Thursday, December 4, 2008

How to buy a pearl necklace

By Spencer Tang

Choosing a pearl necklace begins with understanding how a pearl is formed. This precious 'stone' is born from the formation of nacre within an oyster. With the class and elegance that a pearl necklace brings, there is little wonder why this piece of accessory is highly sought-after by women the world over.

Naturally produced pears are a rare and extremely valuable but the more common types of pears are cultured pearls. It can be difficult to tell the difference between a natural pearl and one that's been cultured. There are also synthetic pearls that are much cheaper than natural and cultured pearls. If you're on a tight budget, some pearl necklace buying tips include buying synthetic pearls that come in a diverse range of colors, designs and sizes.

A key to learning how to buy a pearl necklace comes in choosing one whose length is flattering to your individual body type - whether you have a long neck, short neck or wide neck, how old you are and your overall physical make-up. As a general guideline, long necklaces like the rope and the opera will elongate a short neck while short necklaces like the collar and choker varieties help flatter longer necks.

When choosing a pearl necklace, it is critical to select a length that flatters your age, neck shape and length, and physique. Shorter necklaces tend to suit long necks while long necklaces help to elongate the neck (for people with short necks). The collar-type necklace is the shortest at 10 to 13 inches long while the longest - rope - can be more than 37 inches in length. If you're looking for a necklace to suit almost anyone, then one between 18 and 24 inches long will do.

If you're wondering how to buy a pearl necklace for semi-formal or corporate wear, then the matinee (20" - 24") will be ideal. Remember the rule-of-thumb; longer thinner necks are flattered by shorter necklaces that sit at the base of the neck while shorter necks look best with longer necklaces - at least 2 inches below the collarbone.

If you're choosing a pearl necklace to wear with corporate or business outfits, or for semi-formal events, then the matinee length is ideal. The rule-of-thumb goes that people with short necks should wear necklaces that sit at least 2 inches below the collarbone while people with longer necks should wear necklaces that sit at the base of the neck.

One of the world's highest quality pearls, renown for their beauty and brilliance, are cultivated by Mikimoto. With fans from the British and Japanese royal families, a high-grade Mikimoto pearl necklace has been known to have an almost mirror-like reflective quality.

Beautiful black, gray and green-black pearls are known as Tahitian pearls, named after the island of Tahiti. These are grown from black-lipped oysters and how to buy a pearl necklace made of Tahitian pearls is to look out for their luster, clarity and mirror-like sheen as well as for any flaws like discoloration, spots, scratches, bumps and other irregularities.

Buying a full set including a pearl necklace, earrings, ring, bracelet, can help you get a discount for your jewelry. Buying from an original supplier can also help you get a pearl necklace accessory at a cheaper price. Unfortunately, these suppliers often deal in bulk so you might want to gather people who are willing to combine their purchases with you so that you can all enjoy the benefit of choosing a pearl necklace at a discount. - 16650

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