CHOOSING HIGH QUALITY PEARLS
Right at the onset, you should decide which type of pearl
you wish to buy. There are basically three kinds of pearls -
natural, cultured and artificial.
- The shape of the pearl will determine the cost. Pearls
can be round, symmetrical or irregular. Round, sphere like
pearls are the most expensive. Symmetrical pearls, such
as teardrop shaped ones, should be evenly shaped.
- The size determines the price. The bigger the pearl,
the more expensive it is.
- A double strand necklace of smaller pearls will be less
expensive than a single strand necklace of larger pearls.
- A pearl's sheen is important. Lustrous pearls with a
strong, crisp reflection are of good quality. Avoid pearls
that look like dull, cloudy beads.
- Good pearls have 'orient', that is, a iridescent, rainbow
colors.
- A pearl's colour can be natural or dyed. Naturally coloured
pearls are more expensive.
- Good pearls have overtones. That is, a tint secondary
to the main body colour. Pinkish overtones fetch the best
price.
- A good pearl should have minimal surface blemishes such
as nicks, cracks, pits and discolorations.
Here are some tips to determine if a pearl is genuine
or an imitation:
- Run the pearl lightly along the biting edge of your front
teeth. A real pearl feels slightly gritty whereas a fake
will feel smooth.
- Absolutely flawless pearls which feel light on your palm
are probably fake.
- When examined under a 10x magnifier, imitation pearls
will appear grainy.
TAKING CARE OF YOUR JEWELLERY
 Jewellery
that is well cared for will maintain its shine always. Very
often the sheen of gold and silver jewellery is dulled because
it gets encrusted with a thin layer of dirt. Here are a few
tips on how to take care of your valuable jewellery.
- Do not use harsh abrasives to clean jewellery. It will
damage the metal.
- Use a nonabrasive jewellery cleaner or just a cleaning
solution of mild soap and water.
- Use an old toothbrush and gently brush the surface. This
will
get at the dirt embedded in delicate work.
- Avoid using hot water. Rinse jewellery in warm, running
water.
- Wipe the cleaned jewellery with a soft, lint-free cloth
until it shines.
- Silver should be preferably cleaned with a nonabrasive
silver cleaner.
- Silver remains tarnish free when it used
frequently.
- Store each piece of jewellery separately, wrapped in
soft
tissue.
- Even if you do not use your jewellery frequently, clean
them
once a year.
|
