It has long been known that the pearl has played a central role in jewellery, with some of the earliest recorded fragments of a pearl necklace being dated to the 4th century BC. What are the most popular and successful designs of classic jewellery that pearls have been used with – and how are they being updated today? The pearl…
Black onyx is the most popular form of onyx today, with a dark silky lustre that contrasts beautifully with the creamy whiteness of classic pearls. Onyx is a variety of the chalcedony gemstone, which is a species of microcrystalline quartz that also includes different coloured Agates and Jasper. Found in bands that run parallel to each other, and mined mostly…
One important factor in designing pearl jewellery is the size of the pearl itself. Pearl size can have an immediate impact on the aesthetic look of the jewellery, its technical design as well as defining which types of pearl may be used and the value of these. How should pearl size be measured and what should you look for when…
LusterThe pearl emits a strong light called luster. This effect is created when light reflects off the layers of fine calcium carbonate crystals that make up the pearl. This substance is called nacre. When selecting pearls, consider that the larger the pearl, the more nacreous, the more luster it emits. Comparing 5mm freshwater cultured pearls and 10mm cultured South Sea…
The use of seed pearls in fine jewellery throughout the latter part of the 19th century was immensely popular. Elaborately decorated brooches, tiaras, pins and earrings were very representative of Victorian fashion at the time. In this article, we look at what are seed pearls? A Fashionable PearlSeed pearls have long been admired by jewellers for their elegance and traditional…