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. There are different types and grades of pearls: from the rare and naturally formed pearls to the popular cultivated pearls and finally, the cheaper variation – synthetic pearls. It is often difficult to tell the difference between natural and cultured pearls unless you have a trained eye. Spherical, symmetrical and baroque are three main shapes of pearls. Spherical pearls are round in shape and are the most popular of choice. Symmetrical pearls tend to be oval, button or teardrop shaped while baroque pearls are irregularly shaped and can come in the form resembling sticks or even crosses. Pearls come in 3 main shapes – round or spherical, symmetrical and baroque. If you’re looking for the perfect pearl necklace, it is important to familiarize yourself it’s various shapes. Spherical pearls are the most familiar and popular while symmetrical pearls include oval shaped, button and drop pearls. And finally, baroque pearls comprise all other shapes that cannot be categorized as round or symmetrical. These pearls, for example, can resemble sticks, crosses, etc. Because collar necklaces are the shortest at 10 to 13 inches long, they are worn high on the neck and are great for evening as well as casual wear. Choker is slightly longer and worn at the base of the neck. One of the most flexible lengths for a pearl necklace and suitable for almost any neckline, is the princess. These tend to be 17 to 20 inches in length. 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. The matinee pearl necklace is most ideal for semi-formal wear and goes great with dresses and corporate wear. If you’re looking for pearl necklace buying tips, bear in mind that if you have a short neck, a necklace that sits 2 inches below the collarbone will look flattering while a long thin neck will be well-flattered by shorter length necklaces that sit at the base of the neck. With a wide variety of colors, you can choose a pearl necklace in white, cream, pink, silver, gold and even yellow. While most common colors are the lighter tones, darker skin tones will suit gold or yellow pearls.
Tags: baroque pearls, class and elegance, cultured pearls, flexible lengths, oval buttonFeb 28