If you’re thinking of buying some beautiful pearl jewellery, whether it’s a pearl necklace or you want to buy pearl earrings, chances are you’ll find it hard to know where to begin due to the vast pearl ranges out there. That’s why this guide is designed to answer some very popular pearl questions for those who wish to know more.

Are All Tahitian Pearls Black?

Not only are Tahitian cultured pearls not exclusively black, they’re also not grown in Tahiti. Called “black” because of their exotic dark colours, Tahitian cultured pearls can also be grey, blue, green and brown. And they’re grown in the lagoons of small islands that are part of a group known as French Polynesia.

What’s The Difference Between Cultured Pearl Earrings And Natural Pearl Earrings?

Natural pearls are formed when an irritant, such as a parasite, makes its way into a pearl-producing animal such as an oyster or mollusc. To protect itself, the animal coats the irritant in nacre – a combination of organic substances that also makes up what we call mother of pearl. Over time, the layers of nacre build up around the intruder and eventually form the organic gem we all know as the pearl.

When it comes to cultured pearls, they are formed in the same way, but with man’s input rather than nature’s. Man’s input is such that he will place something inside the oyster which speeds up the pearl-making process. At the end of it all, you have some beautiful cultured pearls that end up in the shops for you to buy pearl earrings or pearl necklaces etc.

Should I Buy Saltwater Or Freshwater Pearls?

Many people would say that the quality of cultured freshwater pearls are better value than the saltwater versions. Due to improvements in culturing techniques, freshwater pearl farmers are producing beautiful, round, lustrous pearls that are a vast improvement over the wrinkled, rice-krispie-shaped gems that typified the freshwater pearl crop of the not-so-distant past.

With so many colours to choose from, freshwater cultured pearls are now the best option for people who like to express themselves through colourful jewellery. One of the most popular pearl options at the moment is lavender. For others, it is the appeal of white pearls which makes them purchase. Bold black pearls are actually treated with dye to produce their colour, and yet these remain a very popular choice for jewellery buyers.

At the end of the day, it is freshwater pearls that appeal most, and the fact they are more affordable helps make them a number 1 choice. So, for all the pearl fans out there, there has never been a better time to buy pearl earrings.