Massive Large Pearl Bead Strand - 12mm
These are our largest pearls with many in the strand 11mm and one or two slightly larger. Which is about as big as you get as far as pearls go - unless you sepend thousands! Beautiful luster with very little grooving. All natural. Bid is for per 15-inch strand. About 40 of these large pearls to a strand.
The least expensive cultured pearls today rival the most expensive natural pearls ever found
Natural freshwater pearls occur in mussels for the same reason saltwater pearls occur in oysters. Foreign material inside a mussel can't be expelled. To reduce irritation, the mollusk coats the intruder with the same secretion it uses for shell-building, nacre. To cultivate a pearl, farmers slit the mussel and insert small pieces of live tissue from another mussel.
The ancient Chinese practiced this technique, but the first real cultured freshwater pearls originated in Japan. In the 1930's, Japanese farmers by Lake Biwa achieved natural colors unseen in saltwater pearls. However, water pollution today has virtually destroyed pearl production there.
China has the resources that Japan lacks: many large lakes, rivers, and a low-cost work force. The first Chinese cultured pearls were basic, until the 1990's when China revolutionized pearling. Shapes, luster, and colors of the new Chinese pearls now surpass Biwa quality.
Copying the Japanese to improve off-white and mottling, China uses a mild bleach, bright lights, and heat. Natural freshwater pearls are usually odd shapes. So for more roundness, the Chinese now reshape rejected pearls into spheres, and then nucleate mussels with them.
The best pearls have thick overlapping layers of nacre. This can be tested by viewing its "luster". Roll the pearl with a pen in good light - the best pearls will reflect the pen the most. A large pearl is only more valuable if it's the same quality as a smaller one - and the rounder the better. Being an organic gem, grooves, pits, or dents are expected. However, matching color for a complete necklace is important.
Freshwater pearls are popular for their colors: white, silvery-white, pink, red, copper, brown, lavender, purple, green, blue, and yellow. The most desirable are the pastel pinks, roses, lavenders, and purples. Color comes from the mussel species and water quality. Generally pearls assume the color of the shell in which they form.
To read the full list of properties of gems & stones see my AboutMe page
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I pack very well, but should it arrive damaged, I offer a no-quibble
replacement of the same item or if this is not possible, something similar. And
if you are genuinely dissatisfied, mail it back within 14 days for a
refund - less postage and US$6 or 10% processing fee (whichever is greater).
Or a credit for the whole amount from our main stores only. You MUST fill our return form in here - failure to do so will delay your refund.
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In 95% of auctions, actual item will look the same as the picture.
However, occasionally, there may be slight variations in color or design
depending on stock. In particular, bead color shades can look different. Natural pearl sizes may
vary - size quoted is maximum in the strand. If this is a problem, please enquire before
bidding.
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you intend purchasing. Ask if in doubt!
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