Pearls have had a long history as precious gemstones – as gifts for ancient royals or prized possessions sought-after by anxious criminals – from China, to Europe, to the Americas. Learning how to choose the right pearl earrings for the right occasion is a skill you can benefit from if you want accessories that flatter your best features.
Pearls are naturally formed when a foreign irritant enters the shell of an oyster – the oyster excretes calcium carbonate that forms in layers around the irritant and ultimately produces what we know as the pearl. Natural pearls are irregular in shape and rarely can you find naturally formed pearls that are symmetrical or acceptably shaped. Cultured pearls, on the other hand, are easily grown into acceptable shapes and sizes.
If you want to know how to choose the right kind of pearl earrings for the right occasion, then you should equip yourself with knowledge on how to judge a pearl’s standard. From the color, the overtone, the size and shape to a pearl’s luster and surface quality, pearls can vary from the inexpensive to the extremely rare and valuable.
The color of a pearl can range from white, cream, silver, blue, pink, gold and black. Choose a color to suit your skin tone and the occasions you may be wearing your pearl drop earrings to. Luster refers to the reflective quality of a pearl and the more luster a pearl has the more valuable it is. Surface quality is also an important consideration; the less imperfections like bumps there are on a pearl, the more highly prized it is.
Pearls are delicate gems and are generally softer in composition than other jewels. Because of this, they are prone to damage like cracking and scratches. Its porous nature also makes it susceptible to other substances like perfume, sweat and makeup. Keep your pearls clean by wiping them with a soft, damp cloth and try putting on these accessories after you’ve worn your makeup and applied your perfume.
When trying to understand how to choose the right kind of pearl earring for the right occasion, bear in mind that earrings always draw attention to the face. It is important, therefore, to choose something that will flatter the shape of your face. The shape and design of a pearl earring can flatter your face or accentuate its flaws, so choose wisely.
Pearl earrings come in a variety of designs, forms and sizes. The style of each earring need not only contain pearls – in fact, great designs often comprise of a variety of gemstones, precious and semi-precious.
Before you begin choosing a pearl earring design, first determine the shape of your own face: stand in front of a mirror and pull your hair away from your face then trace the outline of your face onto the mirror. The various face shapes include oval, round, square, oblong, diamond and heart-shaped.
Here are some general guidelines for learning how to choose the right pearl earrings for the right occasion. Oval faces are versatile and suit almost any style of earrings. Pearl drop earrings flatter round faces while heart-shaped faces suit designs that tend to be wider at the bottom than the top. Square faces can take medium to long earrings and diamond-shaped faces should be paired with earrings that have more to their width than their length. Small pearl drop earrings can also flatter the diamond face. Keep these guides in mind and you’ll find how to choose the right earring for the right occasion simple and enjoyable.
Tags: earrings, fashion, fashion accessories, Jewelry, Pearl, pearl earrings, pearl jewelry, pearls