Akoya Pearl Necklace - Akoya Pearl Jewelry

Akoya Pearl necklace is best known for its high luster and color brilliance. Akoya Pearls are commonly known as cultured saltwater pearls. Akoya pearls are the classic cultured pearls of Japan. In early nineteenth century, a Japanese man named Kokichi Mikimoto introduced to this world his bead-nucleating technique of culturing pearls in seawater - oyster's naturally occurring process of forming the pearl with human help thereby stimulating the process by producing the initial irritant or nucleus. Akoya oysters are small mollusks, so the pearls they produce range from sizes 3mm to 9mm. The oyster secretes nacre to cover the bead with layer upon layer of nacre. Thicker the nacre better is the quality. Akoya pearls are produced by Pinctada fucata oyster type.

In recent years China has come up with equally high quality akoya pearls. Every harvesting season, pearl farms growing akoya pearls often find small to medium size pearls of varying quality and it takes lot of efforts to choose the best quality pearls. The pearls are hand sorted, processed, and strung into hanks. Akoya pearl necklace made with quality pearls typically command higher values than freshwater pearl jewelry but comparatively cheaper than Tahitian and south seawater pearls.

With the new improved technologies and constant monitoring of pearl growth in pearl oysters, freshwater pearls often come in good quality and are available in wide array of colors and sizes but akoya pearls still typically command higher value. There is great demand for akoya pearls both in U.S and foreign markets. All akoya pearls are cultured pearls.

Higher grades quality akoya pearls that are known for their brilliant luster and nearly perfect round shapes make the perfect akoya pearl necklace. Each pearl is hand knotted and stringed together to make a beautiful akoya pearl necklace. Akoya pearl necklace is the preferred choice for many women and adorned all over the world. Although akoya pearls do come in cream, pink, rose overtones etc, yet white color is the standard classic color when it comes to buying akoya pearl necklace. It is always good to buy akoya pearl necklace with matching akoya pearl earrings and or bracelet. Akoya pearls are indeed very alluring and make excellent luxurious gifts.

http://www.pearlprincess.com/

Kheri

The Myth and Mystique of a Black Pearl Necklace

Since recorded history, man has coveted the luminous white gems we call pearls. Revered the world over for their rare beauty, otherworldly sheen and understated elegance, pearls are as popular in modern society as they were with European royals and Egyptian princesses centuries ago. Today, pearl jewelry connoisseurs have a new love: black pearls. Exotic, luxurious and rare, a rich black pearl necklace presents a striking picture?the gems definitely lack the demure, chaste image of their classic white counterparts. For the woman who has everything, a black pearl necklace, whether showcased alone in a pendant or in a perfectly matched strand, makes a wonderful addition to her jewelry collection. Think of how lovely a black pearl necklace will look on any skin tone!

Where do jewelers get the pearls they use in a matched black pearl necklace?

?Black? pearls are also known as ?Tahitian cultured pearls,? but both names are misleading. Not only are Tahitian cultured pearls not exclusively black, they?re also not grown in Tahiti. Called ?black? because of their exotic dark colors, Tahitian cultured pearls can be gray, blue, green and brown. And they?re grown in the lagoons of small islands that are part of a group known as French Polynesia. Tahiti, the largest island, serves as the group?s center of commerce, and not as a pearl growing mecca. Interestingly, fine Tahitian cultured pearls have only been on the market since the 1970s. Yet they have become quite popular in that short time.

Growing Tahitian pearls

Tahitian pearls are cultivated for around two years in Pinctada margaritifera cumingi, a large saltwater mollusk that is native to French Polynesia. One of the ways this unique oyster differs from other species is that its interior shell color is dark. This so-called ?black lipped? oyster also has black mantle edges?the ?lips? that give the animal its descriptive name. Due to overfishing, adult wild oyster populations aren?t as plentiful as they used to be. In an effort to reverse this trend, the government protects the animals; pearl farmers in French Polynesia who wish to culture the black lipped oyster must raise the oysters from spat (baby oysters). If the farmer is successful in nurturing the spat to adulthood, at around two and a half to three years old, the oysters are implanted with mantle tissue and a mother-of-pearl bead to start the pearl growing process. This delicate operation is performed by specially trained workers called nucleators; even so, according to the Gemological Institute of America, more than 50 percent of the oysters die or reject the nucleus.

Literature from GIA says, ?Add those oysters to the ones that don?t meet the implantation criteria: The farmer?s potential pearl-producing stock is less than half the number that lived long enough to be considered for nucleation. When the pearl growth period begins, after three years of work, the farmer has only 20 percent of the oysters he collected as spat.? No wonder a fine quality Tahitian cultured pearl is so rare!

Tahitian pearl growth generally takes place in a closed lagoon that is ringed by coral reefs. Such a setup offers protection and a stable environment for the implanted oysters to complete the pearl-growing process. After the oysters have been submerged for 22 to 26 months, they?re hauled to the surface, where any pearls they managed to grow are harvested. The farmers then clean and lightly buff the gems prior to offering them for sale. Farmers also sort the pearls by color, shape, etc. and grouped with like pearls.

In the end, only one to two percent of the Tahitian cultured pearl crop consists of fine quality round cultured pearls.

Color

Today, the most sought-after Tahitian cultured pearls are dark green-gray to blue gray with ros? or purple overtones. But how do pearls get their color? No one is completely sure, but we do know that pearl colors are determined by several factors, including variations in the host oyster, color variation of the implanted donor mussel tissue, the number and thickness of nacre layers, and variations in growing environment such as temperature and water quality. Tahitian pearls are most often variations of gray, black, green and blue, but other colors exist. Search on the Internet for Tahitian cultured pearl images, and you will see they are not all black!

Buying a black pearl necklace

At an average size of 8mm-14mm, Tahitian cultured pearls?especially those specimens that are gem-quality and round?are very expensive. (GIA estimates that one first-quality, unusually large Tahitian cultured pearl will set you back thousands of dollars!) If only one to two percent of the harvest produces a fine quality round Tahitian cultured pearl, imagine how long it takes to make a matched strand! No wonder a black pearl necklace is so costly. Choose carefully, keeping in mind that pearls with a desirable overtone (secondary color) and pearls that are larger than typical will be more expensive. Look for pearls that are well-matched, not pitted or marked in any obvious way (minor surface characteristics are acceptable). Be sure to check return policies up front, too, in case you have a problem. Ask your retail jeweler for his or her store policy or, if buying online, check the site?s guarantee prior to making a purchase. Once you receive your pearls, be sure to examine them closely. After wearing, store your pearl necklace away from other gems; while fairly durable, pearls are prone to scratching and their nacre will erode over time, especially if exposed to harsh chemicals like bleach, perfume and chlorine. Black pearl necklaces in modern fashion

Although slow to catch on at first, thanks in part to publicity from stars such as actress Elizabeth Taylor, a renowned jewelry collector who wore a striking black pearl necklace in publicity photos for her Black Pearls perfume launch, Tahitian cultured pearls are wildly popular today. It?s not hard to find examples of fine black pearl jewelry in modern society. Look around and you?ll see black pearl necklaces on everyone from businesswomen to moms to Hollywood A-list actresses, models and celebrities. Take Kiera Knightly, for example, who wore a stunning black baroque Tahitian cultured pearl choker at the premier of her movie, The Black Pearl. Stars like Christy Turlington, Naomi Watts, Heidi Klum, Michael Michelle, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Shalom Harlow are also pearl fans.

Perhaps black pearls? popularity is why designers like David Yurman, Elsa Peretti and Paloma Picasso (for Tiffany & Co.) are incorporating stunning black pearls, and even black baroque and black keshi pearls, into modern designs like long chain necklaces, brooches, chokers and charm bracelets. Black pearl drop earrings and pendants are also favorites, as they require little matching?or none at all. Whimsical designs on cufflinks and in popular frog, dragonfly and other animal pins incorporate black pearls as well.

Black pearl necklace alternatives

When most people think of black pearl jewelry, they naturally think of Tahitian cultured pearls. But prices are high for these rare gems, in part due to their large size, unusual colors, and the high cost of producing them. If you want to wear real Tahitian cultured pearls, one way to do so without breaking the bank is to choose a pendant-style necklace with a single pearl; black pearl stud earrings; a single black pearl ring, or black baroque (non-symmetrical) pearls. These designs are every bit as exotic yet much more affordable than a matched black pearl strand.

For customers for whom Tahitian pearl jewelry is beyond reach, there are some inexpensive yet beautiful alternatives to the classic black pearl necklace. Today, freshwater pearls?round, drop, button and baroque?are color-treated to produce a look that closely resembles the hue of Tahitian cultured pearls. The natural-looking result is beautiful and looks great in such pieces as a baroque black pearl bracelet, black pearl drop earrings or black pearl necklace. Every bit as real as their Tahitian cousins, black freshwater cultured pearls? color is man-made, but keep in mind that nearly all pearls are treated somehow (bleaching is the most common enhancement).

If you?re after not only the color but the size of fine Tahitian pearls, consider a black ?pearl? necklace made from black mother-of-pearl beads. Their generous size, lustrous sheen and affordable price make them a popular alternative to a fine Tahitian pearl necklace.

A graduate of the Gemological Institute of America?s Graduate Pearls program, Amy Drescher is a fashion writer and accessories buyer for http://www.moonriverpearls.com She welcomes your questions. Reach her at adrescher@moonriverpearls.com

The Beauty of Cultured Pearl Necklace

The timeless jewelry that speaks of elegance and beauty is none other than the pearl necklace. It is the only jewelry that never goes out of fashion and can be worn on all types of occasion. It can be match with any kind of clothing may it be formal or just plain casual.

Pearl is the birth stone of June. That is why most brides prefer to wear it especially if they are June brides. It gives out the impression of simplicity and chastity. The pureness of pearls radiates from the bearer.

Pearls used to be very rare and at the same time expensive. Nowadays, there are the so-called cultured pearls already which make the once so expensive now an affordable jewelry.

The pearl necklace usually comes in a various styles. One of which is the bib which is made up of several strands of pearls in various lengths. The Collar or also known as the dog collar is made up of multiple strands of pearls which are worn on the neck higher than usual.

There is also the choker. It is quite similar to collar but the worn lower on the neck. Usually it is just 14 to 16 inches long. The princess type of necklace on the other hand is the most common length of pearl necklaces. It is worn which lies slightly below the neck.

The matinee type of necklace is worn mostly during the semi-formal occasions. It matches very well with suits and dresses. The opera necklace is the one used for formal occasions like the evening gowns. It usually falls below the bust line.

The last type of necklace is the rope which is the longest among all pearl necklaces. It can be worn by doubling or knotting it. There are rope necklaces which have multiple clasps which are use to shorten the strands.

The pearls that are used as necklace can sometimes have the same size. Or they can be styled or graduated with a much larger pearl on the center and then the succeeding smaller pearls will run on the back on each side to the clasp. Whichever style you choose, good matching is very important both for fashion or beauty reasons and as well as for the value.

There are six factors which add up to the value or price of a pearl which are surface texture, luster, shape, nacre thickness, color, and size.

Pearls achieve their most distinctive beauty which comes from the reflection of light through the layers of crystalline nacre. The transparent nacre provides the deep shine and the high reflection. The luster is the essence of beauty of all pearls. A qualitative pearl will emit a brilliant and equal reflection with fine radiance.

The reflection of the pearl surface gives a dominant or prevailing color of pearls. The overtone is the deeper light reflected in which it draws the innermost color of the pearl.

The light shade pearls are cream, white and even golden in shade. The most valuable are white with association of pink and silver colors. On the other hand, the most fetish darker shade pearls are the black with association of green or blue colors.

The shape is also essential. The perfect round shape with a very smooth surface pearls are the most qualitative. It should have a very few imperfections.

There are different types of cultured pears. One of which is the Classic Akoya pearls. Another is the large black Tahitian pearls. Both of these pearls grow in salt water ocean so obviously they are called saltwater pearls.

There is also the large Golden or white south sea pearls and the decorative freshwater pearls which are inexpensive.

The pearls usually have four grading when it comes to quality. It is called as A, AA, AAA, and the AAA+ quality. The pearls with AAA and AAA+ grading of quality are the highest quality.

You can purchase these cultured pearl jewelries from any jewelry stores. You can also try browsing online to find the most affordable and classic pearls. You can also find a great bargain sometimes with online auctions.

It is still advisable to buy pearls in stores that have certification on being an expert with jewelries and of course from those with license. This is for you to be rest assured that you will buy the authentic ones.

For more information go to: http://www.unlimitedpearls.com http://www.bestpearlnecklaces.com

Neverkink Garden Hose Reels - The best thing since a pearl necklace, just ask Sharon Stone

Summer time means working outside in the yard. There is always plenty of work to do to make sure your lawn or garden looks nice. Your yard is the face to your house; it's the first thing people see so it's important that you make a great first impression. Unfortunately it takes a lot of hard work outside in the heat of summer to get your lawn and garden to look great. There is watering, weeding, mowing, planting, digging and plenty other activities that make me tired just writing them.

In fact yard can be quite strenuous, did you know that pushing a hand mower burns more calories then an hour on the treadmill at 4 miles per hour. Working in the garden can even be considered a work out, the risk of heart disease declines for each day of 30 minute yard work you perform. But just like a regular workout yard work can cause injuries also. Repetitive movements such as raking or weeding can be very tough on joints like the elbows and wrists, which is something to remember if you spend all day in an office typing or doing other carpal-tunnel like movements. Staying crouched over while working in the garden or pulling weeds can be very hard on the back. Why I am I telling you all of this? It's not because I hate gardening, it's the opposite. I love gardening and I have found the coolest tool to make gardening life easier. It is an automatic neverkink garden hose reel.

Before I said that your lawn was the face to your house, well these new retractable hose reels are the diamond earrings which give your yard that extra glam. The retractable neverkink hose reels come in dozens of different styles so that you can choose the perfect one to match the d?cor of your house. They have models with a wood finish, open and closed styles, plus my favorite a model with a built in sink. You really have to see it to believe it but the hose is hidden neatly on the retractable hose reel underneath a sink and faucet, which can all be hooked up to any out door spigot on your house. This means that for BBQ's or out door parties you can keep a sink outside to make life that much easier. The most impressive of all the features is that all of these new retractable neverkink hose reels retract automatically.

The makers of these automatic hose reels have developed an ingenious device which uses the water pressure of the spigot to retract the hose automatically on all of their retractable hose reel products. There are no more lazy excuses about difficult cranking for leaving the hose on the lawn to be run over by the mower. It is so simple, just flip a switch and the hose will retract all by its self.

Every once in a while a new product comes out that make life easier; this is one of those products. There are plenty of cool videos and animations about retractable neverkink hose reels. In fact you can even see Sharon Stone talk about how she would rather have a retractable hose reel than jewelry, all you have to do is look it up on YouTube. Retractable neverkink hose reels - loved by celebrities, make life easier, improve the look of your yard, and are affordably priced.

Well, what are your waiting for, check out retractable neverkink hose reels now. For more information please visit www.never-kink.com

Efrat is a writer for Compucall-usa.com. For more information please visit http://www.never-kink.com

Necklaces of the Renaissance Period

The Renaissance began in Italy during the 1300's, it spread to England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and other countries during the 1400's and ending in the early 1600's. This movement was considered a rebirth of the ancient works of art, literature, and philosophy. The Europeans studied these three endeavors of ancient Greece and Rome following the great scholars and artists, becoming themselves great in continuing and even advancing these areas. This movement reached a height in the 1400's and the early 1500's when achievements had become some of the greatest in history.

During the Renaissance jewelers achieved breakthroughs in shop tools, working areas, methods, and advanced techniques. Successful artists came from serving in strict apprenticeships or grew up working with family or close friends in the trade. Jewelry was in high demand during this period in history. In Florence, Italy there were over forty shops dedicated to producing the finest jewelry the world had yet ever seen. The style before the Renaissance was called Gothic which was thought to have expelled all of the possible works from it and had given in to the new more elaborate style.

During the end of the fifteenth century western Europe had become united in many ways and artists freely traveled about expanding their craft. During this time of international freedom, French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Hungarian jewelers developed their style at an equal pace. This made it difficult sometimes to distinguish from which country the jewelry was made during the Renaissance period. Italy was considered one of the greatest at the time for many forms of art including jewelry. Throughout Europe, Italian jewelers were sought for their advanced techniques and amazing methods for extracting the finest detail.

The technique at the time was very disciplined and defined. The overall piece would often have a central theme with incredible detail and precision. The designs would be incredible stretches of the imagination, ships, galleons, mermaids, mermen, salamanders, sea horses, and cupids would be laced with beautiful diamonds and other precious gems. Brooches, pendants, and ropes were sculpted from onyx, silver, gold and laced with pearls, opals, and rubies. Necklaces were normally made to end part way around the neck with looped ends and linking done with threading applied to backings in some cases. A necklace with a pendant was called en suite. Portraits were carved with babies and angels, sculpted with such fine detail as to the point of miraculous. Irregular pearls called baroque would be set in a design that made their unusual shape flow and become a necessary part of the piece. Diamonds were often fashioned into triangular chips embellishing the piece with extraordinary beauty.

During this time gems were thought to contain special powers for the body, so these were designed into the piece to touch the skin. Salamanders were said to represent passionate love and cupids were often times given as gifts to enhance a special meeting. An interesting note, Queen Elizabeth enjoyed animal jewels and had various ones in her collection including greyhound, scorpion, turtledove, and dolphin.

Output of South German and Hungarian mines worked at a fevered pitch to meet the massive demand for gold in this period. The Hungarian mines also produced opals and precious stones which were also imported from the Oriental regions. Sea coral was used for carving which came from off the shores of Italy.

In the making of the pieces casting was performed, many times in two or more sections or portions. After casting, various pieces were put into different combinations bringing about different designs. Opaque white enameling would be done with care as to not completely cover all the metal. Carefully applying enamel to recessed areas with deep cuts or cells of metal then sanding the metal down to the level of the enamel was called champleve'. Adhesive used for precious gems was black wax. The wax was used if metal drawn over or embracing the precious stone detracted from the overall design of what the artist envisioned. There were a few methods used for making tiny sculptures. Some of these included wax modeling which was accomplished then careful casting of the tiny art piece then melting out the wax. Small sheet metal shaping and pressing was also done if the piece required it.

Rings were the most popular, then pendants, and then necklaces. Pendants were worn by men, women, and children. Men and children wore them around the neck. Women wore them around the neck or pinned or tied with ribbon on the dress or sleeve.

The jewelry of the Renaissance with all of its passion and romance continues on as talented artists embrace and study this great period. Keeping it still alive with their own masterpieces influenced by this era of artistic achievement.

To see some amazing jewelry visit: www.amazing-adventure.com/Jewelry/AlleJewelry.htm

Glenn Heitkoetter is a part time writer and runs the following websites: www.incredible-items.com and www.amazing-adventure.com