Pearl Styles
Probably the most beloved gem around because of their elegant luster, and the ease of being able to wear them for any occasion. At Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers, we love the pearl styles and believe they can go with any occasions. Pearls are the birthstone for June and are a perfect gift for third and thirteenth anniversaries. Historically, pearls were only worn for special occasions such as galas, weddings and funerals. However today, pearls are worn in a variety of ways and can really go with any outfit as shown below:
Pearl Strands
Our stylists at Schwanke-Kasten suggest these guidelines when selecting strands of pearl styles for your outfits:
- Single strand of pearls, 6-8mm, 16” to 18”, will look perfect inside the collar of a blouse, any simple dress, crewneck sweater or even a t-shirt.
- Longer strands of pearls, 20” to 30”, look great on the outside of a blouse, again on a sheath or solid color dress, or solid colored top.
- For simple and elegant look, look to larger-sized pearls OR layer them; both ways will make an elegant statement when stepping into a room.
- To keep an outfit a little less formal, try one of our pendant pearl necklaces and drop earrings, available through our website.
Here is a Fun-Fact about our family business … did you know that Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers has an “Add-A-Pearl” gifting service? At our Whitefish Bay store, we use a ledger and track the individual pearls that purchased for a specific person. At any time, they can bring their pearls in and we’ll string them (for a small fee) and connect the rest with a simple cable chain necklace and clasp. When they collect more, they can bring them in and we’ll continue to add the pearls until they are satisfied with the length they want.
But you want to know about variety of pearls, and why they come in different colors? Well according to GIA, “the most familiar are white and cream, but the palette of colors extends to every hue. Natural pearls form around a microscopic irritant in the bodies of certain mollusks. Cultured pearls are the result of are the result of the deliberate insertion of a bead or piece of tissue that the mollusk coats with nacre.”
There are four types of cultured pearl styles:
- Akoya cultured pearls are produced in the salt water of Japan and China, and most familiar to many jewelry customers. These typically range from 2mm to 11mm; average size is 6-8mm.
- South Sea pearls are from Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Their size will range from 8-20mm; their shape will range from oval, baroque, round, and round.
- Tahitian pearls are cultivated primarily around the islands of the French Polynesia. These saltwater cultured pearls usually range from white to black, and range in size 9-14mm.
- Freshwater pearls are just that, cultivated in freshwater lakes and ponds. In fact, Pearl farmers produce pearls in a wide range of sizes, shapes and colors. China and the US are the leading sources. Their sizes range from 4mm to 14mm; their shapes will be near-round, oval button or baroque (modified circled).
With all pearls, they will vary in luster, shape, surface appearance and color. The take away here is, if you have pearls – where them! They will make you feel special, happy, but most of all – pretty! In fact, you just can’t go wrong wearing them. Additionally, stop by Schwanke-Kasten Jewelers today to see our full selection. Moreover, planning for a wedding? Check out the Schwanke-Kasten Wedding Blog!
