Being the granddaughter of a jewelry addict I've picked up some taste (even if I still can't figure out just how DNA and blood have made us related). No, we don't got shopping together, well sure we do but we just go to the same mall. What my point is we're are not Shopping Buddies. No, we're not that pair from the chick flick you just saw last week where we hover over each other's purchases and go "Like, OMG, that is SO cute!" and start giggling the whole time during the buying process. No, I go to my section of the mall, pick up a pretzel, and she goes...well, I guess this is an obvious piece of evidence we don't go shopping together. I have seen her jewelry boxes though, what's filled with self indulgent buys to gifts to random finds from dog walks. Then additionally being a WikiManiac I wikied it.

And found Nacre. Or more commonly known as the mother of pearl. Narce received its name of Mother of Pearl because, well, it's seriously the real "mother" of true pearls. That's where pearls come from. Narce is the creator of pearls, the inside layer of pearl oyster shells, and freshwater pearl mussel shells. Nacre is also a common inner shell layer of other species of mollusks (type of shells) such as marine gastropods (i.e. Haliotidae, the Trochidae, and Turbinidae) Narce as the inner shell of oysters and said mollusks is a mix of minerals that are used on the inside of their shells as a protection from parasites and other not-supposed-to-be-there kinds of things.

Most mother of pearl are found in pearl oysters from tropical seas from Asia. Many freshwater mussels are found in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Abalone, another popular jewelry piece, are mostly found in California, Japan, and other Pacific regions and of the Indian Ocean off Southern Africa.

Narce on jewelry is commonly used in jewelry. They can be sown onto clothing, and are used decoratively on watch face, knives, and guns. Mother of pearl is a beautiful piece admired by a wide range of ages (something very rare these days). Why, even heiress Nikki Hilton agrees and I'm sure she wouldn't wear just any ol' piece of junk!

I have found a few cute pieces of mother of pearl jewelry here for a very reasonable price. Grandma does not know how to shop on line, which created a great opportunity for me. At least I know where and what to get for her next piece of mother of pearl jewelry for under $20, which she might think it would be at least $120!


Rock on,
Ally Day.

The Shell Pearl is a lab made pearl from an oyster’s shell and hence it got the name Shell Pearl. The making of a Shell Pearl undergoes certain different stages. The raw material that is used at the pearl’s base is the sea shell. This is coated and polished to get a desired shape of the pearl. A mother of pearl bead is used as a key ingredient to improve the quality of the pearl. It also adds durability, value and weight to the pearl.

Shell Pearls are always a better choice among the pearl lovers throughout the world. Price is the one factor. The shell pearl is available at an affordable price and so wearing it is no longer impossible by all those who love to. There are some Shell Pearls that are expensive because of their good quality. But, overall Shell Pearls are cheaper and easier to buy.

The quality of the Shell Pearl is amazing. It is not a rare one like that of the cultured pearls. The Shell Pearls are produced manually that allows the manufacturer to control and determine certain factors like size, shape and color of the pearl. Hence, getting a perfect final result or output. The Shell Pearls are also very durable, as well because of the modern technologies used in its production. It has a high luster that keeps the pearl shining al the time. The color and luster of the pearl remain unaffected by perfumes, sweat or detergents due to long processes of shaping, coating and intensive quality control during its manufacture stage.

You can a wide variety of choices while purchasing a Shell Pearl. The different colors and shapes provides you with an array to choose the most effective one and the one that suits your tastes.

It is so simple to own one of these beautiful pieces. Just click here to get this, 12mm Multi-colored SouthSea Shell Pearl Set of 2 with 14k White Gold Clasps, for a wholesale price of less than $80.00. It's a limited time offer.

The shell pearls are hand crafted from the shells of the oysters in the oceans. They are polished greatly to give pristine luster. The shell pearls are very expensive pearls, but it offers such an elegant and a graceful look that you would not like to miss at all. There are many variations available in the shape of the shell pearls that renders an entire unique outlook to the wearer. The shell pearl necklace is a heart throb among all women because of its beautiful natural colors, variation in its shape and sizes and its heavy weight.

Wearing a shell pearl necklace points out an exclusive fashion statement for the women. You can wear this artistic shell pearl necklace with any of your outfit. One of the beautiful designs of a shell pearl necklace the necklace made of the south sea shell pearls. The pearls used in this necklace are extracted from the south ocean pearl oysters. These necklaces come basically in two colors- white and black. They are very big, stunning and heavy. Its length ranges from about 15” to 17”.

You can also get the shell pearl necklace of smaller size up to 10mm. the multi colored shell pearl necklace has exhibits grand beauty where pearls of 12mm in size are used. These pearls are double knotted on a silk thread with hands having a beautiful golden ball clasp. The shell pearls are the best quality pearls that cannot be compared with any other pearls. If you use only, white shell pearls to make a necklace it just shows purity and innocence. Necklace made of black shell pearls match your skin tone and look gorgeous for an evening wear.

A shell pearl necklace would serve as a memorable and a remarkable gift, if gifted to your loved ones.

It is so simple to own one of these beautiful pieces. Just click here to get this, 4 Strands 8mm White and Black Southsea Shell Pearl Bracelet, 925 Sterling Silver for a wholesale price of less than $40.00. It's a limited time offer.

Shell pearls are hand crafted from shells of ocean pearl oysters and polished to shine with pristine luster. Shell pearls are very costly but their elegance and graceful look is something you would never want to miss. There are subtle variations in the shapes of each pearl rendering with a unique appeal. This variation in shape, gorgeous natural colors and their heavy weight contributes makes them the heartthrob among most women.

Shell pearl necklaces are absolutely fabulous fashion statements. Many women love to wear these exquisite necklaces with their evening wear. One of the beautiful patterns of the shell pearl necklace are the south sea shell pearl necklaces. The pearls in these necklaces are extracted from the south ocean pearl oysters. These necklaces generally come in two colors namely white and black. They are huge, heavy and absolutely stunning. Their usual size is of 14mm and the diameter is more than half an inch. The length of an average shell pearl necklace is about 16”.

They are also available in smaller sizes of around 10mm where as a multi colored necklace has the pearls of size 12mm. These pearls are double knotted on a silk thread by hand and have a beautiful gold ball clasp. The luster emitted by these shell pearl necklaces is absolutely fabulous. These pearls are of top quality and cannot be distinguished from the south sea pearls or Tahitian pearls. White pearl necklaces have a beautiful silvery white hue; black pearls do not appear to be jet black but are very dark gray in color with just a tinge of bronze overtone.

The multi colored shell pearl necklace is a delicate strand of different beautiful subtle shades like, black, bronze, green and gold. These colors are similar to the ones found in the nature. There are many other patterns as beautiful as this. Shell pearl necklaces are elegant and exclusive accessories that are a must have for all women who love pearl jewelry.

For more information pearl necklaces, just click here.

Seashell pearls, which are also called as Majorca pearls, are pearls that look like South Sea pearls. They are generally man-made and not pearls made by the oyster. The stimulated pearls are shell, plastic or glass based. Excellent quality pearls are made from the shell which is considered as the mother of pearl base. Shell pearl is a good choice for everyone due to its superb quality and comparatively low prices. As the process of making shell pearls is entirely artificial, the shape of the pearls and their luster can be easily varied.

Shell pearl jewelry is really fascinating due to its extremely beautiful and shining appearance. It is available in various types such as South Sea shell pearls, rainbow shell pearls, two-tone shell pearls, Turquoise shell pearls and coral color series shell pearls. You have a wide choice in selecting the shell pearl necklace as shell pearls are available in different attractive colors such as white, peacock, pink, champagne brown, grey, black, blue, green and copper. Shell pearls come in various sizes ranging from 6mm to 16mm.

Magnificent shell pearl necklace can be made with pearls of different shapes such as round, oval, rice, potato, tear-drop and coin. Shell pearl necklaces can be a very romantic gift for Valentine’s Day, wedding, birth-days and anniversary. They are perfectly suitable for the evening wear. They look very stylish and elegant with all kind of dresses. You can select the length of shell pearl necklace as per your personal preference and your physique. For example, short necklaces are suitable for the women having long, slender necks, while longer lengths necklaces are ideal for the women with short necks as longer necklaces tend to elongate and slenderize the body. Rose-hued pearls such as pink colored pearl jewelry is suitable for the fair-skinned women, while deeper skin tones are more praised by golden or cream hues.

For more information on shell pearl necklaces, just click here.

Imitation pearls are artificial pearls usually made up of glass, Ceramic, Shell or Plastic. They do not have real value as real gemstones. These are coated with some material to add a fake lustre.

These Pearls are generally known as “faux” (means false in French), simulated, manmade i.e. artificial. Some imitation pearls even have regional names like “Majorca pearls, Red Sea Pearls, Laguna Pearls. Majorca pearls are most famous amongst them. Majorca pearls are solid glass beads covered with many coats of pearl essence. Some fake pearls are called Semi cultured; these are rejected or discarded pearls or glass beads coated with powdered Mother- of - pearls.
Most successful types of imitation pearls are Roman Pearls and Indestructible Pearls. Roman pearls are made hollow and then they are filled with wax. Indestructible pearls are made up of indestructible glass which imparts a finer effect.

Some imitation pearls are also detected by incorrect specific gravity; incorrect hardness. Examine pearl under a microscope, real pearls have a smooth finish. A simple test to detect artificial pearls is the "Teeth Test". Just rub the pearls very gently over your teeth, if it's sandy or gritty it is probably real pearl, if it is smooth it is an imitation pearl.

There can be a lot of confusion when it comes to South Sea Pearls and South Sea Shell Pearls. One is a genuine pearl gem, while the other is its imitation. But when looking at and handling each, it’s hard to tell their differences. Both look nearly identical and have the same weight to them.

South Sea Pearls are rare, valuable and large. A gift from nature you could say. South Sea Pearls are produced in the waters off the Australian coast, through Indonesia, the Philippines, and to the southern tip of Burma by the rarest and largest oysters in the world - the Pinctada Maxima. This shell produces an exquisite nacre, a lustrous material that is creamy and smooth, which gives off a subtle opalescence.

These genuine pearls are found in a wide variety of colors. From white through silver, cream through yellow to a deep gold, South Sea Pearls can also display pink, blue, or green overtones. On very rare occasions, what many call a "black" pearl (though derived from a blue pearl) has also be discovered.

With water pollution and changing environmental conditions, genuine pearls will continue to increase in price and will be harder to come by. As with many of the earth’s natural resources, the South Sea Pearl has all but disappeared from the world’s pearl markets, giving way to the production of South Sea Shell Pearls. For a pearl necklace and a matching pair of pearl earrings shown in the picture above, it would cost you $15,000 at least.

South Sea Shell Pearls are simulated pearls made to look like South Sea Pearls. They are man-made in a laboratory from South Sea oyster shells - the same mollusks expensive South Sea pearls originate from. They look and feel similar to South Sea Pearls, and are popular because of their affordability. South Sea Shell Pearls are more smooth and don’t have the gritty texture that South Sea pearls do. This is because they are created in a lab, which is cleaner than a lake or ocean. The Island of Mallorca is well known for its imitation pearl production.

The history of creating imitation pearls goes back to ancient time - to about 1300 A.D. when the French used them for adorning luxurious clothing and accessories. One production method saw a combination of white powdered glass mixed with egg white and snail slime (yes, snail slime) to produce the imitation pearls. They dipped hollow glass beads into an acid in order to produce iridescence, and then filled the bead for solidity and weight.

Today, the process to create South Sea Shell Pearls can vary but generally follows the same process as the natural pearl with man controlling the production. The usual process to create South Sea Shell Pearls begins with pulverizing shells into a mix, which is then combined with a binder and formed into a perfectly shaped bead of any size. Dye technology then produces the color on shell-based pearls to almost any hue imaginable. The final step is to dip or spray on the pearlized coating, which is oftentimes either ground fish scales or pearl powder.

In today’s marketplace, the use of imitation-South Sea Shell Pearls continues to gain popularity with jewelry designers, as many consumers simply cannot afford the luxury of the real gems. For instance, a 12mm southsea shell pearl necklace at 22in long in completely round shape only costs less than $45.

As with metal finishes, the beauty and the luster of imitation pearls and their price depend on the thickness of the coating and the type of coating used. The thicker the coating, the more expensive they will be, though they will actually wear better and last longer. Therefore the quality is still very important, and it can vary from one manufacturer to another. For all of the southsea shell pearls from orientalpearls.net, it all comes with unconditional manufacturer warranty.

South Sea Shell pearls are easier to care for than natural pearls - they are much less affected by perspiration, perfume and detergents, and have a more durable shine and color. However, long periods of exposure to direct sunlight should be avoided, because the protein in pearl shell beads will become yellow under sunlight.