Wednesday, December 3, 2008

How To Find The Right Pearl Necklace

By Pete Sjogren

A pearl is formed when an oyster reacts to an intruder invading its shell. As a defense mechanism, the oyster produces a substance known as nacre that forms layers around the intruder, creating a pearl as a result. The timeless beauty of a pearl necklace is unrivaled. Here are some pearl necklace buying tips to help you add class, elegance and flexibility to your wardrobe.

Naturally produced pears are a rare and extremely valuable but the more common types of pears are cultured pearls. It can be difficult to tell the difference between a natural pearl and one that's been cultured. There are also synthetic pearls that are much cheaper than natural and cultured pearls. If you're on a tight budget, some pearl necklace buying tips include buying synthetic pearls that come in a diverse range of colors, designs and sizes.

With 3 different shapes, symmetrical, round and baroque, you can find a pearl necklace to suit any style and physical body type. A commonly chosen shape is the round or spherical pearl. Irregularly shaped pearls are classed as baroque and can look like sticks or crosses, for example. Symmetrical pearls come in oval, button and drop shapes.

Important pearl necklace buying tips lie in choosing the right length for the wearer's neck length and shape, age and overall physique. In general, a long necklace will elongate the neck while a shorter necklace will flatter longer necks. A pearl necklace can come in a range of lengths from the longest rope length (at least 37") to the shortest: collar (10" - 13"). A pearl necklace of between 18" to 24" will generally suit everyone.

If you're wondering how to buy a pearl necklace for semi-formal or corporate wear, then the matinee (20" - 24") will be ideal. Remember the rule-of-thumb; longer thinner necks are flattered by shorter necklaces that sit at the base of the neck while shorter necks look best with longer necklaces - at least 2 inches below the collarbone.

The matinee pearl necklace is most ideal for semi-formal wear and goes great with dresses and corporate wear. If you're looking for pearl necklace buying tips, bear in mind that if you have a short neck, a necklace that sits 2 inches below the collarbone will look flattering while a long thin neck will be well-flattered by shorter length necklaces that sit at the base of the neck. With a wide variety of colors, you can choose a pearl necklace in white, cream, pink, silver, gold and even yellow. While most common colors are the lighter tones, darker skin tones will suit gold or yellow pearls.

Mikimoto pearls are known the world around for their excellent quality, brilliance and sheen. With fans that include members of the British and Japanese royal families, this brand of pearls are highly sought-after by women wanting to stand out with timeless elegance.

Beautiful black, gray and green-black pearls are known as Tahitian pearls, named after the island of Tahiti. These are grown from black-lipped oysters and how to buy a pearl necklace made of Tahitian pearls is to look out for their luster, clarity and mirror-like sheen as well as for any flaws like discoloration, spots, scratches, bumps and other irregularities.

Buying a pearl necklace requires an investment and a keen eye. However, there are ways to attain the class and elegance of pearl jewelry on a budget. Here's how to buy a pearl necklace at a budget that suits you. Buying a set - necklace, earrings, bracelet or ring - can give you an entryway to bargaining for a better price than if you were to buy just one piece alone. You can also look out for direct suppliers to procure your pearl necklace from as these suppliers charge less per piece than regular retailers. - 15634

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