What excites you about pearls?

[MSchechter]

This is my first New Thread post in a new community, so forgive me if everyone has covered this ground. I'd really like to know a bit more about what sparked your passion in pearls. I grew up surrounded by them and have really enjoyed seeing them evolve over the past few years.

I've always been passionate about pearl jewelry and am trying to enhance my knowledge on the raw material side. I've been poking around old threads the past few days (and will likely be doing that for some time to come), this seems like an extremely generous community and I look forward to learning from all of you!

Looking forward to interacting with everyone and learning more about your passions for pearls.

 

[Caitlin]

This is a fun idea and not been done in a thread. My post on the topic can be found under search word "Bahraini Pearls". But my real passion was excited by abalone, when I was 6 and saw a piece a friend brought home. I got my own the next year and still have it. Then I picked up a passion for iridescence in all its forms including fish, feathers, beads and of course, pearls with orient at the very top of the chain.

 

[MSchechter]

Thank you for suggesting that search! I really enjoyed reading a bit of that history. I am obviously much more familiar with Cultured Pearls and truly enjoyed reading that. Very special that your Grandfather was able to bring not only give you those pearls, but a passion for them at such a young age.

That is one of the things I enjoy about the pearl world, be it Natural or Cultured, Freshwater, South Sea, or Akoya... A passion for pearls is universal!

 

[SteveM]

Very good thread, a cause for reflection.

Caitlin's Bahraini Pearls no doubt brought you to the same thread as this post of mine.

I have the Cook Islands to thank for poisoning my view of cultured pearls forever with poor local quality (no doubt reject Tahitians smuggled in for the tourists), while at the same time hooking me with the very idea of naturals, in all their organic diversity.

Like Caitlin, iridescence is a big factor. Look how I went for ammolite!

 

[MSchechter]

Poor quality can really do that... it has taken Freshwater Pearls years to get beyond the original stigma of the rice crispy and low luster potato pearls of the 80's and early 90's.

Very true what you said about the cross section of a bead nucleated cultured pearl. The near natural growth of FW has always been a draw for us. Always been captivated by the near natural growth of those pearls. Of course this is not the same for the natural pearl purist... but as someone who appreciates cultured pearls, that distinction has always stood out.

 

[SteveM]

Untreated freshwaters were an early, easy sell. Among our favorite pieces. But nothing even approaching round. The 'bead' look just doesn't do it (not to mention the increment in price).

 

[Caitlin]

That's exactly why I like CFWP the best. The techniques for producing the best cultured fw pearls seem to get better each year. The natural colors too.

Fw pearls are chameleons. They can mock almost any other kind of pearl from baby ss to "Tahitian Blacks" biwas, and even freshadamas can pass for akoyas. Noobies to pearls rarely know stuff like that.


I just had to add: and the above are the most common, but we had a poster who passed off fw for pterias, lamprotulas, siberian transgrafts and abalone pearls! And more.

The rule around here is that if you aren't sure, its probably a freshwater.

 

[MSchechter]

Every trip Joel and Ralph take overseas meets us with better and better Freshwater pearls. It has been incredible to watch the evolution of these pearls.

As for the noobies, it is concerning how much the general pearl loving population can misunderstand pearls... It kills us when people think Cultured only means akoya or that some of the simulated pearls in the market are the genuine article.

The versatility of Freshwater Pearl jewelry is a great attribute, but I could not agree more that disclosure is essential!

 

[MSchechter]

Untreated freshwaters were an early, easy sell. Among our favorite pieces. But nothing even approaching round. The 'bead' look just doesn't do it (not to mention the increment in price).

Steve, you would be amazed how far they have come... while an expert can see the difference and there is always some level of off roundness, the very top, top quality of FW has become truly competitive with Akoya.

 

[pearlescence]

My most cringe comment when selling pearls is when some snooty friend of a possible buyer comes up and says 'of course i have a strand of cultured pearls at home'
I'm not supposed to box their ears but oh, sometimes I do want to. I content myself by saying that cultured is just a fancy jeweller's word for farmed

 

[SteveM]

Steve, you would be amazed how far they have come... while an expert can see the difference and there is always some level of off roundness, the very top, top quality of FW has become truly competitive with Akoya.

Pearl-Guide is fully exposed to the latest developments in FW, which are amazing. Round is simply boring to me, as it courts ubiquity?more so with each passing day.

You can tell I'm not in the business?

 

[MSchechter]

Wendy, My favorite is when we hear... I really want a strand of pearls, you know... the cultured ones . Although occasionally frustrating, those customers always seem anxious to learn more!

Steve, of course rounds will always be important to the pearl world (I also have a certain passion for the FW that comes extremely close to spherical), but the nurture it took and the amount of pearls that needed to be cultivated to get that one pearl eye round Freshwater Pearl is astounding! As for the unusual shapes, this is a passion we share. The variety of unique shapes has gone a long way towards bring pearls to the forefront of fashion.

 

[SteveM]

Steve, of course rounds will always be important to the pearl world (I also have a certain passion for the FW that comes extremely close to spherical), but the nurture it took and the amount of pearls that needed to be cultivated to get that one pearl eye round Freshwater Pearl is astounding!

Human endeavor is to be admired?the pursuit of perfection. I must admit we even own a Lexus.

 

[MSchechter]

Especially when you get to watch the pursuit over a long period of time!

P.S. Nothing wrong with a Lexus

 

[Pearlcat]

Michael--

I'd really like to know a bit more about what sparked your passion in pearls.

What sparked my passion is luster and orient -- so obtainable and unobtainable at the same time. Pearls that have orient are mysterious for me, meaning that I can see it and almost want to fall into it. Every time I look at a pearl that I own with orient and luster, I always see something a little different each time; nothing but a pearl has that kind of quality. Kate

 

[Sueki]

Well, this thread has pulled me up short...
It's iridescence every time for me.

I hadn't realised quite how entranced I am by it either, until this thread made me think about it.
Flicking the duster around today, I realised that I have iridescent glass and mother of pearl all over the house in lampshades, knick-knacks and even iridescent paint on my bathrooom walls.

So, it looks as though I'm a lost cause....

 

[GemGeek]

So, it looks as though I'm a lost cause....

What a way to go!

 

[Caitlin]

Jeremy started buying top quality loose earring pearls several years ago and making them into strands, thus turning "freshadamas" loose on the world. They are the roundest possible and most of the individual pearls have iridescence. We have a very famous photo all over the place on this with a freshie and a hanadama together in a poll. Most people guessed wrong thinking the FW was the hanadama! And it costs far less. I think pearls of that quality are a good investment as well as a pleasure to wear. I like ropes, so round ish pearls are always fine with me, though the baroques are great, too.

Here is the picture. Take a guess. (no guesses from old members)

 

[Caitlin]

Sueki
I love it! I do iridescent nail polish when I do nail polish. I also use the nail polish to decorate tiny boxes, cans, and stuff like that. I love to make little Gaudalupe shrines in small boxes and I have iridescent paper and ribbons and teesy artificail iridescent flowers. I collect iridescent bird feathers. And I love glass that has been buried and turned all iridescent. I have a depression glass vase that is iridescent orange and have a weakness for other iridescent houseware.The thrift store has long been a mainstay for finding such objects.....but the Paint! the Paint!. I gotta get some! I never heard of it before. I saw a picture of an oil spill that was highly iridescent. In spite of my horror, my eyes love the iridescence of oil slick. Talk about a goner!

 

[Caitlin]

Sorry to post 3 in a row, but I found this from Barbie Biggs- another comparison between Freshies and akoyas

AKOYA 18" $1380.00 AA/ $1995.00 AAA
AKOYA 36" $3990.00 AAA

Freshadama 18" $860.00 Gem quality with Orient
Freshadama 36 " $1720.00