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Product Specifications
| Jewelry Information | |
| Brand Name: | Amazon.com Collection |
| Metal stamp: | 925-Sterling |
| Metal: | sterling-silver |
| Material Type: | pearl |
| Gem Type: | peridot |
| Height: | 23 millimeters |
| Back finding: | ear-wire |
| Pearl Information | |
| Pearl type: | freshwater-cultured |
| Packaging Information | |
| Package: | Regal Blue Sueded-Cloth Pouch |
Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description
A cluster of spring green peridot chips leads to a large white freshwater cultured pearl in these fresh and contemporary drop earrings. Featured on long sterling silver ear wires, these pretty accents take you through the day and into the night in perfect style. With their splash of color, these earrings represent a fresh and fun way to wear pearls.
About Freshwater Cultured Pearls
These pearls are gathered from freshwater lake and river mollusks. Most Freshwater pearls come from China and they can be mostly round to off-round, or rice-shaped to baroque. They look similar to Akoya pearls, but are the perfect gift when on a budget. They might be slightly less symmetrical, smaller, or not as easily matched, but these minor differences provide a major value for the price.
Cultivation
Pearls are produced naturally in the body of salt and freshwater mollusks, such as oysters and mussels. When these animals sense an irritant, such as a grain of sand, they produce a soft coating of calcium carbonate substance around it. The result is a pearl. Because perfectly round, naturally produced pearls are so rare, a process known as cultivation was developed by Kokichi Mikimoto in the early 1900s. A small bead of polished shell, the nucleus, is used as an irritant and delicately inserted into the mantle of a mollusk. It takes approximately 20-24 months of intensive husbandry to cultivate a saltwater pearl and somewhat less time to cultivate freshwater pearls. The harvest usually takes place during the months of June and September.
Color
Mollusks produce pearls in a variety of colors, accommodating most personal preferences and budgets. The general color of a pearl is also known as the body color. Pearls typically range from white, cream, and yellow to pink, silver, or black. An overtone of secondary color is sometimes seen. For instance, a pearl may appear to be white, but upon closer inspection a rosy hue is detected. The body color would then be termed white-rosé. Color variation does not affect the quality of the pearl, though it should be noted that color matching is important when choosing pearls for some necklaces, earrings, or bracelets. In fashion jewelry, pearls can sometimes be dyed to achieve the desired color, which should be mentioned in the product description or specifications.
Lustre
The appealing, deep shine of a pearl is often what defines its beauty. This shine is produced by multiple layers of semi-opaque calcium carbonate crystals, called nacre. The nacre reflects light on the surface of the pearl, producing brilliance and sheen. Lustre is an integral feature in determining the quality of a pearl. Large pearls have a thicker nacre and, therefore, a higher lustre. When comparing a small Freshwater pearl to a large South Sea pearl, the difference is clearly visible to the untrained eye and should be considered when purchasing pearls.
Shape
While pearls come in many different shapes, the rare
st and highest-quality are round. Akoya, Tahitian, and South Sea oysters tend to produce the roundest pearls, while those of Freshwater mollusks can be oval to slightly off-round. When considering a pearl purchase, whether it be a necklace, bracelet, or earrings, look for consistency in the shapes of the pearls. Many of the less symmetrical shapes are used in stylish jewelry which can be quite beautiful: the drop pearl’s shape lends well to earrings, and the baroque pearl features irregular shapes that work well as necklace accents. In addition, a half sphere pearl called a “mabe” is often used in earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.Size
An oyster’s particular type and size has a direct effect on how large the pearl it produces will be, and pearls do come in a wide range of sizes. Round pearls are measured according to their diameter, while baroque pearls are measured by their length and width. A pearl’s size does not necessarily affect its quality, but it does affect its price. Large, round pearls are rare and their lustre is usually high--this beautiful combination of traits is often reflected in the cost of such pearls.
Average pearl sizes (in diameter):
Akoya: 6-8mm
Freshwater: 5-6.5mm
South sea: 11-13mm
Tahitian: 11-12mm
Surface Markings
Often when an oyster creates a pearl, the nacre do
es not develop smoothly. The surface of a pearl is judged by how many marks are visible in the nacre. These imperfections can be small and unnoticeable or quite large and distinct. Like diamonds, pearls are rarely flawless. However, high lustre or the way pearls are strung and set can help conceal surface markings.Care
Proper care of pearls is not difficult if you remember that they are organic and produced by a living thing. Pearls are soft and delicate, but when cared for with common sense, they will maintain their lustre for centuries. The pearls should not come in contact with cosmetics, hairspray, perfume, chlorinated water, or other harsh chemicals. To keep them clean, let them be the last item put on when dressing, and the first item taken off at the end of an evening. The best way to maintain their lustre is to wear the pearls often, and wipe them down with a soft cloth afterward--pearls absorb the oils from skin, which helps keep them moist. Pearls should be stored in a cloth pouch or jewelry bag, separated from other jewelry to prevent nicks or chipping. Periodically, pearl strands should be restrung since the silk thread used to tie the pearls together breaks down over time.
Product Details
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
OK for "starter" earrings for a pre-teen ...,
By Betty L. Dravis "BETTY DRAVIS, author/reviewer" (Silicon Valley, CA) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Freshwater Cultured Pearl and Peridot Chip Earrings (9-10mm) (Jewelry)
Amazon sent an ad for longer drop-earrings, which would have been too ostentatious for my neighbor's twelve-year-old daughter, so I looked around and found these in a more appropriate length.
I was a little disappointed when I began reading the reviews; some buyers were satisfied, some not. Since peridot is Amy's birthstone and the picture so appealing, I decided to take a chance. When they arrived, there were some things I liked about them, some things not, but I'm still giving them to her because I figure she's young and they will serve adequately as "starter" earrings. Like most of us, she'll probably lose or break one before too long anyway. So what the heck! Meanwhile, she'll get some enjoyment from them. The peridot chips are a nice size and, actually, quite lovely--a popular shade of green that's uniform throughout the stones--but the pearls leave much to be desired. As other reviewers noted, the pearls have flaws and are NOT round as the picture depicts. I think I "hit" and "missed" on this product because, though flawed, at least both pearls are flawed in the same way, giving them a uniform appearance. If you're not seeking perfection in these earrings and consider them to be a "fresh and fun way to wear pearls," then I can recommend them. I would definitely not recommend them for a discerning woman, but for pre-teen or teen girls who are seeking their first adult jewelry, it's a good way to start. I think Amy will see the beauty in the colors and style, thus delighting in this gift, so I'm not returning them. I'll know for sure in August when her birthday rolls around. Reviewed by: Betty Dravis, 2008 author of: The Toonies Invade Silicon Valley
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not As Pictured! Returning for Credit,
By Masaki Lee (USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Freshwater Cultured Pearl and Peridot Chip Earrings (9-10mm) (Jewelry)
I purchased a pair of these earrings to be used as a stocking stuffer for my daughter on Xmas. I thought that they looked very beautiful in the stock picture and the positive feedback they had received from the first reviewer made me think that they would be just like the picture. I was wrong! The pearls I received on both earrings are NOT Round or Oval for that matter. Both pearls look like a two piece snowman. The pearls are eggplant shaped and have a crease/groove running around them about 2/5 the way down from the top of them. Look at my uploaded photos to see for yourself. I'm sending these back right away. Luckily they didn't cost much so I won't have to be out a lot of money while waiting for the refund credit!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Horribly, horribly ugly,
By IndianapolisVet "Please visit leospetcare dot... (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Freshwater Cultured Pearl and Peridot Chip Earrings (9-10mm) (Jewelry)
I completely agree with the person who said the pearls are snowman-shaped and have a large ugly groove in them. And the grossly malformed pearl was attached to the peridot chips at a crooked angle, so they don't even hang right.
Ugly, ugly, ugly.
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