All pearls are freshwater; most are mostly or very smooth.
If you are expecting the bumpy "ricey" freshwater pearls, those are noted, most however are quite smooth.
Some of the round and drop-shaped ones have circles or lines around the circumference. Sizes vary somewhat from pearl to pearl and string to string.
Colors vary somewhat from pearl to pearl and from string to string.
White is fairly uniform with good iridescence depending on price.
All pearls except those noted are strung temporarily on nylon thread.
Prices are per string unless otherwise noted. All prices are fixed in stock; new stock reflects different pricing. Quantity discounts may be available. Remember to keep checking back, as we update our stock regularly.
ABOUT THE PICTURES: I have scanned the pearls to give you an idea of color and texture. Due to variations in equipment, and monitors, sizes in the pictures and the colors and sizes are probably not true to life. I have attempted to describe the colors and sizes. Please refer to these descriptions.
These are all egg to drop shaped, contact us for other unusual shapes.
8mmX10-11mm drop shaped, hung on stainless earwires, Pink, White and Black, your choice, same or mixed colors. $12.00 per pair or $6.00 each
Sterling silver, fine silver, 14k,18k or 24k gold earwires available. Write for pricing.
All pearls are sold by the string. All strings are temporarily strung on nylon thread and are about 16 inches long.
Small white
A. Small like seed beads semi-button $7.00
B. Sort of egg shaped $4.00
D. Semi-button $7.00
E. Near round $6.00
F. Near round $7.00
Medium white
A. Near round $7.00
B. Semi-egg shaped $10.00
C. Oval $5.00
D. Oval $5.00
E. Oval somewhat ricey $3.00
F. Button $4.00
Various white
A. Baroque flat-back $3.00
B. Oval flat-back $3.00
C. Oval flat-back $6.00
D. Near round flat back $6.00
E. Semi-round flat-back $6.00
F. Long oval slightly ricey $2.00
Light grey
A. Semi-round flat-back med-light grey $3.00
B. Oval slightly ricey light grey $3.00
C. Oval dark steel grey $3.00
D. Oval light blue grey $3.00
E. Extra long light beige grey $8.00
Black
A. Near round near black $10.00
B. Button shaped steel grey $5.00
C. Near round near black $4.00
D. Near round to egg meduim to steel grey $10.00
E. Near oval medium grey $5.00
F. Near oval light grey $5.00
Various pink and gold
A. Semi-round copper colored $3.00
B. Oval ricey pink to lavender $2.00
C. Egg shaped peachy pink $3.00
D. Oval ricey peachy pink $2.00
E. Oval ricey gold color $3.00
Various pink and white
A. Near round various pink and white $9.00
B. Lined oval alternating peach and white $10.00
C. Oval to pear various pinks, near white, peach and lavender $10.00
D. Near round lined lavender pink $6.00
E. Oval to drop shaped peachy pink $9.00
A. 15 x 10 mm x 7mm thick white with dark very pearly luster $6.00
B. 10 x 9 mm x 6 mm thick white $6.50
C. 12 x 8 mm x 8 mm thick peachy pink white luster $8.50
D. 10 x 8 mm x 8 mm thick pale lavender $4.50
E. 16 x 11mm x 8 mm thick white multi-colored luster $8.50
F. 16 x 12 mm x 6.5 mm thick white $8.00
G. 17 x 11 mm x 8 mm thick white $9.00
H. 16 x 11 mm x 8mm thick pale pink lavender luster $3.00
I. 13 x 11 mm x 7 mm thick white $5.50
J. 20 x 11 mm x 5 mm thick white $8.00
K. 18 x 12 mm x 5 mm thick white $6.00
L. 14 x 10 mm x 7mm thick white $7.50
M. 15 x 10.5 mm x 7.5 mm thick white $8.00
N. 13 x 10.5 mm x 7.5 mm thick white $6.50
O. 16 x 12 mm x 7 mm thick white $8.00
P. 15 x 11 mm x 6 mm thick white $8.50
Q. 16 x 11 mm x 8 mm thick white $4.50
R. 16 x 15 mm x 6 mm thick white $8.00
S. 14 x 11 mm x 6 mm thick white $5.50
T. 14 x 10 mm x 7.5 mm thick white $5.00
U. 14 x 10 mm x 7 mm thick white $5.00
Group II
A. 15 x 9 mm x 8 mm thick white $5.50
B. 10 x 10 mm 6.5 mm thick white $4.00
C. 17 x 11 mm x 4.5 mm thick light pink and gold $4.00
D. 23 x 11 mm x 7 mm thick pale pink lavender and white luster $5.50
E. 15 x 10 mm x 6 mm thick salmony pink $4.50
F. 15 x 15 mm x 8 mm thick white $6.50
G. 21 x 9 mm x 5 mm thick pale light lavender multi-colored $4.50
H. 15 x 12 mm x 11mm thick lavender pink $6.00
I. 14.5 x 12 mm x 6 mm thick peach pink $4.50
J. 17 x 14 mm x 7.5 mm thick white with dark spot $8.50
K. 14 x 10 mm x 6.5 mm thick peach pink $5.50
L. 15 x 9 mm x 7 mm thick very pale lavender pink $5.50
M. 10 x 8 mm x 7.5 mm thick white $4.50
N. 17 x 12 mm x 7 mm thick pink and gold $5.00
O. 17 x 14 mm x 7.5 mm thick white $10.00
P. 20 x 13 mm x 7 mm thick light pink to lavender $5.50
Q. 16 x 11 mm x 7 mm thick light pink $9.00
R. 14 x 8 mm x 8 mm thick medium pink to lavender $7.50
S. 20.5 x 6 mm x 5 mm thick pink $5.00
T. 8 x 7 mm x 9 mm thick white $5.50
Group III
A. 25 x 13.5 mm x 8 mm thick very pale pink $10.50
B. 11 x 9 mm x 7 mm thick white lavender luster $6.00
C. 23 x 19 mm x 8.5 mm thick white almost pale pink $10.00
D. 15.5 x 10 mm x 6 mm thick white $4.50
E. 18 x 7.5 mm x 5.5 mm thick very pale pink $4.50
F. 16 x 14 mm x 4 mm thick light pink and white $4.50
G. 22 x 14 mm x 3.5 mm thick peachy pink $6.00
H. 12.5 x 10 mm x 7.5 mm thick white $6.50
I. 14 x 11 mm x 6 mm thick blueish white $3.50
J. 16.5 x 13 mm x 5 mm thick white $5.50
K. 27 x 10 mm x 5 mm thick white $8.00
L. 27 x 8 mm x 7 mm thick white $9.50
M. 27.5 x 9 mm x 6 mm thick white $8.50
N. 30 x 25 mm x 5 mm thick pink $7.50
O. 18 x 10 mm x 7 mm thick light pink $9.00
P. 20 x 14 mm x 8 mm thick pink $12.50
Q. 18 x 15 mm x 7 mm thick pink $11.00
R. 20 x 16 mm x 9 mm thick pink $15.00
S. 20 x 15 mm x 7 mm thick pink $16.00
T. 24 x 13.5 mm x 8 mm thick pink $15.50
Group IV
A. 15.5 x 13 mm x 9 mm thick pink $17.00
B. 15 x 13 mm x 9 mm thick pink $10.50
C. 26 x 13 mm x 8.5 mm thick pink $20.50
D. 15 x 13 mm x 8 mm thick lavender $10.00
E. 22 x 14 mm x 12 mm thick pinkish white $20.00
F. 21 x 14 mm x 8 mm thick pink $11.50
G. 25 x 14 mm x 10 mm thick white and pink $24.00
H. 19 x 14 mm x 8.5 mm thick white $13.50
I. 18 x 14 mm x 8.5 mm thick pink $12.50
J. 22 x 16 mm x 8 mm thick pink $16.50
K. 19 x 16 mm x 8.5 mm thick white $15.50
L. 24 x 18 mm x 9 mm thick white $19.00
M. 20 x 13 mm x 7 mm thick white and pink $9.50
N. 18 x 15 mm x 9 mm thick pink $15.50
O. 17 x 9 mm x 7.5 mm thick white multi-colored luster $13.00
P. 40 x 11 mm x 7 mm thick pink $8.50
Q. 10 x 9 mm x 7 mm thick blue grey $4.50
R. 10 x 8.5 mm x 8 mm thick blue grey $4.00
| Monstrous Animals: Hanging Animal Pendants of the Late Renaissance |
All are sterling silver with real gemstones. Sizes are as close as possible, including bail.
Shipping
0-$10.00................$5.00
$11.00-20.................$6.50
$20-25.................$7.50
$25-50.................$8.50
$50-100...............$9.50
$100 & up............$10.00
Overages not needed for wrapping, postage and insurance, will be refunded or credited, your choice.
Mail to:
Eridu Designs
17005 NE Grantham Rd.
Amboy, WA 98601
OR
Email:
eridu@pacifier.com
or
lfjellman@pru-nw.com
A pearl is created by a mollusk when an irritant causes it to secrete alternating layers of material, called "conchiolin" and "nacre", to coat the invader and make its presence less bothersome. This irritant forms the nucleus of the pearl. With natural pearls, this irritant is probably a parasite or a piece of debris that the animal is unable to wash away. Nearly all pearls on the market are "cultured" pearls, where a relatively large bead is placed in the body of the host oyster (cultured saltwater pearls) or a small piece of tissue from a fresh water mussel is inserted into another mussel to stimulate pearl formation (freshwater pearls).
Pearls are classified by Origin, then graded by Size, Shape, Nacre thickness, Color, Luster, Surface clarity and Matching. These qualities are not considered equal. Some factors will be weighted to give them more influence in arriving at a final grade. A very thin nacre thickness, for example, could never yield a fine quality pearl.
Grading is relative to the best attainable quality for the type. For example, South Sea pearls, which grow in warmer water for longer periods of time, generally have a lower luster and more tiny blemishes than Japanese Akoya pearls, that grow in colder water and for shorter periods of time. South Sea pearls are graded against each other, not by what would be expected for a similar quality Akoya pearl.
Origin:
Cultured (Akoya)- the traditional cultured pearl, farmed almost exclusively in Japan.
South Sea cultured - Large cultured pearls from Tahitian and other South Sea waters including Australia, these are mostly white to silver-white, gray and golden in color.
They are grown in the Margaretifera oyster, and are considerable larger than the Japanese Akoya oyster pearl.
Tahitian cultured- Gray to black colored pearl cultivated in the black-lipped variety of Margaretifera oyster found in the south Pacific.
Freshwater cultured- nucleated with tissue only, with no bead nucleus, these mostly irregular, colorful pearls are farmed in Japan, China and the United States, among other locations. They are nurtured in freshwater mussels rather than oysters.
Novelty- pearl-like concretions formed by mollusks other than oysters and muscles, such as abalone, clam or conch.
Natural- occurring naturally in the mollusk without assistance from man. Also referred to as "Oriental" pearls. These now constitute only a tiny portion of the pearl market.
Keishi- these are naturally occuring pearly that form in mollusc that have been "seeded" for cultured pearls. Some consider them cultured and some consider them natural.
Size:
A large pearl can be produced only by a mollusk large enough to hold it. Thus, the pearl farmer has a significant investment in raising the mollusk before it can even be nucleated. Because of this, size is a significant factor in valuing pearls.
Shape:
This refers to the roundness or symmetry of the pearl. Round pearls are the rarest and most highly prized. Even though they start with a round bead, the action of the mollusk and movement of the water usually cause the pearl to become a shape other than perfectly round. Symmetrical pearls of other pleasing shapes are rated for symmetry, but priced according to a different scale from rounds.
Round - Rated as Round-in-all, Mostly Round, Slightly Off-Round, Off-Round and Semi-Baroque. (Baroque pearls are considered a separate category.)
Drop - a pear- or teardrop shaped pearl. The more symmetrical, the higher the quality. Barrel - more or less cylindrical, with blunt ends.
Ringed - pearls that have developed attractive grooves by being turned ‘round and ‘round in the oyster in one place.
Baroque - pearls with a pleasingly organic shape, without ‘tags’ or sharp tails.
Nacre Thickness:
Nacre is the single most important factor in the beauty and durability of the pearl. If you can see the bead through the nacre, or if it is cracked or peeling or has chalky-looking patches, it is a very low grade pearl. Some pearls with thin nacre have high luster and are free of blemishes, because they have been left in the water for only a brief time. This thin surface will soon be damaged by normal wear, and may chip or peal around the drill hole. Always look for pearls with at least Medium nacre, at least 0.35 mm thick.
Luster:
The brightness, or reflectivity of the pearl. The very top pearls have a metallic luster, while fine pearls have a sub-metallic luster but still reflect objects sharply on the surface. Low-luster pearls display very little if any reflectivity.
Color:
Body color - the base color of the pearl, observable near the outer edges of the pearl. White and silver-white are the preferred colors, with grays and cream colors being less desired. However, color is a personal preference and should be chosen to complement skin tone.
Overtone - one or more colors that may (or may not) overlay the body color. Best observed just off the dome of the pearl. These can be pink, green, blue, lavender.
Orient - play of color, or iridescence seeming to move about the surface of some pearls. It is a rare component, more often seen on irregular surfaces.
Surface blemishes, or texture: refers to blemishes or spotting on the surface of the pearl. They are graded by their size, type, number, location and visibility.
Matching:
refers to pairs or strands, and addresses uniformity of color, luster, shape, spotting and graduation. If colors are intentionally mixed, it refers to the attractiveness of the combination. Even in ‘uniform’ strands, there will be gradation in size from the center pearl to those at the ends. Each pearl in a strand has been selected to be placed between its neighbor on each side, and there should be no noticeable difference between pearls that are side-by-side. Bead stringer not trained in stringing pearls may inadvertently re-string pearls in the incorrect order, disrupting the imperceptible ‘blend’ of one pearl to the next and decreasing the value of the strand.
Pearl mounting/stringing:
a perfectly blemish-free pearl is usually not drilled, but rather is mounted in prongs or glued in place. If the pearl is perfectly "clean" except for one blemish, a drill hole will be placed through the blemish. Pearl beads are drilled though one, or sometimes two blemishes, to yield the best quality possible. Pearl strands should be knotted to prevent them from wearing against each other and to reduce loss in case the strand breaks. Knots should be tight against the pearl. If a pearl can slide between knots, it is a sign that the string has stretched and needs to be replaced. If a mounted pearl begins to wobble or turn, stop wearing it immediately and take it to your jeweler to have it re-glued.
Condition:
The surface of the pearl should be smooth and not abraded by chemicals such as perfume, hair spray, and skin acids. There should be no peeling or cracking of the nacre layer around the drill hole. Pearls that have been stored in a safe deposit box for long periods may have yellowed.
Pearl care:
Protect pearls from chemicals and abrasion. Pearls are very soft, and are easily damaged by other jewelry. Most dust contains much harder quartz particles. Thus, pearls are easily scratched by careless cleaning. Keep pearls in their own soft case or bag, and wait to put them on until your hair, make-up and perfume have all been applied. After wearing them against the skin, wipe pearls gently with a very soft, damp cloth before returning them to their secure haven. As pearls seem to benefit from exposure to the light, remember to wear them often!
| Home |
| Email me |
| Top of Page |
