What Is a Pink Pearl?
This simple question has a complex answer. A pink pearl can be a phenomenon of nature, like "The Big Pink Pearl," a baroque (free form) 470-karat gem found in 1990 by Wesley Rankin while diving at California's Salt Point State Park and valued at $4.7 million in 1991. Typically, unless a family heirloom, pink pearls are either freshwater or saltwater (Akoya) cultured pearls. Does this Spark an idea?
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Natural Pearl Formation
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When a foreign object, like a parasite, lodges in an oyster, the oyster tries to protect itself by secreting nacre, a smooth, crystalline substance. Layer after layer of nacre causes the foreign object to grow in size, forming a pearl. Due to overharvesting and water pollution, natural pearls have all but vanished from the market, leaving cultured pearls to dominate pearl sales.
How Pearls Are Cultured
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A special instrument is used to open to a mollusk, and a shell bead is inserted through a small incision in its gonad (reproduction organ). Layers of nacre form around the shell bead. The mollusk is returned to the water until harvest time, around nine to 16 months for most cultured pink pearls. Only 20 percent of mollusks produce marketable, jewelry-quality pearls.
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Freshwater Cultured Pearls
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Round, baroque and drop shapes are found in freshwater cultured pearls. As a rule, they are the most common, least expensive pearl. China leads the way in culturing freshwater pearls. Japan, the South Pacific and the United States also contribute to the freshwater pearl market. Pink, peach, gold, yellow, champagne, lavender, grey and black can all be found in freshwater pearls.
Saltwater Cultured Pearls
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Saltwater pearls are generally of a better quality than freshwater cultured pearls, most notably Akoya pearls, the first cultured pearls, which appear in white and with overtone colors of pink, cream and yellow. They have been cultivated in Japan since the early 1900s using the Akoya oyster. Since the Akoya oyster is the smallest used in pearl production, the gem's size is normally two to 11 millimeters. Japan, China, Vietnam, South Korea and Australia are all suppliers of Akoya pearls.
Identification and Rating
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The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) established an identification and classification system in 1949 for natural and cultured pearls, the only gemstone formed within a living creature. The seven GIA pearl factors are pearl species, shape, surface, color, nacre thickness, matching and luster. A jeweler should be able to explain exactly how the pink pearls you're considering are rated. Luster, size and surface quality are most important in pearl value.
Low-Grade Pearl Treatments
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All pearls are cleaned and polished once harvested. However, dyes to change color, heat treatment to improve luster and irradiation to deepen color are among treatments used on low-grade cultured pearls to improve their appearance. It is better to invest in a strand of high-quality, pink cultured pearls than multiple stands of low-grade pearls. After all, you are purchasing a piece to hand down to future generations.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit pearls image by Photoeyes from Fotolia.com
