FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Check out these FAQs for some of the more commonly asked questions about Pearls International products and practices.
What's a Pearl?
The Pearls are the only gemstones in the world that come from a living creature. Mollusks such as oysters and mussels produce these precious jewels that people have adored since ancient times. Despite appearing in a rich variety of sizes and shapes, the white and almost perfectly round gems continue to be the most popular. Pearls are famous for the exquisite beauty they possess which comes from their distinctive glow, often referred to as a jewel’s luster.
How does pearl From?
Found in oysters, while in freshwater they are produced by mussels. When a foreign substance such as a food particle slips into the mollusk, the creature protects itself by covering the irritant with layers of nacre. The nacre is also a substance that gives the jewels their luster. This food particle essentially functions as the nucleus of a gem and gets larger and larger over time as layers of nacre are applied.
Where to Produce Origin of Cultured Pearls?
There are four main types of cultured pearls: Freshwater, Japanese Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea. Freshwater pearls are cultivated in lakes and rivers across China, while Akoya types are found off the coast of Japan and China. Tahitian gems are found not only in Tahiti, but also across all the islands of French Polynesia. Lastly, the South Sea jewels are harvested in the waters of Australia and the Philippines.
What's pearl grading?
- Luster
- Shape
- Color
- Surface
- Size
1. Luster
Jewelry uses The AAA-A Pearl Grading System
This system grades pearls on a scale from AAA to A, with AAA being the highest grade, this grading scale is common to freshwater and Akoya pearls only:
- AAA: Virtually flawless pearl. Surface luster is very high , and 95% of surface will be free from any defect.
- AA: The surface will have a very high luster, and at least 75% of the surface will be free from any type of defect.
- A: The lowest jewelry-grade pearl, with low surface luster and/or more than 25% of the surface showing defects.
2. Shape
Jewelry offers many different shapes of pearls. We have baroque, off-round and perfectly round pearls.
Baroque is a general term that indicates a significant irregular pearl shape. Typically, these baroque pearls are the least expensive variety, yet certain exotic South-Sea or Tahitian specimens can be more valuable than perfectly round pearls from other regions. The baroque pearl can be abstract (asymmetrical) in its irregular shape, or it can resemble a stick, cross, or any number of other more "symmetrical" shapes.
Button pearls can represent the Off-round shape of pearls.
Perfect round is to indicate pearls that are "roundish" to varying degrees and considered to be "round" as a basic classification.
3. Color
While people are most familiar with white and cream-colored gems of the sea, the gemstones come in an array of other dazzling hues. Freshwater jewels are found in delightful white and pink shades that ooze of charm. Tahitian pearl colors are undoubtedly the most exotic. They include shades of blue, green, grey, and black. South Sea jewels are revered for their golden color that is considered extremely rare. Lastly, Akoya gems feature white and black colorways.
4. Surface
As mollusks creates a pearl, the layers of nacre do not always adhere smoothly. Sometimes spots and bubbles can appear in the layering process, Pearls with the smoothest surfaces are the highest-quality, most sought-after pearls.
5. Size
The larger the size of the pearl, the greater its value. Large pearls not only require larger oysters to produce them, but they require much more time to develop inside the oyster, depending on the size of the nucleus.
Jewelry offers different sizes of pearls. Of course, the price varies on different size of pearl as well.
Freshwater pearls range in size from about 5.0-12.0mm, Akoya pearls range from 6.0-9.5mm, Tahitian pearls can reach sizes from 8-18mm and south sea pearls are range from 9-18mm.
What's styles of pearl necklace?
- Choker Length: 15 to16 inches. Nestles at the base of the neck
- Collar Length: 12 to13 inches. Rests directly against the throat -can be multiple strands
- Princess Length: 18 to19 inches. Comes down to or just below the collarbone
- Matinee Length: 20 to 24 inches. Falls just above the breasts
- Opera Length: 28 to 36 inches. Long enough to reach the breastbone or sternum
- Rope Length: 40 inches and over. Any length that falls down further than an opera.
Why should I sign up for an account?
Benefits for having an account include:
1. Access to your order history.
2. Quicker check out, since you don’t have to re-enter your shipping information.
3. Password- protect your Wish List and access it from anywhere.
4. Opportunity to receive exclusive offers, discounts, and more from Pearls International.
Do you have a warranty on your jewelry?
Yes, we have a One Year Warranty on the workmanship of all our jewelry in addition to our 30 Days Satisfaction Guarantee return policy. If you accidentally damage a piece, we’ll be happy to repair it for you for a reasonable fee. The warranty is void if the piece is altered or another jeweler resizes or modifies the piece, since alterations, when done incorrectly, can damage the pearls or the strength of the setting.
How can I keep my jewelry looking beautify?
Pearls are very easy to care for. With the right technique, your Pearls International jewelry will look amazing for generations. Pearls’ worst enemy is chlorine. Repeated exposure can weaken its structure, eventually leading to chipping. Try to keep your pearls away from chlorinated cleaning products, swimming pools and Jacuzzis. For maintenance cleaning, use lukewarm, soapy water. Rinse with clear water, then dry and polish with a soft cloth. Lay out flat to dry for at least 24 hours. For occasional deep cleaning, liquid cleaners such as ordinary household ammonia and products made especially for cleaning jewelry will not harm pearls unless specifically listed in the product instructions. Avoid cleaning pearls with abrasive products or cloths as these items will have a tendency to scratch or dull the pearls. Dipping your jewelry in a bath of ordinary household ammonia for about 30-45 seconds, followed by a light scrubbing with a soft tooth brush, then thoroughly rinsing in warm running water will remove built up dirt and oils and should return metal to its original color. Avoid rubbing plated materials with abrasive compounds or cloths as this will have the tendency to remove the plating. Tip: Put your pearls on after you have used your hair spray, not before. Hair spray can build up a sticky residue on your pearl jewelry and cause it to become dull. However, you can clean hairspray off of your pearls using the above method. If you want to be absolutely sure that the products you use won’t harm your pearls.