Think of every passing year as an opportunity to celebrate with your birthstone. In fact, people have been wearing birthstone jewelry since the 15^th century in Poland, when they were encouraged to own all 12. And while birthstone secrets and lore can be found right here on our blog, today we share what makes YOUR birthstone a powerful statement of your finest qualities.

The post Discover the Powers of Your Birthstone appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

The legendary beauty of June’s luminescent birthstone has been celebrated for centuries. We explored the pearl’s history and lore, the various types of pearls available, and how a pearl’s value is assessed and what to look for when purchasing a pearl. Now we are going to discuss how to care for one!

Pearls are one of the more delicate gemstones, so they require extra care. Avoid wearing pearls when cleaning the house or doing yard work to avoid scratching. Chemicals contained in perfume and the ingredients in makeup and hairspray can eat away a pearl’s nacre, causing it to dull permanently. Cleaning products containing chemicals such as ammonia and chlorine should also to be avoided, so don’t ever wear your pearls in the pool!

Pearls need a certain amount of moisture to retain their beauty, so avoid storing them in airtight or overly dry environments. Luckily, the human body provides just the right amount of moisture to maintain a pearl’s effervescent luster. Pearls are made to be worn and enjoyed!

Here are some more great tips to help keep your pearls as beautiful 50 years from now as they are today.

• The best way to clean pearls is with a soft, damp cloth, ideally after each time they are worn.
• Pearls should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. Warm soapy water is safe, assuming the nacre is in good condition. Make sure strung pearls are completely dry before wearing.
• Store pearls separately from gemstones and metal jewelry, which may scratch their surface.
• Never store your pearls in a plastic bag. Plastic can emit a chemical that will damage the surface of pearls. The same is true of cotton wool.
• Don’t store pearls in a safe deposit box for long periods of time. Like your skin, pearls need a little moisture so that they will not dry out.
• Always apply perfume, hair products and cosmetics before putting on your pearl jewelry.
• A good rule of thumb is: when dressing, pearls should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about pearl care. If you are looking for more information on these spectacular gemstones, you will enjoy our new book ‘Splendour & Science of Pearls‘.

The post Caring for June’s Birthstone: Pearls Part 4 appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

Celebrated for its mesmerizing beauty, the Grace Kelly of gems is June’s elegant birthstone–the pearl. We previously discussed the pearl’s history and lore, and the different types of pearls. Now let’s delve into how a pearl’s value is assessed, and what to look for when purchasing a pearl.

Though most known for creating the 4Cs and diamond grading standards, GIA also created a standard for describing pearl quality – the GIA 7 Pearl Value Factors™. These factors are:

1.    Size: Measured in millimeters,  and rounded to the nearest 0.5 mm

2.    Shape: Described as Round, Near-round, Oval, Button, Drop, Semi-baroque and Baroque

3.    Color: A combination of the pearl’s dominant body color, overtone and orient. Body color takes into account hue, tone and saturation. Overtone is a noticeable translucent color that appears to layer over the pearl’s body color. Orien
t is the mixture of colors shimmering just below the pearl’s surface.

4.    Luster: The light reflected from the pearl’s surface, evaluated by the intensity and sharpness of the reflection. Luster is evaluated according to the following scale:

• Excellent – reflections appear bright and sharp
• Very Good – reflections appear bright and near sharp
• Good – reflections are bright, but not sharp
• Fair – reflections are weak and blurred
• Poor – reflections are dim and diffused

5.    Surface: Evaluated based on the blemishes or irregularities in the pearl’s surface, taking into account the size, number, nature, location, visibility and type of surface characteristics. Surface is rated by the following scale:

• Clean – blemish-free, or containing minute surface irregularities that are difficult to see
• Lightly spotted – only minor surface irregularities are visible
• Moderately spotted – noticeable surface blemishes
• Heavily spotted – obvious surface irregularities that might affect durability

6.    Nacre Quality: Nacre quality is determined by its thickness and layering. hen the thickness of the nacre coating on a bead cultured pearl is too thin or damaged, appears chalky, or if the bead can be seen through the nacre, it may impact the pearl’s ability to sustain normal wear.

• Acceptable – nucleus not noticeable; no chalky appearance
• Nucleus visible – pearl(s) show evidence of bead nucleus through the nacre
• Chalky appearance – pearls have an obvious dull appearance

7.    Matching: This measurement only applies to a strand of pearls, or jewelry pieces with multiple pearls, by assessing the uniformity of all the pearls in the piece.

• Excellent – uniform in appearance and drilled on-center
• Very good – very minor variations in uniformity
• Good – minor variations in uniformity
• Fair – noticeable variations in uniformity
• Poor – very noticeable variations in uniformity

Pearls are often treated to improve color, shape, surface appearance, weight and durability. Pearls are porous, which allows them to accept many treatments more readily than non-porous gemstones, while their softness permits them to be shaped fairly easily. Treatment processes may include bleaching, heating, dyeing, irradiation and coating to improve color; peeling to improve shape and or surface appearance; or filling and impregnation to increase weight or enhance durability.

So how can you be sure about the quality of pearls you’re buying? GIA Pearl Reports provide in-depth information about detectable treatments, the pearl’s origin, its growing environment and the mollusk species that produced it. The report includes a quality description based on the GIA 7 value factors described above.

Please join us for the final installment of our June birthstone blog series where we’ll share valuable tips on how to care for your pearls!

Does learning about these factors help simplify your decision-making process? We’d love to hear from you!

The post 7 Factors Describe June’s Birthstone: Pearls Part 3 appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

June’s lustrous birthstone is celebrated around the globe for its compelling beauty. Earlier this week we discussed the source and history of the pearl. Today we’ll be diving into the various types of pearls.

Natural saltwater pearls are extremely rare and valuable. They are most often found in the Arabian Gulf (or Persian Gulf), where 70-80 percent of all natural pearls were discovered until the 1930s. Natural pearls can also be found in, the Red Sea and Strait of Manaar. Occasionally, natural saltwater pearls are unearthed in Baja California, Venezuela, Myanmar, China, Japan, India, French Polynesia, Australia and Africa – the same regions that have cultured pearl industries.

The majority of pearls on the market are cultured pearls. Cultured pearls are formed with human assistance under controlled conditions in pearl farms around the world. Technicians insert a bead or piece of tissue into a living mollusk, and the mollusk responds by depositing layers of nacre over the irritant, which over time gives rise to a miraculous pearl.. Cultured pearls fall into four types :

Akoya
• Environment: Saltwater
• Colors: White or cream with yellow, pink or blue hues and overtones of pink or green
• Size: Typical size range is 6 mm to 7 mm. You may see them as small as 2 mm and as large as 10 mm

Tahitian
• Environment: Saltwater
• Colors: Black, gray, silver, brown. Overtone colors can include blue to green, purple, yellowish green and pink.
• Size: Typical size range if 8 mm to 14 mm

South Sea
• Environment: Saltwater
• Colors: White, cream or silver, with yellow, orangy yellow or blue hues and overtones of pink, green or blue
• Size: Usually 15 mm and larger but can be smaller

Freshwater
• Environment: Freshwater, usually cultured in lakes and ponds
• Colors: white or cream with yellow, orange, pink or purple hues and overtones of pink, blue or green
• Size: Typical size range is 4 mm to 14 mm

Different environments and different mollusks produce different types of pearls, which makes cultured pearls a fascinating enterprise. Next up in our June birthstone series, we’ll provide some insight into how pearls are graded and their value is determined.

Do you have a favorite type of pearl or pearl color? Please share!

The post The Varieties of June’s Birthstone: Pearls Part 2 appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

The luminous pearl is June’s coveted birthstone. This enchanting treasure originating from the sea is a timeless wardrobe staple, beloved by fashion icons including Audrey Hepburn and Coco Chanel. In this four-part series, we’ll be (1) sharing the source and history of pearls, (2) exploring different pearl varieties, (3) assessing factors behind pearl value, and (4) learning about how to care for your pearls.

A black-lipped oyster, which produces the Tahitian pearl.

Pearls are organic gems that form inside the tissue of a living mollusk (either an oyster or a mussel). The mollusk secretes a substance called nacre when an irritant such as a piece of sand or a parasite invades its shell. The mollusk continues to secrete layers of nacre, until the nacre-covered speck becomes a pearl. This process usually spans the course of two years.

Isla Margarita pearls. Image courtesy of KCB Natural Pearls.

Pearls come in an abundance of sizes, colors and shapes, which are determined by the unique conditions in which they form. Natural pearls are rare; cultured pearls are divided into freshwater and saltwater varieties in controlled pearl farms around the world. Cultured pearls are formed by inserting a bead or a piece of mantle tissue into the mollusk. It is estimated there are approximately 100,000 species of mollusk, but only 14 are used to produce cultured pearls.

This 450-carat, natural baroque freshwater pearl was once owned by Philip Henry Hope. © Christie’s Images / The Bridgeman Art Library.

The pearl has been beloved by royals throughout history. Queen Elizabeth the First is adorned with huge pearls in many of her portraits. Cleopatra was said to have two of the largest pearls in the world in her possession. Legend has it that she dissolved and drank one of them at the world’s most expensive banquet. The other pearl was cut into two pieces and placed in the ears of Venus in the Pantheon at Rome.

There is more to learn about pearl lore, as well as interesting facts on our Gem Encyclopedia pages.

Don’t forget to tune into the next segment of our June birthstone series, where we take a deeper look at the various types of cultured pearls!

There are many influential celebrities and historical figures who have donned pearls through the ages! Who is your favorite pearl jewelry icon and why?

The post The History & Lore of June’s Birthstone: Pearls Part 1 appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

Most gems form within the Earth, but June’s birthstone, pearl, is unique because it is formed in the soft tissue of a living mollusk. Natural pearls are rare; most are cultured by implanting a bead into the mollusk and letting the mollusk coat the bead with nacre for up to two years before the pearl is harvested. Pearls come in an array of colors, with white and cream being most common, then black and gray.

Pink sapphire and diamonds complement the exotic color of this metallic cultured pearl ring. (Photo courtesy of Blaire Beavers, Ring courtesy Takayas Mizuno.)

Pearl culturing began in the early 1900s. Cultured pearls are divided into freshwater and saltwater varieties, and are cultured in pearl farms around the world.

The most familiar pearl colors are white and cream, but pearl colors can extend to virtually every hue.

There are many ancient myths associated with pearls. Ancient Greeks believed that Aphrodite, the goddess of sensuality and beauty, adored the beauty of pearls, and the Chinese believed there was a link between the moon and a pearl’s soft glow. Wearing pearls is believed to bring mental clarity.

“The Peaceful Horizon” is made up of the golden mabé pearl necklace, earrings and ring.

Check out pearl in the GIA Celebrates Birthstones exhibit at the GIA Carlsbad campus. Schedule a free tour 24 hours in advance by contacting guestservices@gia.edu; calling 800-421-7250, ext. 4116 or 760-603-4116; or visiting www.gia.edu.

The post GIA Celebrates Birthstones – Will Pearls Bring You Mental Clarity? appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

The June birthstone, the pearl, has a long and rich history. For many young women, pearls are just something you wear when you wanted to look classy and put together. But the unique creation of the pearl, the only gem made from a living creature, tells us that this is an incredibly special little sphere.

Picture the homely and earthy mollusk, living its life quietly under the sea. Along comes a pesky bit of something- maybe a piece of sand or even a wicked parasite. That mollusk secretes a substance called nacre to get rid of that thing! It keeps sending out nacre but of course it cannot rid itself of the irritant. This is lucky for us- over the course of many years, that tiny, nacre-covered speck becomes a luminous, miraculous pearl.

Pearl Necklace

Both royalty and humbler classes alike have worshiped the pearl throughout history. Queen Elizabeth the First, gazing out from one of her many portraits, always had herself liberally covered with huge glistening pearls. And who can forget the Girl with a Pearl Earring? Pearls have long been associated with innocence; the figure in that famous Dutch painting is a perfect example of that. How ironic is it then that Cleopatra, the very essence of exotic seduction, also found pearls much to her liking? She had in her possession two of the largest pearls in the world- one of which she dissolved and drank at the world’s most expensive banquet; the other ended up hanging in the Temple of Venus in Rome.

Considering how much European civilization revered the pearl, it must have been astonishing to discover cultures that used pearls as mere play things! When explorers from Europe finally came to the Americas, they saw pearls used as everyday adornment. Explorers in Polynesia found children using pearls as marbles. To these men, who knew that pearls could only be obtained at a great price from the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, the New World must have seemed to them a land of vast wealth.

Later, pearls became more accessible to the general public. Rather than searching the sea floor for potential mollusks, three inventive Japanese men learned to introduce an irritant to mollusks in a controlled environment and encourage pearl creation, rather than just hope for it. These “cultured” pearls allow more people to buy and enjoy the beauty of this lovely gem. In fact, 90% of the pearls sold today are cultured, rather than naturally discovered.

GIA's Pearl Identification Report

If you have one of these beauties in your possession, a GIA Pearl Report can provide you with a detailed analysis of your pearl. In this report, you will learn much about your pearl, such as its origin – - natural or cultured, its weight and size, and even the thickness of the nacre coating. You also receive a digital image of your pearl. Enjoy your pearls – they are luminous and beautiful, meant to be worn and admired.

The post Pearls are Regarded as Symbols of Wealth and Power appeared first on GIA 4Cs Blog.

In 2011, We’re proud to have introduced a new technology that enables GIA laboratories to daily assess much larger groups of pearls more quickly, and in greater detail, than any previous technology.

A natural pearl occurs as an act of nature, over a long period of time, in oysters, mussels or clams. The ability to consistently generate what was once a rare phenomenon has created a much wider audience for the appreciation and purchase of pearls. But it has also led to confusion about levels of quality and how to determine them. In 1998, we created a standard for pearl grading and terminology, just as we did for diamonds with the 4Cs. You can read more about GIA’s pearl grading here.

We’re excited to continue technological advancement in pearl grading to ensure quality and origin of natural pearls. These new, significant advancements in the pearl testing process feature highly advanced micro-CT X-ray units that produce high-definition 3-D images of individual pearls. We installed the units in April after months of tests and evaluations. These new units enable us to rapidly gain fully rotational 3-D images of the internal growth structures of pearls in just 15 to 20 minutes; older units take 3 to 5 hours or more.

To find our more information, read the official press release on GIA.edu.

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