All about pearls

Every woman should have at least one pearl in her jewelry collection for it to be complete. It is symbolic of purity, modesty and innocence and has remained a favorite of women for ages.

There are two types of pearls  the natural and the cultured. Natural pearls occur when a tiny sea creature or rock ends up inside an open oyster. They are often irregular in shape and tend to be not so perfectly round. They are very rare and quite expensive.

Cultured pearls come into being when man gives nature what you might describe as a “little help.” Pearl farmers deliberately implant an irritant  usually a mother-of-pearl bead  in a mollusk. The living creature builds layer upon layer of nacre around the bead until the growth resembles the familiar gem we know as a pearl.

In the Philippines, the Jewelmer Company founded in 1979 by a French perliculture specialist and a Filipino entrepreneur, has been engaged in South Sea pearl farming with the vision of creating the most lustrous pearls in the world. The establishment prides itself on being the only pearl farm company that designs and manufactures fine pearl jewelry, which is a perfect blend of European and Asian artistry and craftsmanship.

 On the invitation of Marlene and Aziza Mondoñedo, proprietors of Tinderbox, Laetitia Meriguet, retail ambassador of Jewelmer, recently visited Cebu and gave a short lecture on the intricate process that goes into producing and exporting the finest cultured South Sea pearls in the world, which are produced in the pristine environment of Palawan.

 Also of interest was her talk on the manner in which South Sea pearl strands should be cared for. First, put the strand on last to protect them from chemicals in hair spray, make-up or perfume. After wearing, gently wipe them with a soft, damp cloth to remove body oils or dirt before putting them away. Pearls should be stored away from other objects or jewelry that may scratch the surface. Wrap the pearls in linen, or soft cloth and place them in a separate compartment to stay protected and beautiful. Don’t store pearls in an airtight package such as a plastic bag because pearls need moisture. If the environment is too dry, the pearls may crack. Because pearls thrive on contact with human skin, growing even lovelier with constant touch, they should be worn quite often. Lastly, have pearl strands checked or re-strung once a year if worn often. Be sure to have each pearl knotted separately, preferably with silk so they do not rub together and wear on the pearl nacre.

 Jewelmer, through decades of research and biotechnology, has perfected the breeding process that produces gold-lipped Pinctada maxima pearl oysters capable of growing large, lustrous, golden pearls. This deep gold color is characteristic of the south Sea pearls produced in the Philippines. The intricate hand-made pieces are crafted in 18K gold and a certificate of authenticity is delivered to guaranty the origin and unaltered nature of the pearls.

 Here are two tips for wearing pearls:

Dark-skinned women look best in pearls with a gold tint while pink complexions are most complemented by pearls with a creamy rose color.

Pearl chokers look best on long necks and the graduated strands are ideal on short and wide necks. The rule of thumb is as follows  a single strand of pearls is perfect for daily wear at the office and  a multi-strand necklace is the ultimate accessory for evening.