- Six-Month Financing: Make any purchase on Amazon totaling $149 or more using the Amazon.com Store Card and pay no interest if paid in full within 6 months. Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date if the promotional balance is not paid in full within 6 months. Minimum monthly payments required. 1-Click and phone orders do not apply. See details and restrictions.
Product Specifications
| Jewelry Information | |
| Brand Name: | Amazon.com Collection |
| Metal stamp: | 925-Sterling |
| Metal: | sterling-silver |
| Material Type: | pearl |
| Length: | 18 inches |
| Clasp Type: | other-clasp-type |
| Pearl Information | |
| Surface markings and blemishes: | lightly-blemished |
| Shape: | Round;Oval |
| Uniformity: | Good |
| Luster: | AA |
| Minimum color: | multicolored |
| Size per pearl: | 4-8mm |
| Stringing Method: | individual-safety-knots |
| Pearl type: | freshwater-cultured |
| Packaging Information | |
| Package: | Regal Blue Sueded-Cloth Pouch |
Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description
Venture beyond classic white and enjoy the rich pastel tones of this beautiful multi-color graduated pearl necklace. Freshwater cultured pearls, in shades of peach, pink, and mauve, are graduated in size and individually knotted on an 18-inch strand that's finished with a sterling silver filigree fishhook clasp. The pearls are well-matched for size and shape and have a diameter that ranges between 4mm and 8mm. With its fresh, feminine colors and lovely shine, this necklace makes a wonderful addition to your collection.
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
Would you like to give feedback on images?
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
very pretty,
By bonsai bulldog "why not?" (northwest Michigan, southwest Florida) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Multi-Color Pastel Graduated Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace with Sterling Silver Clasp (4-8mm), 18" (Jewelry)
At the promotional price of $24.99 that I paid for this necklace, it was more than worth the price. The pearls have good luster, minor blemishes, and are evenly graduated. The multi-colored pearls might not be for everyone, but I like it for a less formal, yet still classic look. The necklace is knotted between each pearl. (This traditional method of stringing pearls prevents the pearls from flying everywhere if the strand is broken.) The only criticism I have is that the stringing seems a bit tight, and there are slight kinks in the necklace. I'm waiting to see if it loosens up a bit with hanging so that it drapes better. If not, I'll restring it, which is not a problem if you know how. (If you had to pay a jeweler to restring, it might cost more than it's worth.)
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Luster,
By ~Z~ Amazon Verified Shopper (Western New York) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 100 REVIEWER)
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Multi-Color Pastel Graduated Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace with Sterling Silver Clasp (4-8mm), 18" (Jewelry)
I purchased these Pearls as a Lightening Deal for $24.99. These Pearls are worth every penny and more. They have a wonderful luster and I really like the pink/purple hues the pearls have. Great for casual wear. It also comes with a very durable buckle/clasp. Check out my Chihuahua in the item images displaying the necklace - noticed the variety of the pink/purple shades and the shine of the Pearls.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty, but not perfectly strung,
By Sharin "O'pinyon" (Seattle) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Multi-Color Pastel Graduated Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace with Sterling Silver Clasp (4-8mm), 18" (Jewelry)
This was a great price and I was suprised at the nice quality of the individual pearls, but, the stringing of the pearls lacked uniformity in arrangement of color. There were many darker colors on one side making the whole necklace look off-balance. This piece can only be viewed as a "fashion" piece and not as an heirloom to pass down, but still worth looking into.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
