Earrings are an excellent compliment to any jewellery collection, and pearl earrings are particularly special, as the pearl itself is such a unique stone. Most traditionally, pearl earrings are mounted on straight-stud fixings with little if any adornments. Pearls are also commonly threaded through hoops or included in chandelier style earrings for a more dramatic effect.
Some of the most unique earrings available today are made from pearls. A pearl is the stone that forms naturally inside the shell of an oyster, or other mollusk, when a tiny irritant is gradually coated with layer upon layer of calcium carbonate. The pearl’s size, lustre and colour all depend on the sort of mollusk and the number of layers of calcium carbonate deposited around the irritant.
Pearls are found in both fresh and saltwater mollusks – generally, freshwater pearls are used in clusters as they are smaller and have a less symmetrical shape. Both salt and freshwater pearls can occur naturally or be the result of cultivation – a cultivated pearl is the result of someone deliberately placing an irritant inside the mollusk’s shell.
Earrings featuring pearls are easy to coordinate to existing jewellery collections as well as most wardrobes – this is why pearl earrings are among the most popular jewellery gifts. Buying pearl earrings online is easy – and there are excellent bargains to be had, particularly where cultured pearl earrings are concerned. Always ask the online jeweller to confirm the size of the pearls used in the earrings, and also request that they provide you with a certificate of authenticity. Also, to avoid disappointment, be sure to buy from an online jeweller with a clearly-worded return and refund policy.
© Jewellery Box.org.uk 2006.
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