Pearl Guide

I was fortunate enough to get an early Kindle edition of Richard Wise's newest masterpiece "The French Blue". I also own a copy of Wise's "Secrets of the Gem Trade", and it is one of the very few gem books that I've read cover to cover, not just skipping ahead to the sections about pearls.

The French Blue is a completely different kind of work. It is a novel that begs to be read slowly, but once one becomes entranced in the story, it is nearly impossible to put down. Not for the faint of...

Cortez Pearls Defined
Cortez pearls are pearls grown in the "Rainbow Lipped Pearl Oyster" or Pteria sterna from the waters of the Gulf of California -or Sea of Cortez- in Mexico.

The History and Comeback of Cortez Pearls
Emerging once more from the clear waters of the Gulf of California, after decades of protection, is Mexico's most emblematic gem: New World Black Pearls.
In 1533, the Spanish Conqueror Cortez sent the very first expeditions into the area to find the mythical Sea of Pearls...

Douglas McLaurin of Perlas del Mar de Cortez pearl farm in Mexico will be a regular contributor with his column "Adventures in Pearl Farming".

The Unexpected



June and July are very special months here at our small pearl farm in the Gulf of California: the water is warm and inviting, the waters clear up and it is also the time to reap the harvest of pearls. After years of culturing, our precious little gems are ready to come out of their watery environment and into Life.

Last June -while...

Famous Natural Pearls in History

Natural pearls are among the world's oldest gems, and from the time they were first discovered, they have remained some of the world's most sought-after and most revered gems. Throughout time, there have occasionally been a few pearls discovered that stand out among even these rare gems. Many of these famous pearls, some of them thousands of years old, are still around to be admired today. These pearls are remarkable reminders of the rich pearl history.

The...

Pearl Matching Defined

Pearl matching is evaluation of the complete appearance of a pearl strand, pair or multi-pearl piece of jewelry.
Matching can encompass size, color, and quality. A well-matched strand is composed of pearls that complement each pearl above and below, and directly across as the strand drapes.

The Difficulty in Pearl Matching: No two Pearls are Alike

Because pearls are natural, organic gems, no two of them are identical. Therefore, when a piece of jewelry contains more...

Pearl Color Defined

A pearl's color is described as a combination of its bodycolor and its overtone.
Bodycolor is separated into two categories: cool hues and warm hues.
Cool hues range from reddish purple to yellowish green while warm hues range from purplish red to greenish yellow.
Overtones are the overlying color that appears to float over the surface of the pearl.

A Pearl's Color is Multifactorial
Pearls come in a wide variety of colors, ranging from white all the way to black. Here...