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Pearl Jewelry - The Story of Pearl Hunters

As long as pearl jewelry have been known to people, they have been a highly sought commodity for their beauty. It's only in recent times however that the industry has taken the hunt for the perfect pearl to a whole different level. Today, the shiny orbs that we see on in display in jewelry stores have actually almost always been grown in farms.

That's a far cry from the dangerous extraction and collection methods used before the invention of modern technology. In the past, not more than 100 years ago, the only way to retrieve pearls was by diving in lakes, floods and the ocean to pick them up, one at the time. The unfortunate divers who'se job it was to do this, were often poor and lured by the relative large sums they could get. The diver would sometimes have to dive as deep as 100 feet on one single breath of air. In order to preserve air and to stay submerged the longest, the divers would hold on to heavy stones on the way down.

Naturally, this dangerous activity was reserved for the desperate or the powerless - in many cases slaves or extremely poor peasents. Today, this method is all but obsolete in most places of the world. The cheaper cultured pearls have become popular and are many times the only pearls available to the consumer.

There are however still a few isolated areas that practice this old art of pearl diving. Some of the finest natural pearl speciments come from the gulf of Bahrain. Here, divers still risk their health to retrieve what are considered the top of the crop in the world. In fact, Bahrain wants no part of the sale of cultured pearls, banned from trade. Bahrain is one of the few places on earth that does an active job in trying to preserve the natural habitat and waters from pollution.

It's an interesting story and one that continues to fascinate buyers around the world. Somehow, the beauty of the pearl grows when it's been retrieved from the depth of the ocean.

Saturday, 13-Nov-2010 09:03

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Buying Pearl Jewelry Without Being Ripped Off

Buying pearl jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of pearl jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality pearl jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.

Pearls

Natural or real pearls are made by oysters and other mollusks. Cultured pearls also are grown by mollusks, but with human intervention; that is, an irritant introduced into the shells causes a pearl to grow. Imitation pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organic materials.

Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pears. A cultured pearl's value is largely based on its size, usually stated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating, which give it luster. Jewelers should tell your if the pearls are cultured or imitation. Some black, bronze, gold, purple, blue and orange pearls, whether natural or cultured, occur that way in nature; some, however, are dyed through various processes. Jewelers should tell you whether the colored pearls are naturally colored, dyed or irradiated.

Clams, oysters, mussels and many other mollusks with limy shells are known to produce pearls. But very few kinds yield gem pearls of jeweler's quality. The pearl is an abnormal growth of mother-of-pearl, or nacre, imbedded in the soft bodies of these shellfish. It is built up, layer upon layer, in the same way as nacre is added to the lining of the growing shell and always has the same color and luster. For example, over the country, hundreds of good-sized pearls are found each year in the oysters we eat. Unfortunately these have no commercial value regardless of whether they have been cooked or not because they are dull opaque white or purple like the shell of the parent oyster. In recent times almost all pearls of gem quality come from the oriental pearl oyster which has a bright shimmering translucent nacre.

A pearl starts growing when some irritating foreign substance such as a sand grain, bit of mud, parasite or other object becomes lodged in the shell-producing gland called the mantle. Pearls formed in the soft flesh where nacre can be added on all sides are most likely to be spherical and the most highly prized. By far the great majority are flattened or variously distorted and have little value. Size, color, luster and freedom from flaws are other essential qualities. Unlike other gems, such as diamonds, pearls have an average life of only about 50 years. In time the small amount of water in a pearl's make-up is lost and its surface cracks. Because they are mostly lime, necklaces which are worn often are injured by the acid secretions of the human skin.

Tuesday, 27-Oct-2009 15:13

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freshwater pearl

Strappy sandals are one of the most stylish and sexy accessories that a bride can choose for her wedding. Unlike a traditional white pump, they are young and sassy. Best of all, a great pair of freshwater pearl strappy sandals is something that you can even wear again after the wedding.

Young women love strappy sandals. When I managed a bridal shop, one of the biggest arguments that almost every bride had with her mother was over pantyhose. All of the moms believed that stockings were an absolute must on a formal occasion, but the brides all wanted to wear sandals. And as we all know, you should never, ever wear stockings with an open toe shoe. I say this even though my own mother, a staunch pantyhose supporter, does it on cultured pearl a regular basis! Oh well - I guess it's just a generational thing.

Within the general category of the strappy sandal, you will find infinite variations, which means that there is a perfect style out there for every bride. When you are looking for a sandal for your wedding, one of the first things you should check out is the shape of the toe bed. Some are rounded, some are square, and others come to more of a point. You want to choose a shoe that fits the shape of your foot. Otherwise, you end up with your pinky toe falling off the front of the pearl necklace shoe (square foot on pointy footbed) or a huge amount of shoe showing past your toes (pointy foot on a square toe bed).

There are many choices of strap configuration, as well. If you have a slim foot, a skinny strap that goes across the toes looks very elegant. If your foot is wider, this can end up making your toes look pinched. A diagonal strap is often very flattering on many types of feet. Some of the prettiest ones are accented with beads or crystals sewn to the straps. Look for details on your shoes that coordinate with your other accessories, like your headpiece and wedding jewelry.

The closure of the sandals is another key part of the design. Some shoes are simply backless, as in a simple silk thong sandal. Ankle straps can offer a nice secure feeling on a strappy shoe. If they don't slip on pearl earrings your heel, the slingback is one of the most flattering designs. It elongates the look of your legs. The claps on wedding shoes are often highly decorative. Crystal buckles are especially popular, as they work so well with the Swarovski jewelry that so many brides wear for their wedding.

Comfort is key in any pair of wedding shoes, because you will be in them for such a long time. Look for a pair that has a well padded footbed. The higher the heel, the more cushioning you will need under the ball of your foot, as that bears all of your weight. Be wary of shoes with straps that chafe or bind. As you stand on your feet for the ceremony and then dance on them all night, they will tend to swell a little, so definitely avoid any shoe that feel snug in the store.

One thing that is really great about wearing strappy sandals for your wedding is that they are so little shoe that you can be very free in your choice. In other words, if you want to wear a light blue sandal for your something blue, feel free to do so. It will be a nice accent, without being too bold a statement. Other popular choices include silver and pink sandals. A white strappy sandal is also a style that you will have ample opportunity to wear with your summer dresses, so it is okay to splurge and get the shoes that you really love.

There is no doubt that a strappy sandal will add a great finishing touch to your wedding gown. Women just feel great in a cute strappy shoe, which makes them perfect for the day when you really want to feel your most fabulous. Just remember to get a fantastic pedicure!

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Tuesday, 27-Oct-2009 15:11

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silver pearl necklace

One of the nicest things about being a bride is that you have the perfect excuse to pamper yourself. Talking a little time off for relaxation is also an excellent way to ease the stress and tension of planning a wedding. Be sure to silver pearl necklace schedule a few trips to your favorite spa for some pre-wedding pampering.

There are so many wonderful spa treatments available these days; every bride should indulge herself in at least a few of them. Many of the treatments will not only help you relax, but they can also help you look and feel your best on your wedding day.

Body treatments are perfect for brides wearing strapless gowns. Try a seaweed wrap to detoxify and purify the skin, or an exfoliating scrub to restore a radiant glow. (Of course, do not try any new type of spa service the week of your wedding, in case of an adverse reaction.) If you are prone to "backne", there are also many spas that offer "back facials". Start on a regular course of treatments at least six months before your wedding to ensure nice clear skin for pearl jewelry your big day.

Naturally, every bride wants her face to have a healthy glow, and there are many spa treatments aimed at achieving just that. Facials can range from very basic (cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize) to moderate (add in extractions) to complete (microdermabrasion and chemical peels). If you are opting for the more involved type of facial, be sure that the esthetician is an expert. For the most noticeable results, treat yourself to monthly visits. After all, your face is always worth the pearl jewelry wholesale investment!

Manicures and pedicures are another favorite form of pre-wedding pampering. Regular manicures are a necessary indulgence throughout your engagement, because you wouldn't want chipped fingernails to distract from the beauty of your fabulous engagement ring. And pedicures, well, pedicures are just fun. Even if you will be wearing closed toed shoes for your wedding, you will still feel better knowing that the feet inside them are smooth and cute.

Another top pick by brides is a relaxing massage. When the stress of the wedding gets to be too much, retreat to the spa for an hour. You will come out feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the next task. A basic relaxing massage is Swedish massage, but there are also other types of massage to try. If you are prone to heavy duty knots in your shoulders, you might want to try a deep tissue massage. Be warned though: you will be sore afterwards! Hot stone massage is a great way to melt the tension right out of your body, and there is also Thai massage, and couples massage where you and your fiance can both get a pearl earrings rub down at the same time (done by one massage therapist per person).

Brides are not the only people who will enjoy some pampering at the spa before the wedding. Spa days are very popular for bridal parties as well. They can be a great alternative to a bachelorette weekend in Vegas. Sometimes brides will also treat her bridesmaids to a pedicure as a special thank you before the wedding. Pedicure parties can also be held in someone's home. The nail technician comes to your house, and the whole bridal party can enjoy pedicures while sipping Champagne.

A spa day is the perfect time to give your attendants their bridesmaid gifts. It could be fun to choose a gift that ties in with the theme of the spa, such as a personalized cosmetic bag. To make the gift even better, fill the bag with mini sized luxury lotions and a pair of Swarovski crystal bridesmaid earrings that she can wear at your wedding.

Every bride deserves a little pampering before her wedding. Indulge yourself in your favorite spa treatment at least a few times before your big day. You will gracefully glide into your wedding day feeling relaxed, serene, and beautiful.

Tuesday, 27-Oct-2009 15:07

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pearl strand wholesale

I am a admirer of Tissot watches and am fortunate enough to pearl strand wholesale own one - a PRS516 Automatic chronograph Tissot T-Sport. What follows are my personal reviews of Tissot sports watches and the current collections.

Tissot produce a large collection of different styles of sports watches that are of excellent quality at reasonable prices. The Tissot PRS516 cost much less than many of my other Swiss watches - my wife and I own some fine watches - but it is as well made and as stylish as any other sports watch. Tissot have been making watches since 1853 and have been instrumental in designing some of the most technically advanced timepieces: the freshwater pearl jewlelry Tissot T-Touch watch is the world's first touch screen wristwatch.

Tissot make an extensive range of sports watches. If you're a serious diver then the Diver Seastar is for you. The Tissot Seastar is an automatic timepiece made with a highly resistant steel case, capably of resisting diving depths of 300 meters. What I particularly like about the Tissot Seastar is its domed sapphire crystal glass, which magnifies numbers on the cultured pearl colored dials; no other diver's watch that I know of has this feature.

The Tissot PR100X sports watch offers more refined elegance. The PR100X Small Lady Tissot watch is a very elegant ladies watch and is one of the most beautiful of ladies sport watches, in my opinion. It is resistant up to 100 meters, has a screw down crown, glass sapphire glass and silver dial. The case is stainless steel as is the bracelet.

The Tissot PR200X is a classic timepiece, with a freshwater pearl large face: the most striking models come with a bright yellow sweeping second and counter hands and white indices with clear Arab numbers that stand out boldly against the midnight black dial.

The Tissot PRS200 sports watch remains Tissot's best selling sports watch. It looks rugged but stylish. Its chronograph movement, casing and bracelet in steel or gold color with a choice of silver, black, blue dial, water resistance to 200 meters, make it a very appealing sports watch. Personally I prefer The Tissot PRS516 - after all I did buy it - as PRS516 stands out from other sports watches whereas the Tissot PRS200 looks similar to a lot of other brands.

The Tissot T-Race was designed to reflect the best of all types of two-wheeled sports, from cycling to motorcycle racing. I really like these watches. The case is a stainless steel/carbon composite. The straps are of dancing pearl rubber and come in a variety of colors. The use of pastel colors makes them a good choice as a ladies sports watch. The standard model comes with three small dials, a second hand, 1/10 second hand and 30 minute counter. The Tissot T-Race watches come with quartz chronograph.

Tissot signed an agreement with NASCAR, making Tissot the official timekeeper of America's popular auto-racing. The T-Race NASCAR special edition features carbon dial, with a tough hybrid case of steel and rubber and matching black rubber strap. Inspired by the fans' passion for the sport, the Tissot T-Race NASCAR case back comes with an engraved NASCAR logo and crossed finish flags. Being keenly aware of a sport where 1/100th of second makes the difference between winning and losing, the Tissot NASCAR watch comes with a Swiss chronograph movement. The large, red-colored Arab numerals at 12, 4 and 8 are complemented by the large, industrial looking hour and minute hands. A very nice feature is the magnified crystal above the date display.

I like Tissot watches. . But don't just take my word for it; many consumer reviews of Tissot watches rate them highly. Tissot sports watches come with Swiss chronograph movement, sapphire glass, and stylish design. Another compelling reason why I really like Tissot sports watches is that they are cheap when compared to a lot of other Swiss sports watches.

Tuesday, 27-Oct-2009 15:03

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freshwater pearl necklace

Women love personalized necklaces. Handcrafted by a loving artisan's hands speaks to her of the unique, the individual, the singleness of a focus. Women's hearts are open and strong, all encompassing, and they know that what they wear close to their hearts is fed by their nurturing spirit. The name of freshwater pearl necklace a sister, the message of peace, an inspiring word, or perhaps the name of a loved one on engraved jewelry always finds solace in the warmth of woman's heart.

To name an object is to empower it and women all over the world empower each others spirits and their causes with personalized necklaces. The most popular engraved jewelry comes in silver and gold; silver for purity of freshwater pearl earrings spirit and gold for the passionate depths of the heart.

Silver Jewelry Designs

Women choose silver for a clarity of purpose and an expression of strength. The traditional silver locket engraved with a message of love on the face and perhaps a special date on the reverse holds within it the cultured pearl jewelry secret of a childhood sweetheart or the memory of a close friend. Simple, but charming, the heart locket has held the secrets of thousands of women over hundreds of years.

Perhaps the message of the engraved jewelry is a little more straightforward, a celebration of sisterhood or a declaration of support. An elegant charm necklace with a sterling silver tag can be hand stamped with sisters or the name of the troop in which your brother, your father, or your lover serves. These personalized necklaces are accompanied by African turquoise and a tiny silver sun for the blessings of many days of good fortune.

For the simply endearing that your spirit enfolds with love and completeness, a petite sterling silver circle floats on a delicate sterling silver cable chain to bring a message of health, wealth, and happiness into the freshwater pearl jewelry lives of all whom you touch. The names of your family can circle in an unbreakable bond, or even a message from our founding forefathers, "We the People..." can be hand etched into engraved jewelry for impactful personalized necklaces.

Gold Jewelry Designs

Gold speaks of the warmth of the sun and the passion of your heart. Messages written in gold take on an element of the deepest spirituality and the highest virtue. Monogram necklaces in 14Kt gold are personalized to hold close to your heart a favorite grandparent, or for the everlasting bond of your family or the closest of friends with 3 elegantly swirling initials inside a slender circle. This makes totally unique engraved jewelry and because the artisan creates the monogram himself, there is no other like it.

For a very different style, favored by Celebrities and in the highest fashion, personalized necklaces have become very popular because of so many loved ones who serve us abroad, and dedicate their lives for our well being and safety. For your sisters, brothers, school friends and all who mean so much in your life, a 14kt gold hand hammered circlet with a as many hand textured gold tags as you choose can be engraved with your motto, the names of those you hold most dear and worn next to your heart for solidarity and support.

Monday, 21-Sep-2009 07:02

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Pssst. Finance Isn't the Only Relevant Committee.

Committee for the cultured pearl jewelry last few days that it's easy to forget that four other committees are supposed to have a say in the matter.

In the Senate, there is the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, which passed its own version of reform way back in July. HELP's bill was, admittedly, only a partial measure. Because of its limited jurisdiction, it couldn't propose changes to taxes or to Medicare and Medicaid, huge swaths of the health care enterprise. But three House committees working on health reform operated under no such restrictions. They passed full pieces of legislation, complete with financing and changes to the pearl necklace two giant government entitlement programs.

But even before Baucus finally introduced his legislation this week, there was a strange tendency among opinion and decision makers in Washington to dismiss both the HELP and the House bills as somehow less serious--and, ultimately, less important. Baucus' bill, by contrast, is widely considered the template upon which reform will ultimately be built--even though the measure, itself, has yet to attract much support from either side.

Why is that? One reason, I know, is a policy judgment.

The House bill is not truly deficit neutral, at least according to the Conressional Budget Office: By the tenth year, CBO says, it's paying out more than it's taking in. It also doesn't account for the cost of adjusting Medicare fees for physicians, although--as I've argued before--there's a legitimate case to be made for treating that as a separate accounting issue.

In addition, the pearl earrings House bill--again, according to CBO--wouldn't reduce health care spending in the long run. The Baucus bill, on the other hand, does pay for itself. And it actually reduces health care spending over the long term

Fiscal responsibility is, undoubtedly, a real strength of the Baucus approach. He and his staff deserve credit for getting that part right. And it's reason enough to make that proposal a central part of the conversation.

But fiscal responsibility shouldn't be the only thing that counts. Maybe the House bill isn't as good about paying for itself or reducing costs in the long run. But the House bill--along with its HELP counterpart--is clearly superior in one other key respect: It does a much better job of providing security. It offers more subsidies to help people pay for insurance; it guarantees better insurance coverage, thereby offering more protection against higher medical bills; and it has a public insurance plan, which advocates believe (and I agree) is ultimately more reliable than private insurance.

Is security less important than fiscal responsibilty? I certainly don't think so. And, in an ideal world, Congress would blend the two appraoches, taking the best elements of each--in effect, providing the sort of security in the House bill but in a way that's as fiscally responsbile as the Baucus proposal.

Of course, we don't live in an ideal world. We live in a world in which the U.S. Senate, with its skewed apportionment of seats, holds sway. And that brings us to the second reason the House and HELP bills don't get taken as seriously: Everybody assumes nothing close to either one of them could pass the Senate, given the need to round up at least a few centrist Democrats and possibly a Republican or two in order to pass legislation.

There's some truth here. Conservative Democrats and Republicans seem unwilling to pass legislation that contributes to higher deficits (even if, annoyingly, many of these same members didn't give a second thought to deficits when passing tax cuts and the Medicare drug benefit under President Bush's watch). This is a big reason why the White House has pushed the fiscal conservatism line as hard as it has.

But the expectation that fiscal conservatism will win out over coverage also has a certain self-fulfilling quality to it. Liberals don't have a ton of leverage right now, but they do have some. Centrist Democrats, at least, understand that failing to pass any legislation would hurt their party and that, ultimately, many of them hold the party's most vulnerable seats. And if that's still not enough to get sixty votes, there's always the reconciliation process--which carries its own political risks but can, at the end of the day, produce decent legislation.

When--er, if--legislation gets out of the Senate Finance Committee, it must be merged with the HELP bill before it goes to the full Senate. And if the Senate agrees on a package, that legislation will have to go to conference committee, to be merged with its House counterpart. The policy that process produces will be much better if the Finance bill ends up looking more like the HELP and House measures. And the surest way to make that happen is to keep reminding verybody that those HELP and House measures exist.

Update: Matt Yglesias was thinking along these same lines yesterday, and explained it with far more clever phrasing: "Curve-bending and affordable coverage are two great tastes that taste great together." I'm 99 percent sure I'm quoting that only because it's substantively correct and not because I happen to like Reese's peanut butter cups. Also, Brian Beutler lays out the road ahead nicely.

Monday, 21-Sep-2009 06:55

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The Movie Review: ‘The Informant!’

So this is what Matt Damon has been keeping bottled up during all those taciturn hours playing Jason Bourne. In Steven Soderbergh's The Informant!, Damon plays--and plays very, very well--a character in every way the opposite of cultured pearl jewelry his efficient, amnesiac superspy: a babbling bumbler who goes undercover for the FBI to gather information against his own employer but winds up exposing mostly himself. Forget Soderbergh's earlier Erin Brockovich; this is a portrait of the whistleblower as pipsqueak.

A biochemist by training, Mark Whitacre (Damon) has ascended to the upper echelons of agribusiness giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)--and, in the process, gotten in well over his head. When a project he's overseeing (which involves synthesizing lysine for use in corn sweeteners) begins falling behind, he tells his superiors that he's received phone calls from a competitor informing him that an internal mole is undermining the program. The truth? A stall? It's not entirely clear, but the corporate brass decide to bring in the FBI, which is not at all what Whitacre had had in mind. Worried that the Bureau might stumble upon ADM's nasty habit of price-fixing, Whitacre promptly spills the beans on his bosses, which is not at all what they'd had in mind. Soon enough, he's wearing a wire for the feds and, in his mind, likening his undercover antics to those of Tom Cruise in The Firm.

Indeed, much of the pearl earrings drama in The Informant! takes place in Whitacre's mind and, as the film progresses, the divergences between his internal reality and the external one become more and more evident. It's not that he's delusional, at least not in the hallucinatory sense; it's that he's exceptionally good at self-justification, and at distracting himself from his own misdemeanors. He lacks both intellectual and moral focus, retreating constantly into an internal monologue of ADD discursions--on the best place to buy neckties, the pronunciation of "Porsche," and, most hilariously, the problems posed by the polar bear's black nose. Whitacre's mind is, as the song goes, like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel within a wheel. I haven't had this much fun watching an actor talk to himself since, well, the last two or three Robert Downey Jr. movies.

The script is based on Kurt Eichenwald's nonfiction book The Informant--the film adds the exclamation point merely to china pearl jewelry denote comedy, not a musical, though one wonders what possibilities the latter genre might have opened up. While the events portrayed took place in the early-to-mid-1990s, Soderbergh has given the film a deliberately 1970s vibe, with funky opening titles and a Marvin Hamlisch score--his first in 13 years--that's a dizzy, inventive triumph, a throwback pastiche of whistling, tubas, and kazoos.

But beyond its aesthetics, The Informant! has a 1970s brand of humor, too: wry, not riotous; content to find its laughs in the context of the story; gliding on a wave of chuckles rather than striving desperately for hilarity. It may be the funniest movie in five years without (as best I can recall) a single gag related to bodily functions. It resembles in some ways last year's Burn After Reading, another comedy out of step with prevailing conventions. But where the Coens' film went dark, Soderbergh's opts for light. Even as his tapestry of fibs is unraveling, the upbeat Whitacre enthuses, "There are so many really nice people in the world."

Sharp supporting performances are turned in by Scott Bakula, Joel McHale, Melanie Lynskey, Tony Hale, Tom Papa, and others. There are even small roles for Tom and Dick Smothers--another period nod. And Soderbergh knits it all together with quiet grace, offering what is probably his most artfully realized film since at least 2001's Ocean's Eleven (though I confess I have not yet made it through the dozen reels of Che).

It's Damon's film, though, and he occupies his equivocating antihero utterly, capturing the Walter Mittyish self-delusion, the desperate desire to please, and the bottomless conviction that, whatever his transgressions, he's still one of the good guys. In the end it's really not true, but he may have you believing it with him all the same.

Christopher Orr is a senior editor of The New Republic.