Anyone who has ever tried to open penknife sink, extracted from the seabed, cherished the hope: "And suddenly there pearls ..." Lucky lucky one out of a hundred. Perhaps that is why the last 5000 years pearls so popular ...
Created from tears
Where in the shell appearspearl? The ancient Greeks believed that pearl stones - it's frozen tears nymphs. And they were almost right. As nymphs serves a special kind of shellfish-pearl mussels. When inside the shell gets a foreign body, such as a grain of sand, pearl perceives it as trauma and begins to "cry" pearl tears, enveloping them foreign object. Thus was born the pearls. 2-3 oyster increases year around the object layer is 5 mm. To grow a pearl medium size required, 3-4 years, large - 12 years, huge - more than 200. It is no coincidence the biggest stumbling recognized as the "Pearl of Allah", which is extracted from the giant clam, vesivshego 3 tons and lived 450 years. Weight pearls of almost 7 kg. However, despite the admiration, the owners decided not to use it as a decoration - too hard.
Read also - Pearls - a symbol of good taste
For many centuries, pearls perceived as a gift of nature and destiny. It was not until as long as people do not learn to grow and mimic the natural wonder-pearl. Today, there are three kinds of pearls: natural, artificial and cultured.
Natural pearls - Produced without human intervention, has always been expensive. In ancient times, 4-5 grams of pearl equated to 50 grams of gold. At the beginning of the XXI century it costs a fortune!
Venetian pearl - High-quality imitation pearls became possible with the advent of dyes containing a natural pearl. It is extracted from fish scales and extracts of shellfish. In expensive jewelry as a basis used hollow glass balls that are on the outside several times dyed mother of pearl, and the interior is filled with wax. This technology gives the artificial pearls all the properties of natural - shine and strength. In cheap jewelry used plastic, with a mother of pearl, unfortunately, quickly "peel off". To distinguish the quality imitation of a cheap knockoff, bring the gem to his mouth: if you feel cold - that bead is made of glass, if the heat - inside the plastic.
Cultured. According to the properties no different from natural. The difference is that a foreign body in a conch shell puts people, not the case. First farmed pearls in China began in the XIII century. Today, almost all pearls used in jewelry - cultured.
Color white can not see
Not only in the products of jewelers and craftsmen jewelry, but also in the nature of pearls amazing variety of shapes and colors. Previously considered a perfect round shape, designers today legalized and wrong. It naturally occurs in a small and bright freshwater pearls.
Color variety "of pearl stones" varies from rich, black and green (they grow on the islands of the Gulf of Mexico and Tahiti) to bright pink - in the waters of the Gulf of California, silver and yellow - on the coast of Ceylon, pale green - in Japan and white - in Australia. Shades are countless. Tahitian pearl divers with dozens of options for black and rich green, known as the catchy title "peacock green" ...
Power - Dragon Heart - elephant
Every nation pearls attributed his origin story and special properties. Ancient Chinese mystics believed that pearls - the dragons when fighting two fire-breathing creatures on the ground to rain and pearls. For this reason, he was considered an effective talisman against ognya.Indusy believe in his love and protection talisman called from any danger. Interestingly, in the legends and beliefs they put pearls in the brain, stomach and heart respected and powerful animal - Indian elephant.
The fact that most Europeans perceive exclusively white pearls, there are some limitations and biological selection. It turns out that we instinctively choose the color of the pearl, which is closer to the color of their skin. Therefore, the Europeans usually prefer white pearls, the Japanese - yellow, and the inhabitants of Africa - brown and black. When Europeans puts decorating with color pearls, he confesses his love for extravagance and exoticism.
Color pearl has its price: the most expensive considered hot pink and black, and the cheapest - yellow. Manufacturers pearls go on about the existing traditions and lean in the direction of expensive flowers. Hottest combination this season - a mixture of beige and green pearls.
What does a woman want?
At all times, pearls particularly revered by women and is considered a sign of wealth, style and taste. In ancient Egypt, he represented the feminine element - the moon. Queen Semiramis appeared at festivals in beads of bright pink pearls, Cleopatra was the owner of a huge pear-shaped pearls - to appease and enchant Anthony, her beauty melted in wine and drank ...
How many years how many winters
Natural and artificial pearls are timeless. The average life expectancy lovely pearls - 250-500 years. Then she loses shine and easily pulverized. In 1544 was opened the tomb of the daughter of the Roman general Flavius Stilicho (360-480 gg. BC. E.). In the grave with gold survived 53 pearls. They were dull, crumbled into powder pea. To decoration not grown old before the time - take care of him. Pearls contain 2% water, so dry and hot places it contraindicated: it can crack from dryness, covered with cracks and almost certainly lose luster. There is a national sign, which has not been scientifically proven that the more often wear pearls, the longer lives decoration. However, it should be given periodically to rest from a long socks he dims. The product is clean potato starch or a weak solution of hydrochloric acid, a couple of days put in the box. It glistens.
In the XVI century the best collection of pearl was collected by Queen Catherine de Medici, from her she went to Mary Stuart.
The most favorite jewelry of Catherine II was a unique necklace of black pearls.
In XX century, Coco Chanel introduced the fashion of democratic variant of jewelry that can buy any fashionista - beads and necklaces made of artificial pearls. And the tradition continues.
The famous American designer Kenneth Jane Lane, garnish with SWAROVSKI rhinestones and faux pearls characters in the series "Santa Barbara", declared: "Every woman can become the epitome of glamor, without the help of insanely expensive jewelry." As evidence of one of his clients - Hillary Clinton came to the ball over the inauguration of the president in the necklace of three strings of artificial pearls, surprising elegance and democratic.
Among the local stars, too, have a great admirer of pearls. Sustainable and long-term attachment to the "seafood" known Lyudmila Gurchenko and Olga Ostroumova.
How to reach out to the opera
Necklace of pearls come in different lengths and styles. Choose your option.
When the central jewel falls exactly into the hole at the base of the neck, choker necklace called. It is suitable possessor thin and long neck.
Necklace "princess" usually reaches a length of 50 cm and is particularly suitable enough plump girls, those who want to visually make your neck is thinner.
Necklace size 66 cm is called "matinee". It can be worn as a bracelet or necklace to turn in a short with two locks invisible. Depending on the options to suit everyone.
Necklace "Opera" should be twice longer than the choker. It is the most neutral option, emphasizes not only the dignity of the neckline and shoulders as your taste.
Finally, the "rope". This necklace can be as long as imagination and finances allow.