"The Pearl is the Queen of gems and the gem of Queens"

 ~Author unknown

Over the next few months, I'll be talking about pearls. Pearls have been a source of fascination and desire since ancient times. Viewed as magic charms, symbols of purity and love, or sources of wisdom and power, pearls have been revered by countless civilizations.

This month I'll brief you on how to buy cultured pearls... elegant works of man & nature.

The saltwater cultured pearl begins its life as an irritant to the oyster. Freshwater pearls form in various species of freshwater mussels which live in lakes, rivers, ponds and other bodies of fresh water.

How to buy cultured pearls:
When purchasing a piece of cultured pearl jewelry, it's best to buy from a knowledgeable, professional jeweler who can explain how to make the most of your purchase and ensure you are getting the best cultured pearls within your budget. The higher the quality of cultured pearl you select, the more valued they become over time. Use the following quality factors to evaluate cultured pearls and cultured pearl jewelry:

Luster: A combination of surface brilliance and deep glow that seems to emanate from within the heart of the pearl. The luster of a good quality cultured pearl should be bright, not dull, enabling you to see your reflection on the surface. A pearl that appears too white, dull or chalky indicates poor quality.

Surface: Because cultured pearls are grown in oysters or muscles, it is rare to find a cultured pearl whose surface is free from any type of blemish. Blemishes can include disfiguring spots, bumps, pits and cracks on the surface of the pearl. The fewer blemishes, the more valuable the pearl will be.

Shape: It is very rare to find a perfectly round cultured pearl, but generally the rounder the pearl, the more valuable it is. Cultured pearls also come in oval, pear and baroque shapes.

Color: Cultured pearls come in a wide range of colors, from white to pink to black. The color of the pearl is a matter of personal preference. 

Size: Cultured pearls are measured by their diameter in millimeters. They can be smaller than 1 mm, in the case of keshi or "seed" pearls, or as large as 20 mm for big South Sea cultures pearls. With other factors being equal, the larger the cultured pearl, the more valuable it is, since it is difficult for an oyster to grow a pearl larger than 5 mm.

Matching: When buying a strand of cultured pearls, blending is very important. All the pearls in a good quality strand should be evenly blended in terms of luster, surface, shape, color, and size. Well-blended pearl necklaces command top prices because cultured pearl growers must harvest about 10,000 oysters in order to find enough pearls that match closely enough to

A Little Q&A on Custom Design at Hayes

Q: What is custom design and how is it done?

A:  Here's how we do it:

1. You have an idea.  You talk to one of our professional jewelry designers. 

2. We make a drawing or show you a mounting you like.

3. We make a wax model.

4. We make the wax model ready for the oven. 

5. We make a mold for casting.

6. We cast the mounting.

7. We clean up the mounting.

8. We set the stones in the mounting.

9.  Your new creation is ready, made from items you were not using.

Q: What will it cost?

A: Don't let the words "Custom Design" mislead you.  Remember we can use your gold or ours; your gemstones or ours.  So how do we price this service?  Because each design entails different methods of labor and different parts, each piece is priced accordingly.  We will give you an estimate at no charge so you will know the price before we even begin.

Q: How long does it take?

A: Since there are a few steps in the process, you'll understand that we need adequate time to carefully make your special piece of jewelry.  Please allow us the needed two to three weeks.