Pearl necklaces are a favorite among women. Pearls are a sign of opulence and class. While some cultured necklace pearls are affordable, most pearl necklaces run into hundreds and even thousands of dollars.
Pearl necklaces are precious and are considered an investment that you can pass on to your children. For that reason, you need to have knowledge of what qualities to look out for in a good pearl necklace so as to be sure of what you are putting your money on.
The Type of Pearl
All pearls narrow to two basic types, the natural and the cultured pearls. The natural is obviously very expensive since they are scarce and are of a higher quality than cultured pearls that are a result of human effort.
Cultured pearls are named after the sea or place that the pearls are farmed. We have the Tahitian pearls which are darker and are considered to be of the best quality. South Sea pearls are usually large. The Akoya pearls are largely from Japan, China, and even Vietnam. They are known for their very circular shapes.
It takes several pearls to make a necklace, so most pearl necklaces are made from cultured pearls as they are readily available. However, both natural and cultured pearls are real pearls. What you should avoid are faux/fake pearls.
The Length of the Necklace
The length of your pearl is ideally a personal preference and is dependent on how much money you are willing to spend on it; as the longer the pearl, the more expensive.
Take into consideration the occasion you are looking to wear a necklace. For official wear, consider a single strand necklace that doesn’t go below your bust.
The Type of Brand
Good brands tend to be consistent with the quality of what they are giving you. What’s more, they are certified and always seek to protect their brand name by providing you with nothing other than the best.
So while looking for a pearl necklace, settling for a well-known brand can ensure you are getting value for your money.
Your Budget
Your budget will largely dictate what you take home that is why it is the most important factor. A pearl is ideally a collection of pearls on a string.
As with precious jewelry, good quality pearls don’t come cheap. Looking at a pearl necklace as an investment, don’t squeeze your budget too hard. The best quality jewelry is pricey.
A good quality pearl necklace will not lose its luster, doesn’t get scratched easily and are also easy to clean.
Knotting
Look out for a knotted pearl necklace.
The knot after every pearl ensures that the pearls on your necklace do not rub against each other, something that would cause them to wear out quickly.
Should your necklace break open, you can be certain that your pearls will not scatter loose.
Beware of extremely perfect shaped pearls on a necklace. Most pearls are baroque, meaning they come in any shape. Perfect rounded shaped pearl necklaces could be a sign that what you are looking to buy is probably not made of original pearls.
