This is your year! It's all about you and it's going to happen for you
this year. Don't let another twelve months go by without becoming the
you you want to be. Next year, your goal is to be so content you have
no New Year's Resolutions. Shine! Clean up your diet, clean up your
skin, clean out your closet and start being the woman you want to be!
The question is not, "Can I do it?" but "Am I worth it?" Of course you
are! C'mon, you have one life and one life only. Don't squander it
feeling unfulfilled and unhappy. Now's the perfect time to transform.
How? Make small, easy, positive changes. Don't overwhelm yourself.
Drink more water, eat more produce. Breathe. Walk more. Smile.
Compliment others. Wear what flatters, not what's in fashion. Whiten
your teeth. Floss. Meditate. Strength train. Get a dog. Get outside.
Invest in a great bag and a great pair of boots.
As a fashion expert, I've had a lot of hits and misses in my career.
But my tried and true favorite way to transform a look quickly while
waiting for the big changes to kick in is to choose a signature piece
of jewelry and wear it with everything. Often, we forget to
accessorize, but accessories can make or break a look and add your
personal stamp on every outfit. My suggestion for 2007? A black pearl
necklace. Black pearls instantly add sophistication and elegance. Best
of all, they never go out of style; instead they add a new twist on an
old favorite with their inky color. Luckily, I'm somewhat of a pearl
expert, so read on, dear reader, to learn more about these organic
gems and how to choose black pearls that fit your budget.
Black pearl necklace photo courtesy of http://www.moonriverpearls.com
The Myth and Mystique of a Black Pearl Necklace
Since recorded history, man has coveted the luminous white gem we know
as the pearl. Revered the world over for their rare beauty,
otherworldly sheen and understated elegance, pearls are as popular in
modern society as they were with European royals and Egyptian
princesses centuries ago. Today, pearl jewelry connoisseurs have a new
love: black pearls. Exotic, luxurious and rare, a rich black pearl
necklace presents a striking picture--the gems definitely lack the
demure, chaste image of their classic white counterparts. For the
woman who has everything, a black pearl necklace, whether showcased
alone in a pendant or in a perfectly matched strand, makes a wonderful
addition to her jewelry collection. Think of how lovely a black pearl
necklace will look on any skin tone!
Where do jewelers get the pearls to make a black pearl necklace?
"Black" pearls are also known as "Tahitian cultured pearls," but both
names are misleading. Not only are Tahitian cultured pearls not
exclusively black, they're also not grown in Tahiti. Called "black"
because of their exotic dark colors, Tahitian cultured pearls can also
be gray, blue, green and brown. And they're grown in the lagoons of
small islands that are part of a group known as French Polynesia.
Tahiti, the largest island, serves as the group's center of commerce,
and not as a pearl growing mecca. Interestingly, fine Tahitian
cultured pearls have only been on the market since the 1970s; in that
short time, however, they've become quite popular.
Growing Tahitian pearls
Tahitian pearls are cultivated for around two years in Pinctada
margaritifera cumingi, a large saltwater mollusk that is native to
French Polynesia. One of the ways this unique oyster differs from
other species is its interior shell color, which is dark. This so-
called "black lipped" oyster also has black mantle edges--the "lips"
that give the animal its descriptive name. Due to overfishing, adult
wild oyster populations, which aren't as plentiful as they use to be,
are protected by the government. Pearl farmers in French Polynesia who
wish to culture the black lipped oyster must raise the oysters from
spat (baby oysters). If the farmer is successful in nurturing the spat
into healthy adulthood, at around two and a half to three years old,
the oysters are implanted with mantle tissue and a mother-of-pearl
bead to start the pearl growing process. This delicate operation is
performed by specially trained workers called nucleators; even so,
more than 50 percent of the oysters die or reject the nucleus,
according to the Gemological Institute of America. "Add those oysters
to the ones that don't meet the implantation criteria: The farmer's
potential pearl-producing stock is less than half the number that
lived long enough to be considered for nucleation. When the pearl
growth period begins, after three years of work, the farmer has only
20 percent of the oysters he collected as spat," says GIA. No wonder a
fine quality Tahitian cultured pearl necklace is so rare!
Tahitian pearl growth generally takes place in closed lagoons ringed
by coral reefs that offer protection and a stable environment for the
implanted oysters. After remaining in the water for 22 to 26 months,
the pearls are harvested, usually between May and November. Prior to
sale, the pearls are cleaned and lightly polished, then sorted by
color, shape, etc. with like pearls. Only one to two percent of the
Tahitian cultured pearl crop will consist of fine quality round
cultured pearls.
Color
Today, the most sought-after Tahitian cultured pearls are dark green-
gray to blue gray with rosé or purple overtones. Pearl colors are
determined by several factors, including variations in the host
oyster, color variation of the implanted donor mussel tissue, the
number and thickness of nacre layers, and variations in growing
environment such as temperature and water quality. Tahitians are most
often variations of gray, black, green and blue, but other colors
exist. Search on the Internet for Tahitian cultured pearl images, and
you will see they are not really black!
Buying a black pearl necklace
At an average size of 8mm-14mm, Tahitian cultured pearls--especially
those specimens that are gem-quality and round--are very expensive.
(GIA estimates that one first-quality, unusually large Tahitian
cultured pearl can cost thousands of dollars!) If only one to two
percent of the harvest produces a fine quality round Tahitian cultured
pearl, imagine how long it takes to make a matched strand! No wonder a
black pearl necklace is so costly! Choose carefully, keeping in mind
that pearls with a desirable overtone (secondary color) and pearls
that are larger than typical will be more costly. Look for pearls that
are well-matched, not pitted or obviously marked. Be sure to check
return policies up front, too, in case you have a problem. Once you
receive your pearls, be sure to store them away from other gems;
pearls are prone to scratching and will wear over time, especially if
exposed to harsh chemicals like bleach, perfume and chlorine.
Black pearl necklaces in modern fashion
Although slow to catch on at first, thanks in part to publicity from
stars such as actress Elizabeth Taylor, a renowned jewelry collector
who wore a striking black pearl necklace in publicity photos for her
Black Pearls perfume launch, Tahitian cultured pearls are wildly
popular today. It's not hard to find examples of fine black pearl
jewelry in modern society. Look around. You'll see black pearl
necklaces on everyone from businesswomen to moms to Hollywood A-list
actresses, models and celebrities. Take Kiera Knightly, for example,
who wore a stunning black baroque Tahitian cultured pearl choker at
the premier of her movie, The Black Pearl. Stars like Christy
Turlington, Naomi Watts, Heidi Klum, Michael Michelle, Sarah Jessica
Parker, and Shalom Harlow are also pearl fans.
Perhaps black pearls' popularity is why designers like David Yurman,
Elsa Peretti and Paloma Picasso (for Tiffany & Co.) are incorporating
stunning black pearls, and even black baroque and black keshi pearls,
into modern designs like long chain necklaces, brooches, chokers and
charm bracelets. Black pearl drop earrings and pendants are also
popular, as they require little matching--or none at all. Whimsical
designs on cufflinks and in frog or dragonfly pins incorporate black
pearls as well.
Black pearl necklace alternatives
When most people think of black pearl jewelry, they naturally think of
Tahitian cultured pearls. But prices are high for these rare gems, in
part due to their large size, unusual colors, and the high cost of
producing them. If you want to wear real Tahitian cultured pearls, one
way to do so without breaking the bank is to choose a pendant-style
necklace with a single pearl; black pearl stud earrings; a single
black pearl ring, or black baroque (non-symmetrical) pearls. These
designs are every bit as exotic yet much more affordable than a
matched black pearl strand.
For customers who admire Tahitian pearl jewelry that is beyond their
reach, there are some inexpensive yet beautiful alternatives to the
classic black pearl necklace. Freshwater pearls--round, drop, button
and baroque--can be color-treated for an organic look that closely
resembles the hue of Tahitian cultured pearls. The natural-looking
result is beautiful and looks great in such pieces as a baroque black
pearl bracelet, black pearl drop earrings or black pearl necklace.
Every bit as real as their Tahitian cousins, black freshwater cultured
pearls' color is man-made, but keep in mind that nearly all pearls are
treated somehow (bleaching is the most common enhancement).
If you're after not only the color but the size of fine Tahitian
pearls, consider a black "pearl" necklace made from black mother-of-
pearl beads. Their generous size, lustrous sheen and affordable price
make them a popular alternative to a fine Tahitian pearl necklace.
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