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Sorry to take up bandwidth. Just fun to see the science being applied to something beautiful. :) I love the sound of strands of pearls too...:D I think the merchants are having sales this weekend. Got to get out of the house..... Regards, pernula

(1) It only takes a very thin layer, on the order of the wavelength of light, to have interference and iridescence. For example, iridescent soap bubbles have very thin walls. The visible spectrum is about 0.4 to 0.7 micron (one micron is one thousandth of 1mm, i.e., 0.001 mm). The aragonite...

May be I should clarify the general question part more: What pearls are compatible with pure water soaking and contact? What pearls are compatible with salt water soaking and contact? If one was to bring pearls to the tropics and the pearls get exposed to sweat (salt water) and rain? Thanks...

I read through this whole thread and am still lost.:confused: Caitlin, could you explain the stabilization process and why would that make Akoyas incompatible with water? In general, what other pearls are incompatible with water? Thanks, pernula

Beautiful! I especially like the CFWP with clear tourmaline design. pernula

Just curious, why do the Chinese focus on smaller Akoyas and the Japanese on larger ones? Do they culture longer for bigger ones or just use larger bead implants? Thanks, pernula

It's gorgeous!

It seems the way one color holding the center of the rings of "orient" and the way color move around in dark Tahitian pearls are not all that rare, so that does not seem to be in line with the stated intention of the industry to use the word "orient" to describe the "rarest and most valuable...

Thanks everyone. That link to gemology online is interesting. What about Tahitian or freshwater dyed black pearls? Sea of Cortez pearls? Do they look good in a wide range of lighting? Thanks, pernula

This is great! Thank you for writing this up, Caitlin! I am going to book mark this and try it one day. I assume the same method can be used for bracelet? I like toggle clasp for bracelet. Do you think it is safe for pearls? pernula

Hi, I forgot to put in the correct descriptive phrase in the last post. (I don't know how to edit a posted reply). What the jeweler told me was that they had to train very young girls with good eyes to sort pearls. After a certain age, you just can't learn the stuff. I was so intimidated...

I am borrowing Richard Wise? phrase (day stone, night stone). Are there some pearls that inherently keep their entire glory at a wide range of lighting? If that is not possible, are there pearls that would still look better during the day, but compared to others are the best night pearls...

Thank you Inge and Perle for the warm welcome and kind comments. I learn a lot reading this forum. I went to buy pearl necklaces from a jewelry store a couple years after I started working, armed with no knowledge. At the store, I was shown necklaces about 10X price differential. While I...

While I am in the posting mode, I want to give a verbal description of the lightest color pearls in my baroque multicolor strand from Pearl Paradise. They are beautiful in a different way from the apricots and lavenders. The color is kind of pale brownish yellow in some lighting and white in...

If they are using special words like orient and water to describe the rarest and most valuable or beautiful attributes, that would be fine by me (even though as just one individual new to pearl my opinion probably doesn't count much anyway). What I don't like are some of the eBay vendors and...

Steve, Thanks for the welcome. Love your bottles and pearl necklaces posted in another thread. Freshadama is described as "....incredible luster, and a unique surface orient seen only on the highest quality pearls...." Freshadama are rare, but not totally in shortage, so if we include...

Hi, I am relatively new to this forum and following this thread I can understand it can be hard to define a certain term. On the other hand, as a consumer who always like to buy the best, I would like to see terms that describe something of rarity and value be kept accurate. If it is up...

Just a guess: Freshwater pearls are getting more beautiful. They also offer more color choices, both natural and dyed. A strand of high quality white pearls, probably the "standard," is more affordable now than 10 years ago. Folks who want an alternative look used to wear glass beads, braids...

What makes the different color like lavender, peach, and pink? Thanks, pernula

Lovely necklace, beautiful orient and gorgeous overtone. Is the body color pink or lavender? Thanks, pernula