Pearls - Pearls before Mollusks

This weekend I was walking along the boardwalk at Ocean Beach. Sunlight poured down on the sand and people, warming the spring day. Street performers, some playing battered instruments with frayed hats for donations at their feet, lined the sidewalk. Vendors pedaled colored sand in glass bottles and whimsical portraits at the passing tourist. Being a local, I normally moved past the circus like spectacle without giving it much thought. But one particular vendor caught my attention. She was selling an array of beaded and shell necklaces and bracelets. The way the sun hit the pearls reflected in my eye. The strange shimmer of iridescence from the stones drew me to them. How could something this wondrous come from the depths of the sea?

Pearls before Mollusks

Mollusks, much like their name, are unique creatures. An invertebrate with a calcium based shell, they live on the bottom of the oceans or freshwater lakes and ponds. Their shell has an irregular shape, almost an oval; it opens like a book and protects their soft un-segmented (think one large muscle) body. A mollusk or oysters forms pearls for self-defense. The creation of the beaded jewel keeps parasites from hurting the mollusk's soft body. Yet, the beauty of the gem is universal. During the early years of human civilizations a pearl was a rare gemstone that only the wealthiest of people owned. But as technology and science advanced, the cultivation of pearls was established. While the process is relatively simple, the period of gestation before harvest last several years. A polished bead, the size of a BB, made from the shell of mollusk, combined with tissue scraped from a mollusk's mantle, is placed in an oyster (saltwater pearls). For freshwater pearls, only the mantle tissue is placed in the mollusk. Using its biological resources, the mollusk creates the pearl around the irritation (placed BB) to seal off the uncomfortable sensation. There are three types of saltwater pearls: Akoya, Tahitan and South Sea. Akoya pearls take one year to form. Tahitan and South Sea pearls take anywhere from two to four years to form. Fresh water pearls grow at a rate of two to seven years. When finally formed, they are then farmed and sold to jewelers and artisans.

Pearls as Jewelry

Wearing pearls brings an opulent and sophisticated look to the wearer. They connect the wearer with the depths and mystery of the sea. Pearls work as necklaces, which can be layered in rows that drape seductively around the neck. Matching bracelets and earrings are accessories that elaborate one's fashion sense. Another common accentuation to pearled jewelry is Mother of Pearl. It is made from the shell lining of the mollusk. It is resilient and iridescent; its colors change under light as the angles of the UV spectrum bounces from it. Pearl jewelry is great for traditional ceremonies and affairs. Dinner parties, graduations, black-tie events are all exquisite situations to show off a new found appreciation of the aquatic jewelry. Pearl rings are great for any event, as it shows a breezy style for the less structured outing; but concurrently works for a night on the town. Don't associate pearls with an old world style. Pearls come in dozens of colors: black, green, red, blue, orange and variations of each; their aesthetic is contemporary internationally.

The Cost of Pearls

Jewelry is an expensive purchase, hence the luxurious connotations associated with it. The price of pearl jewelry varies; there's the type of pearl to consider and what piece of jewelry is being purchased. Is it a single piece, like a necklace, or is it a set of earrings and necklace? It can be a difficult decision to make, and in these trying economic times the purchase can be risky. But there's a simple solution that won't cost an arm and a leg. Wholesale pearl beads sell at highly discounted prices. With the right attitude and the internet, there's no limit to the type and style of jewelry one can make. Mix the colors of pearls to create a multicolored bracelet, design a unique pattern of differently shaped beads. It's all possible with a creative disposition. A homemade pearl necklace will look as elegant as a one bought from a jeweler for a fraction of the price.