Learn more about pearls

Throughout history, pearls have been valued and appreciated around the world for their warm shine and sparkling appearance. Thanks to the timeless elegance that defines them, they have become an essential gem in any jewelry box.

Through the ages, the value that has been given to pearls unites the past and the present , to turn them into a precious object of desire. It was the ancient Egyptians who began to make them a symbol of power and prestige, since it was the most valuable object that could be purchased with money.

Monarchs from all over the world also admired the iridescent shine of pearls. Queen Elisabeth I, creator of the so-called Elizabethan style in the 16th century, had such admiration for these gems that they began to nickname her “Queen of Pearls,” since for her they constituted a very important element in her jewelry, symbolizing the chastity.

Created naturally when a foreign element is trapped in a mollusk, they defend themselves by creating layers of aragonite and conchiolin around the foreign object, secreting beautiful layers of nacre around them that will give rise to pearls.

Perhaps part of its beauty also lies in its creation process , since something beautiful and of great value is created from a threat.

But what determines the value of a pearl? There are several factors that will be taken into account when evaluating a pearl: its origin, size, the thickness of the nacre, its brightness, or its base color and nuances will be the main ones.

If we refer to their shape , perhaps the first ones that come to mind are round pearls, the most valuable due to their timeless perfection. However, there are many more, which we describe below:

• Pear or water drop : oval in shape, they are perfect for jewelry in which the pearl hangs. Despite not having a perfect rounded shape, they are highly appreciated as they are very uniform.
• Currency : flattened, they are an elegant as well as sophisticated option. Ideal for earrings that accompany you in your daily life, or on the most special occasions.
• Baroque : irregular, original and unique. Each one will have a different shape, giving rise to special and unrepeatable jewels.
• Keshi: Like baroque pearls, these pearls are also irregular and unique. Unlike other cultured pearls, which are created by inserting a nucleus into an oyster or mussel and letting it cover it with its nacre, Keshi pearls are created by chance, during cultivation. Therefore, they are all mother-of-pearl, with an intense shine and a generally flattened shape.

Also, when classifying these marine gems, their origin is one of the most important factors when determining their value.

When the pearls are of natural origin , the mollusk that houses them will determine their color and shape. But the place where that mollusk is found will be relevant when classifying them. Thus, we find the following types:

• Australian : these are the most coveted pearls in the world, and their price will depend on their brilliance and perfection. Its cultivation can take between 3 and 9 years, and its colors range from white to black; and their shapes vary from the perfect round to the irregular baroque. It is a type of pearl grown in the salt waters of northern Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
• Tahiti : They are grown in the temperate saltwater waters of French Polynesia. This type of pearl can be of different colors such as gray, green, orange, gold or blue. Among these pearls, the most valued are the black ones: unique in the world, their size can reach up to 13 mm, and their spectacular shine makes them the most coveted. Its cultivation time is shorter, taking 2 to 3 years.
• Freshwater or freshwater : these are pearls formed in rivers or lakes. Its cultivation time is between six months and four years. Its production is much higher than Australian pearls or Tahitian pearls, hence its price is much lower. Also the number of shapes they can achieve are infinite, ranging from perfectly smooth, to original baroque, or striated.
• Mabe pearls: they are known in jewelry as Japanese pearls. This type of pearls have the peculiarity of growing attached to the shell of the mollusk instead of inside it. Because their shape is flattened on one side, they are usually used in earrings to hide this side. Its cultivation time is the shortest of all types, ranging from six to two years.

At Carbal Jewelry, pearls occupy a very important space among our Dolce Far Niente collection, since each and every one of our jewelry is characterized by an elegant and exclusive design. Reinventing this classic in jewelry with timeless pieces makes our collection a must-have in any jewelry box.