Terms Relating to Pearls and Pearl Jewelry
It's a whole lot easier to shop for pearl jewelry if you understand the language. Here's a glossary of some common pearl terms, including types and shapes of pearls and necklace lengths. Please let me know if there are any terms you would like to see added and I'll include them.
A - Pearl Glossary Terms
Abalone Pearl - Pearl produced by the abalone mollusc. Abalone pearls are usually gray with strong orient.
Akoya Cultured Pearl - A type of saltwater cultured pearl, grown primarily in cooler water off the coasts of Japan and China. Oyster species that produce Akoya pearls include Pinctada fucata and Pinctada martensi.
Awabi Pearl - Japanese name for abalone pearls.
Akoya Cultured Pearl - A type of saltwater cultured pearl, grown primarily in cooler water off the coasts of Japan and China. Oyster species that produce Akoya pearls include Pinctada fucata and Pinctada martensi.
Awabi Pearl - Japanese name for abalone pearls.
B - Pearl Glossary Terms
Baroque - Any irregularly-shaped pearl. Baroque pearls are valued for their one-of-a-kind, unusual shapes.
Biwa Pearl - Cultured freshwater pearls grown in a mussel that lives in Lake Biwa, Japan.
Blemish - Refers to any surface defect on a pearl. Blemishes include cracks, chips, dull spots, wrinkles, spots, holes, bumps, and pits.
Blister Pearl - A pearl that has grown onto the inside surface of a mollusc's shell, so that it is dome-shaped on one side and flattened on the other. See also Mabe pearl.
Button Pearl - Pearl shape where one side of the pearl is flattened. See also mabe pearl.
Biwa Pearl - Cultured freshwater pearls grown in a mussel that lives in Lake Biwa, Japan.
Blemish - Refers to any surface defect on a pearl. Blemishes include cracks, chips, dull spots, wrinkles, spots, holes, bumps, and pits.
Blister Pearl - A pearl that has grown onto the inside surface of a mollusc's shell, so that it is dome-shaped on one side and flattened on the other. See also Mabe pearl.
Button Pearl - Pearl shape where one side of the pearl is flattened. See also mabe pearl.
Bid on Pearl Jewelry
If you are buying pearl jewelry from an auction, it is especially important to understand how pearls are described so you can know whether or not you are get a good deal.
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C - Pearl Glossary Terms
Calcareous Concretion - Term given to the hard substance secreted by a non-nacre producing mollusc.
Choker - Traditionally, a necklace from 16-18 inches in length. In the modern usage of the term, a choker may be as short as 12 inches.
Circles - Concentric rings on the surface of a pearl. If circles cover over 1/3 of the pearl's surface, it may be referred to as a circle pearl.
Clean - Term applied to a pearl surface that is free of surface flaws.
Collar - Pearl necklace that just fits around the neck, usually 10-13 inches in length. Many collars consist of two or more strands of pearls.
Color - Term used to describe the base color of a pearl.
Conch Pearl - Pearl produced by a conch. A conch is a tropical saltwater mollusc. Conch pearls occur in pink and orange colors.
Corn Pearl - A pearl shaped like a kernel of corn, usually from China.
Choker - Traditionally, a necklace from 16-18 inches in length. In the modern usage of the term, a choker may be as short as 12 inches.
Circles - Concentric rings on the surface of a pearl. If circles cover over 1/3 of the pearl's surface, it may be referred to as a circle pearl.
Clean - Term applied to a pearl surface that is free of surface flaws.
Collar - Pearl necklace that just fits around the neck, usually 10-13 inches in length. Many collars consist of two or more strands of pearls.
Color - Term used to describe the base color of a pearl.
Conch Pearl - Pearl produced by a conch. A conch is a tropical saltwater mollusc. Conch pearls occur in pink and orange colors.
Corn Pearl - A pearl shaped like a kernel of corn, usually from China.
Cultured Pearl - Pearl that is intentionally grown by introducing an irritant or substrate inside the shell of a mollusc.
Cultivated Pearl - Another term for a cultured pearl. Any pearl that is intentionally grown by introducing an irritant or substrate inside the shell of a mollusc.
F - Pearl Glossary Terms
Freshwater Pearl - Any pearl produced by a mollusc living in fresh water.
Freshwater Cultured Pearl - Cultured pearl that is grown inside a mollusc that lives in fresh water, such as a pond, lake, or river.
Freshwater Cultured Pearl - Cultured pearl that is grown inside a mollusc that lives in fresh water, such as a pond, lake, or river.
G - Pearl Glossary Terms
Grafting - Also termed nucleation or implantation. Process of inserting a hard bead nucleus or piece of soft mantle tissue into a mollusc body or mantle of the mollusc.The nucleus or mantle tissue serves as the 'seed' to irritate the mollusc to produce a pearl.
I - Pearl Glossary Terms
Imitation Pearl - Any pearl not made by molluscs. Imitation (also called faux, fake, simulated) pearls commonly are made of glass, plastic, or urea, and may be coated with any of a number of polymers, waxes, or fish scale extracts.
Pearl Jewelry at Amazon
14k Yellow Gold 8-8.5mm Freshwater Cultured Pearl Stud Earrings
Amazon Price: $34.99 (as of 12/26/2009) 
Sterling Silver 7-8mm Freshwater Cultured Pearl Pendant, 18"
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 12/26/2009)
Sterling Silver Cultured Freshwater Pearl 3 Piece Jewelry Set
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/26/2009)
K - Pearl Glossary Terms
Keshii Pearl - Sometimes called a seed pearl or a keshi pearl. This is a small pearl that grows in addition to the intended cultured pearl. It is a non-nucleated pearl.
L - Pearl Glossary Terms
Luster - A pearl's ability to refract and reflect light. Luster refers to a pearl's depth and shine.
M - Pearl Glossary Terms
Mabe Pearl - A pearl that grows against the inside wall of a mollusc's shell, resulting in a domed shape with a flattened back. In some cases, mabe pearls are grown by glueing a plastic dome (nucleus) onto the inside surface of a mollusk's shell. Once the nucleus is coated with nacre, the pearl is cut away from the inner shell. The nucleus is removed and the cavity is filled with an epoxy resin and backed by a mother-of-pearl plate. Mabe pearls are sometimes called blister pearls.
Majorica Pearl - A simulated pearl made by the Spanish Majorica company.
Mantle - The thin tissue membrane that attaches a mussel to the inside of its shell.
Matching - The process of grouping pearls according to color, size, shape, luster, and surface.
Matinee - Pearl necklace that is ususally 20-24 inches in length.
Momme - Standard unit of measurement of pearls in Japan. One momme equals 3.75 grams or 18.75 carats.
Majorica Pearl - A simulated pearl made by the Spanish Majorica company.
Mantle - The thin tissue membrane that attaches a mussel to the inside of its shell.
Matching - The process of grouping pearls according to color, size, shape, luster, and surface.
Matinee - Pearl necklace that is ususally 20-24 inches in length.
Momme - Standard unit of measurement of pearls in Japan. One momme equals 3.75 grams or 18.75 carats.
More About Pearls and Pearl Jewelry
Here are some of my other lenses about pearls.-
Bead a Pearl Lariat Necklace
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Make a Pearl Illusion Necklace
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This illusion necklace looks beautiful and requires no knots, glue, or crimps to hold the beads in place. Try it with pearls or accent beads that would be too heavy to use as a full strand. I have shown it as a pearl necklace, with the example done u...
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Make Pearl Earrings
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Pearl earstuds are a classic fashion accessory, jewelry store staple, and a great gift idea. High quality materials and careful attention to technique will make the difference between heirloom treasures and earstuds that look ill-matched and fall apa...
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How to Tell Real Pearls and Fake Pearls Apart
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Pearls are beautiful. There are faux (fake) pearls that look stunning and real pearls that look... well... less so. So why care whether or not you can tell real and fake apart? You will want to be able to recognize real pearls if you are buying them...
N - Pearl Glossary Terms
Nacre - The calcium carbonate-based substance secreted by a pearl in response to an irritant, such as a piece of shell (cultured pearl) or parasite (most natural pearls).
Natural Pearl - Any pearl grown without human interference. Sometimes called 'Oriental' pearls.
Nucleation - Also termed grafting or implantation. Process of inserting a hard bead nucleus or piece of soft mantle tissue into a mollusc body or mantle of the mollusc.The nucleus or mantle tissue serves as the 'seed' to irritate the mollusc to produce a pearl.
Nucleus - Usually, a small rounded piece of shell from an American freshwater mussel. For freshwater pearl cultivation, the nucleus usually is a shaped piece of mantle from another freshwater mussel.
Natural Pearl - Any pearl grown without human interference. Sometimes called 'Oriental' pearls.
Nucleation - Also termed grafting or implantation. Process of inserting a hard bead nucleus or piece of soft mantle tissue into a mollusc body or mantle of the mollusc.The nucleus or mantle tissue serves as the 'seed' to irritate the mollusc to produce a pearl.
Nucleus - Usually, a small rounded piece of shell from an American freshwater mussel. For freshwater pearl cultivation, the nucleus usually is a shaped piece of mantle from another freshwater mussel.
O - Pearl Jewelry Terms
Opera - Pearl necklace that is 28-32 inches in length.
Orient - Refers to a pearl's iridescence.
Oriental Pearl - A term sometimes used to refer to a natural pearl.
Orient - Refers to a pearl's iridescence.
Oriental Pearl - A term sometimes used to refer to a natural pearl.
P - Pearl Glossary Terms
Peacock Pearl - A type of black pearl, usually with dark green tones. Genuine black pearls are produced by the oyster Pinctada margaritifera. The term 'peacock pearl' often is frequently applied to irridescent black freshwater pearls, which achieve their color as a result of irradiation, heating, and/or dyeing.
Potato - Refers to a pearl with an oblong shape, such that it resembles a potato. Most potato pearls are freshwater cultured pearls from China.
Princess - Pearl necklace that is from 17-19 inches in length.
Potato - Refers to a pearl with an oblong shape, such that it resembles a potato. Most potato pearls are freshwater cultured pearls from China.
Princess - Pearl necklace that is from 17-19 inches in length.
R - Pearl Glossary Terms
Rice Pearl - A freshwater cultured pearl with a crinkled surface and elongated shape, such that it resembles a grain of rice. Most rice pearls originate from China or the United States.
Rope - Pearl necklace that is longer than 45 inches.
Rope - Pearl necklace that is longer than 45 inches.
S - Pearl Glossary Terms
Saltwater Pearl - Any pearl, natural or cultivated, that is grown in a mollusc that lives in salt (ocean) water.
Shape - A pearl's shape has a great impact on its value. Perfectly round pearls are rare, and therefore highly valuable. Other shapes of pearls include off-round, drop, oval, button, circle, baroque. Freshwater cultured pearl shapes also include stick, angel-wing, cross, and coin shapes.
Size - Pearl size is expressed in millimeters and is a measure of diameter.
South Sea Pearl - Pearls grown in the white-lipped oyster, Pinctada maxima, in the South Pacific. South Sea pearls occur in shades of white, silver, and gold.
Shape - A pearl's shape has a great impact on its value. Perfectly round pearls are rare, and therefore highly valuable. Other shapes of pearls include off-round, drop, oval, button, circle, baroque. Freshwater cultured pearl shapes also include stick, angel-wing, cross, and coin shapes.
Size - Pearl size is expressed in millimeters and is a measure of diameter.
South Sea Pearl - Pearls grown in the white-lipped oyster, Pinctada maxima, in the South Pacific. South Sea pearls occur in shades of white, silver, and gold.
T - Pearl Glossary Terms
Tahitian Pearl - Pearls grown in the black-lipped oyster, Pinctada margaritifera, in the South Pacific. Tahitian pearl colors include deep gray (black), purple, green, gold, and silver.
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- hlkljgk hlkljgk Mar 1, 2009 @ 8:03 pm
- great idea - thanks for the info
by Azareal
Hi. I'm Dr. Anne Helmenstine, scientist, author, and mom. I write and edit About.com's Chemistry Website, which covers general chemistry, science proj... (more)
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