I believe that every woman should own at least one piece of pearl jewelry. My personal favourite is a nice long pearl necklace which you can wrap around. Now, some of you may be thinking, and you are certainly right in thinking so, a long peal necklace can begin to get quite pricy.

The value of a pearl depends on a few things. First thing to consider: are you looking for natural or cultured pearls? Wild, natural pearls are extremely rare and only represent about 0.5% of the pearl market. These are obviously the most expensive because of their scarcity. Cultured pearls are a bit less expensive because they have been manipulated by human intervention. The latter are usually produced in Japanese or Chinese pearl oyster farms. Cultured pearls are of equal, if not better quality than their natural pearl counterparts, and more affordable.

There are a few main things to look for when evaluating a pearl. One is a pearl’s lustre. The lustre can take on many different hues. Lustre is what brings unique charm to this fine jewelry. Also, if the pearl has a completely smooth and untarnished surface, it will have a lovely mirroring effect. Finally, the size of the pearl will also determine the price of a pearl.
Now that you know the basics about pearls, I’ll let you in on a little secret… Don’t buy a real pearl necklace. The great thing about pearls is that they are really easy to imitate and so even that fake pearl necklace you wore as a kid or as a costume, would still work. I’m telling you, costume pearl necklaces look so real that only an experienced jeweler would know it wasn’t real! (And maybe you now know what to look for…)

Pearls are chic and graceful and positively tasteful. Every time I think of pearls, I am always reminded of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfeast at Tiffany’s. Wearing her big, dark sunglasses, her little black dress and that gorgeous pearl necklace is one the classic looks of all time. A fine pearl piece will certainly add that extra bit of glamour to any woman’s outfit.