Wedding Pearl Jewelry Guide

Owning a pearl necklace is every woman's desire. Pearl jewelry, especially pearl necklaces, are often passed down from generation to generation. They also make a great gift for bridesmaids, maid of honor, as well as the mother of the groom and mother of the bride.

When choosing wedding pearl jewelry a number of factors must be considered. First being the type of pearl.

There are four types of pearls: Akoya (most popular choice), Tahitian, South sea, and freshwater.

Next factor is the quality of the pearl.

The quality and value of a pearl are based on six criteria:

Luster & surface – Luster refers to the amount of light that is reflected from the pearls surface. The higher the luster, the more valuable the pearl.

Nacre – Nacre refers to the pearls thickness. The thicker the layers of nacre, the longer the pearl will last.

Color – Pearls come in a variety of colors. Common colors are white, cream, yellow, pink, silver, and black. When selecting pearls, one should choose a color that compliments one skin tone.

Shape – Round pearls are most desirable and valuable.

Size – The size of a pearl can vary greatly. The larger the pearl, the more expensive the pearl is. People most often buy the largest size pearl they can afford.

Matching – Matching refers to how closely the pearls match within a piece of jewelry such as a pearl necklace or pearl bracelet. It is nearly impossible to find two or more pearls that match identically, so the closer the pearls match, the higher the value of that piece of jewelry.

After a bride has selected the type and quality of the pearl she wants, it is then time to decide on the type of pearl jewelry she would like. It is believed that a bride that wears a pearl necklace on her wedding day will have good luck.

There are many styles of pearl jewelry available. There are pearl necklaces that come in six different lengths, pearl bracelets, pearl pendants, pearl rings, and pearl earrings.

Depending on the type of pearl chosen, quality, and how many pearls are used, pearl jewelry can range in price from under $100.00 to well over $5,000.00.