearls will be less expensive
than a single strand necklace of larger pearls.
- A pearl's sheen is important. Lustrous pearls with a strong,
crisp reflection are of good quality. Avoid pearls that look like
dull, cloudy beads.
- Good pearls have 'orient', that is, a iridescent, rainbow colors.
- A pearl's colour can be natural or dyed. Naturally coloured
pearls are more expensive.
- Good pearls have overtones. That is, a tint secondary to the
main body colour. Pinkish overtones fetch the best price.
- A good pearl should have minimal surface blemishes such as
nicks, cracks, pits and discolorations.
Here are some tips to determine if a pearl is genuine or an
imitation:
- Run the pearl lightly along the biting edge of your front teeth.
A real pearl feels slightly gritty whereas a fake will feel smooth.
- Absolutely flawless pearls which feel light on your palm are
probably fake.
- When examined under a 10x magnifier, imitation pearls will
appear grainy.
Taking
care of your Jewellery
 Jewellery
that is well cared for will maintain its shine always. Very often
the sheen of gold and silver jewellery is dulled because it gets encrusted
with a thin layer of dirt. Here are a few tips on how to take care
of your valuable jewellery.
- Do not use harsh abrasives to clean jewellery. It will damage
the metal.
- Use a nonabrasive jewellery cleaner or just a cleaning solution
of mild soap and water.
- Use an old toothbrush and gently brush the surface. This will
get at the dirt embedded in delicate work.
- Avoid using hot water. Rinse jewellery in warm, running water.
- Wipe the cleaned jewellery with a soft, lint-free cloth
until it shines.
- Silver should be preferably cleaned with a nonabrasive
silver cleaner.
- Silver remains tarnish free when it used
frequently.
- Store each piece of jewellery separately, wrapped in soft
tissue.
- Even if you do not use your jewellery frequently, clean them
once a year.
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