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| My Tallulah's Pearls necklace reflects the classic look of fine freshwater pearls. |
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For hundreds of years, the only people who wore pearls were royalty
and nobles, and later, the fabulously wealthy who could afford them. Today, the
good news is that you don't have to spend a small fortune to get beautiful
pearls to use in your beadweaving and jewelry-making projects. (Although if you
took a good look at what I've spent on freshwater pearl beads in the last few
years, it's probably pretty close to a king's ransom!)
Technically, freshwater pearls are not gemstones. They are
the result of irritation in the soft tissue of a mollusk. (Doesn't that sound
pleasant?) Slimy water creatures aside, pearls are as beautiful and fascinating
as any gemstone that I've ever seen, and certainly hold more allure for me than
other types of semi-precious beads.
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Kate McKinnon's Shag Carpet of Pearls bracelet uses pearls to achieve a more modern, edgy look. |
Nacre is the substance that gives pearls their lovely shine
and makes them seem to glow from within. For those of you interested in the
biological and chemical composition of a freshwater pearl bead, that nacre is
formed mainly from calcium carbonate (think crushed up antacid tablets!) and a
crystal called aragonite. Light reflecting between the layers of calcium
carbonate and aragonite is what makes a pearl shine and gives it that
characteristic sheen.
I was surprised to find out that true natural pearls (those
that occur in the wild with no outside help from humans) are extremely rare and
are almost never those perfectly round spheres that you see in fine jewelry
shops. Most pearls are cultured and created to look like those very rare
natural pearls that are so coveted by pearl lovers everywhere.
When choosing freshwater pearl beads, you will want to pay
attention to the shape, luster, surface, color and size of your pearls. Check
the surface of your freshwater pearl beads for cracks, scratches, bumps, spots
and cracks before buying them. Also be aware that some "shaped" pearls are
crudely cultivated, and you might find that some of the cultivated nacre wears
off quickly, exposing the mother of pearl shape underneath.
If you love freshwater pearl beads and pearl beading
projects as much as I do, you'll be thrilled to
get your copy of Create Jewelry: Pearls by Marlene
Blessing and Jamie Hogsett. This classic volume with information about the
history and creation of pearls is also packed with 22 gorgeous pearl bead
projects, resources and basic techniques. And now it's available as a digital
download! You can purchase your copy of
Create
Jewelry: Pearls and be reading it in minutes on your desktop or laptop
computer. Instant gratification!
What's your favorite style of freshwater pearl bead? Leave a
comment on the blog and tell us! And if you've ever created a fabulous piece of
beaded jewelry using freshwater pearls, why not take a quick picture and post
it in the Reader Photo Gallery?
Bead Happy,
Jennifer
Filed under: Gemstones, Pearls, Crystals, Beaded Beads, Bead Making, How To Bead, Bead-weaving, Bead Crafts, Beaded Jewelry Design, Beads, Jewelry Making, Beading Daily, Pearl