June’s Birthstone: The Pearl

June has several birthstones, including pearls, moonstone, and rose quartz. I’ve chosen to write about pearls this time around. It takes years to become a pearl expert, and I’m far from being an expert myself, but I’d like to share some of what I do know here on my blog.

There are two types of pearls that I have used in my jewelry: freshwater pearls and Swarovski pearls. Freshwater pearls are cultured pearls that are grown in freshwater bivalves (clams and oysters). These pearls have become affordable as the technology to grow them has improved. They are often dyed or bleached to enhance their color. Swarovski pearls are faux pearls, not natural. They are made by Austrian crystal-maker Swarovski, and they have crystal cores.

I have been moving toward using Swarovski pearls instead of freshwater pearls lately, because I would like my jewelry to be vegan-friendly.

Grading freshwater pearls is an art in itself. Pearls are graded based on their color, shape, and nacre. (Nacre is the lustrous shell on the pearl.) Ideal pearls are close to round. Pearls with lumps or lines receive lower grades. The nacre of a pearl should be even in thickness, and top grade pearls have a beautiful luster. In general, white freshwater pearls are more valuable, although there are some wonderful naturally-occurring peach and ivory pearls.

Pearls require special care. Pearls strung on silk thread should not be allowed to get wet. Knotted pearl strings must be restrung periodically. Pearls should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner or steam cleaned. If your pearls require cleaning, the safest way is using warm water and a mild soap – never detergent. If your pearls are especially valuable, I recommend taking them to a jeweler for cleaning and restringing. Pearls should not be stored with other jewelry, because the gemstones and metal in other jewelry can scratch pearls. To keep your pearls at their best, always wipe them with a soft cloth before putting them away.