Tagged with 'Buying pearls'

Whilst a single strand necklace of white pearls might be a sign of understated elegance, a multi strand pearl necklace layered with large, luxurious pearls will always turn up the glamour.

Some of our most popular, powerful and loved women have chosen to wear this type of necklace with its legendary style.

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, pictured above, was frequently setting the style of the moment with her triple strand of faux pearls. In this famous series of images of her in India in 1962, the First Lady is wearing a princess length triple row necklace, with an apricot silk dress and long white gloves.

Layering long mixed strands of pearls, chains and other stones has not only been a sign of jewellery fashion in recent years, but also consistently throughout history.

This beautiful portrait of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Duchess of York, by Hungarian painter Philip Alexius de László in 1925 shows the Queen Mother wearing a long pearl necklace with three strands of pearls.

The necklace lays elegantly across the shoulders, with the Duchess holding the longest strand in her right hand, as if telling us of her affection for these lustrous gems.

Perhaps the most famous multi strand necklace of recent times is Holly Golightly's famous five strand pearl necklace in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Although the pearls used for this statement necklace were imitation, the flattering effect of layering pearl strands captured the public's imagination and continues to be in vogue today.

At Winterson, we offer two styles of multi strand pearl necklace.

Our Triple Strand Freshwater Pearl Necklace with Diamond Clasp is made with the prettiest of round to near round freshwater white pearls, graduated from 4 to 8.5 millimeters in diameter. The pearl matching is excellent and the lustrous gems are held in position with a sparkling 18 carat white gold diamond clasp.

Worn with a fitted pencil dress, this graduated pearl necklace will effortlessly create an elegant vintage look.

For a versatile multi-strand necklace, our Long White Freshwater Pearl Rope Necklace with Silver can be worn long in a single strand, like a flapper necklace, but may also be twisted two or three times around the neckline. With three twists, this choker length multi strand pearl necklace can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion.

Our buying team returned this week from Hong Kong with a new selection of fine pearls for our jewellery collections.

Hong Kong is the centre of the pearl business today, with dealers and pearl farmers from around the world sorting and selecting through the best (and the worst) of the new season's harvest of cultured pearls.

The size of this jewellery show also makes it one of the biggest in the world, with over 42,000 buyers from 140 different countries. Finished jewellery, brands and designers exhibit alongside the glittering distraction of rows upon rows of diamonds, precious gemstones and pearls.

With three main jewellery fairs in Hong Kong a year, the March and June exhibitions are the best time to view and select from the new harvest. This is because most pearls are harvested when the water is cool. Colder temperatures are believed to improve the quality of the lustre of the pearl.

Most sellers in the main part of the jewellery fair are wholesalers, but a number of the big pearl farmers and trade groups from the pearl producing regions of Tahiti, Australia and Indonesia also hold auctions by invitation to try and obtain the best prices for their new harvest.

In high demand this year were golden pearls from Myanmar, famed for their deep rich, burnt orangey golden colour. Prices for some pearls were reported to be reaching 5-8 times the seller's asking prices.

This is where it can take years of experience to be able to select a lot of fine pearls from the many others, recognising the excellent quality of nacre that gives the exceptional Akoya pearls above their mirror like shine, or the telltale signs of when a pearl's lustre is fading.

A typical pearl auction is held in a large quiet room away from the bustle of the main jewellery fair. Perhaps up to 300 or 400 different lots of loose pearls are arranged in bowls along long tables. Each lot will be comprised of between a few hundred to 5,000 individual pearls, sorted by shape, colour and quality, but usually mixed by size.

Buyers select a bowl that they are interested in, ask for it to be weighed and then search for a clear table with good, natural daylight to look at the pearls in each lot.

Sorting through such a large group of pearls such as the one above can be a daunting and rewarding challenge. It is important to think about the eventual use of the pearls in jewellery, their various grading qualities in terms of lustre, shape, colour and surface. Higher quality pearls will be used for earrings and pendants, whilst slightly less perfect pearls tend to be made into necklaces.

If everything looks good, the final stage of the auction is to make a sealed bid. A price in Japanese yen, dollars or euros (depending on the particular auction) is written on a small ticket and dropped into a ballot-like box.

A short wait follows, until the auction closes, before it is possible to see if your bid is ultimately successful.

Amongst our immediate favourites from this trip's selection were the beautiful dark Tahitian pearls picture above, with their gorgeous natural colours of peacock purple, cherry, aubergine, blue and green.

Over the next few months, we will be introducing these gems to Winterson.

With there being so many varieties and types of freshwater pearls available today, if you are thinking of choosing a freshwater pearl necklace, there can be a few subtleties in choosing the right one.

To help you think through the options, here are five types of freshwater pearl necklace that might match your style or that of a loved one you wish to surprise with a gift.

CLASSICALLY PRETTY

 

The princess length white freshwater pearl necklace is a truly classic necklace. Made with round to near round freshwater pearls, typically ranging in size from 6.5 to 8.5 mm in diameter, this necklace will match nearly any style or colour.

 

Beautifully versatile, it can be worn casually with a pair of jeans or dressed up with a glitzy evening gown.

When choosing this jewellery box essential, look for a high lustre pearl, as the essence of this necklace lies in the reflective beauty of its pearls.

NATURALLY PASTEL

 

Freshwater pearls come in a variety of natural pastel colours - pink, lavender and orangey apricot. These soft colours combine with the shining nacre of the pearl to create subtle and elegant pearl necklaces.

 

A multicolour freshwater pearl necklace is feminine, easy to wear and will flatter any skin tone or light coloured outfit.

When choosing a colourful freshwater pearl necklace, our advice would be to avoid dyed or treated pearls as overtly bright or dark colours will have a less natural look, may fade gradually over time and will lose their feminine beauty.

MODERN BAROQUE

 

Alongside the round pearl, freshwater pearls may have more creative irregular shapes. Keshi pearls, as they are usually called, are formed as a result of pearl culturing techniques. At times overlooked by women, today quality keshi pearls with high lustre and clean surfaces are sought after by designers to make stunning pearl jewellery.

A keshi pearl necklace can add a contemporary twist to the classic pearl necklace and can be versatile and worn every day.

FLAPPER FASHION

 

Extending the length of a freshwater pearl necklace evokes a different era of fashion. The sautoir, or rope necklace, is 95 cm in length or more and can be strung with round or near round pearls, but also button or oval shaped freshwater pearls.

For a look reminiscent of the roaring 1920s, the freshwater pearl sautoir is a necklace that can be worn fluidly down to the waist, twisted up to three times around the neckline in multiple strands or tied in a knot at the front.

VINTAGE GLAMOUR

 

Smaller to larger freshwater pearls that are graduated in size from back to the front of the necklace can create a particularly elegant and refined necklace. The pearls should be round to near round in shape and carefully matched, usually from 5mm to 8mm in diameter.

 

For a more glamorous style, these graduated pearl necklaces may be strung together in multiple strands using a special type of clasp.

With this type of necklace, the matching of pearl sizes is important for its finesse, so look for a well matched and steady graduation.

It's time to drop a few subtle hints for Christmas and perhaps nudge them in the right direction, so we have selected a few of our favourite pieces of pearl jewellery from our collections for you to send as a reminder.

There are many different designs, types of pearls and colours to choose from. Timeless in style and always beautiful to wear, a carefully chosen gift of pearls will always be loved for a lifetime.

AKOYA PEARL AND DIAMOND PENDANT

New to Winterson this Christmas, is an elegant single white pearl and diamond pendant necklace. The most traditional of cultured pearls, the white Akoya pearl has a beautiful lustre to match the sparkle of its diamond.

 RUBY AND AKOYA PEARL STUD EARRINGS

These colourful earrings feature a circle of pink rubies set in 18 carat white gold around a white Japanese Akoya pearl. Designed by Sophie Breitmeyer, each stud earring is less than 10mm in diameter and are easy to wear and very comfortable.

 TAHITIAN PEARL AND DIAMOND YELLOW GOLD RING

Sparkling round brilliant cut diamonds showcase the gorgeous colours of this beautiful Tahitian pearl. This contemporary ring features a grey saltwater Tahitian pearl, which has been cultured in the warm ocean waters of French Polynesia.

CLASSIC AKOYA PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS SET

A beautiful set of matched white Akoya pearls, finished with either an 18 carat white or yellow gold clasp. These classic cultured pearls from Japan are adored for their exquisite lustre and effortless elegance.

All our jewellery is delivered in our signature gift-wrapped jewellery box and pouch, with its distinctive classic zigzag pattern. The box is sealed with our coral Winterson flower and would be a delightful gift to be opening this Christmas.

If you would like to learn more, browse through the other gift suggestions of pearl jewellery in our new Christmas Gift Guide or view our Collections.

With a heritage of working with pearls for over 50 years, one of the most frequent questions that we are asked at Winterson is what are the best pearls to buy. In this article we look at the most popular types of pearls and some tips to consider.

The classic pearl

The most popular image of the pearl is the classic round white pearl, draped in long elegant flowing strands, worn as a pretty stud earring or as a symbolic piece of jewellery for a new bride.



Image: Classic Akoya Pearl Jewellery Set

These styles will always be fashionable and versatile, but there are many other wonderful colours, sizes and shapes of pearls to buy. Before making a decision, it can be worthwhile exploring a little more about this beautiful gem.

Types of pearls

There are four main types of cultured pearl, including Freshwater pearls and three types of saltwater pearl known as Akoya pearls, Tahitian pearls and South Sea pearls.

Their size can range from as little as 1.5mm in diameter to as much as 20mm in diameter, with round, drop, oval and asymmetric baroque shapes. Their natural colours can include creamy whites, pastel shades of pink, peach and apricot, cooler hues of silver, grey, blue, purple and black and the warm opulence of gold.

Image: Freshwater and Saltwater Pearl Shapes

Each pearl will also have been carefully cultured in a mussel or oyster for between 6 months and 3 years and their quality, uniqueness and rarity will increase their value. The difference in price between a small pearl with poor lustre and a perfectly round, excellent lustre pearl can be significant.

Is there a best pearl to buy?

There really is no straightforward answer as to 'what are the best pearls to buy' or 'what are the best pearls in the world'. If you are thinking of purchasing or wearing a piece of pearl jewellery, our advice would be to always consider the grading of the pearl, particularly its lustre, and how the design of the jewellery complements the pearl.

Pearl grading

Choose a piece of pearl jewellery that has been graded by an expert. There are several different grading systems used across the industry. We use the GIA Pearl Description System to describe the pearls in our jewellery, as this is one of the best known and reputable.

We also contract an independent organisation called Feefo to ask all our customers for their genuine feedback on each purchase from Winterson. This feedback is unedited by us and is published on our and Feefo's websites, acting as a marker of the quality you can expect from a Winterson pearl.

Do be careful when no information about a pearl is presented or when a pearl is described as being of AAAA quality.

The importance of lustre

Lustre is a grading factor that is used to describe how a pearl reflects light from its surface. This is one of a pearl's best qualities and is quite unlike any other gem. The best pearls to buy should have lustre that is sharp and mirror-like, catching the light and the eye.

Image 1: Freshwater Drop Pearl and Diamond Pendant in White Gold
Image 2: White Gold Diamond Leverback And Akoya Pearl Earrings

One of our favourite pearls is the classic Akoya pearl, which is admired for its stunning lustre, as shown above with our Leverback earrings.

Beautiful jewellery design

Our third recommendation would be to choose a design that shows off the best features of the pearl. For example, we love the way that our Luna Rose Tahitian Pearl and Sapphire Ring, pictured above, contrasts the round shape and unusual aubergine colour of the Tahitian pearl with the rectangular shape and candy colour of the pink sapphire gem.

Using colourful gemstones to draw out the pearl’s myriad overtones is one technique that we use at Winterson. You can read more about our design inspirations and how we work with colour here.

If you have any questions about the best pearls to buy, our jewellery or our website, our Customer Care team would be happy to help you. Or learn more about the different Types of Pearls in our Guide to Buying Pearls here.

With the launch of our new range of pearl rings, we introduced our beautiful Akoya Pearl and Diamond White Gold Ring.

Impeccably finished in 18 carat white gold, the ring exquisitely highlights the grace and elegance of the pearl - the traditionally symbolic gemstone for new brides around the world to wear on their wedding day.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ENGAGEMENT RING

The history and romance of giving rings is part of our wedding traditions, first being given in Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome as symbols of love, the heart and ownership.

In 1477 the Archduke Maximilian of Austria is recorded to have presented Mary of Burgundy with the world's first diamond engagement ring. Families around Europe with significant wealth followed suit.

Until De Beers discovered large diamond deposits in South Africa in the late 19th century, however, diamonds were forever to just a few.

A TRADITION BEFORE DIAMONDS

Couples instead celebrated their engagement with a variety of different coloured gemstone and gold rings.

Engagement rings with sapphires, rubies, seed pearls and other gemstones were popular, as was the use of other metal alloys such as yellow gold and rose gold.

Victorian pearl engagement rings were simple or intricate in their design.

The solitaire diamond, set in six-pronged claw style called a Tiffany Setting in 1886, is still the classic engagement ring design today.

But more unusual gemstones and cuts are back in fashion. It is also popular for couples to choose a more individual style, to personalise a ring, or even design a bespoke piece of jewellery.

THE PEARL ENGAGEMENT RING

For our ring collection, this ring design features an Akoya pearl, a variety of saltwater pearl that can truly match the emotion of the occasion with its special lustre and pink-white colour.

Two princess cut square white diamonds give the pearl an accent, whilst the flat court profile of the outside of the white gold band gives the ring a more contemporary styling.

A pearl engagement ring? Now that would be love.

Eternally feminine, the colour pink represents love, prettiness, cuteness and old-school glamour. Midway between the colour red and the purple hues of magenta, pink is the colour of cherry blossom, flamingoes and a girl's favourite things.

Pink is also one of the natural pastel colours of freshwater cultured pearls. With the unique iridescent properties of a pearl as it catches the light, the highest quality pink pearls will make truly beautiful and gorgeous pearl jewellery.

 

The reasons why a pearl is a particular colour is complex and not fully understood. The colour of a pearl generally corresponds to its type of mollusc and the colour of the inside of its shell. Water purity and environmental conditions may also have an influence. Trace elements such as iron and magnesium are thought to probably cause the pink body colour of a pearl.

 

The natural pink colour of freshwater pearls is soft, subtle, and certainly not loud. Some colour enhancements and organic dyes may be used to improve a pearl's appearance, but any colour treatment such as this should be fully disclosed to you. Check for pearls that have no variation in colour, dye that has collected in any pits or bumps on the pearl's surface, or which may be concentrated at the drill hole, and if in doubt ask your retailer.

 

Pink freshwater pearls are versatile gems that will flatter nearly any skin complexion with colour and shine, much as a line of soft coloured lipstick would. A beautiful pink pearl necklace will add a touch of colour to a little black dress or tone easily with an open neck purple or red top. Pink pearl stud earrings are delightful to be worn with casual weekend and evening wear.

 

Freshwater pearls are also formed in other pastel colours, usually called apricot, peach and lavender. A multi-coloured pearl necklace, combining the pastel rainbow of freshwater pearl colours, is also fabulous to wear.

With the new season, and the arrival of our new ranges of pearl jewellery this Autumn, comes the addition of high definition video to Winterson.

 

Pearls are uniquely beautiful gems, but their round reflective qualities also present some technical challenges for luxury jewellery photographers. To complement the exquisite still photography of our jewellery, this Autumn we have also introduced short video clips of some of our most best selling pieces of pearl jewellery.

 

These videos, shot at the highest quality in a professional studio, are displayed online on the Winterson website, in a choice of high or standard definition and are viewable or a desktop, tablet or mobile device. Each video is shot without enhancement, under specialist lighting conditions, and we hope conveys an alternative close-up and three dimensional view of our pearl jewellery to our customers.

 

Pearls are a favourite choice of jewellery for the autumn, with their colours making them a perfect accompaniment to autumn fashion. Here are three of our favourite earrings from the collections at Winterson.

 

Cultured Tahitian pearls are one of the most beautiful types of pearl in the world. Their dark natural colours sets them apart from the traditional notion of a white pearl and this pair of Pearl and Diamond Earrings will work with many outfits.

Grey Tahitian Pearl and Diamond Stud Earrings with 18ct Gold

 

Last year we launched a colourful collection of Akoya Pearl and Gemstone jewellery with Sophie Breitmeyer. Akoya pearls are one of the most traditional of white pearls, having been first cultured in Japan. These blue sapphire Akoya pearl and drop earrings has been one of the firm favourites.

Blue Sapphire and Akoya Pearl Drop Earrings with 18ct Gold

 

A second piece of jewellery from Sophie Breitmeyer's block colour range for Winterson, the pink ruby gemstones in this pair of Akoya Pearl Earrings truly sparkle in the video clip. These earrings are also available with a matching pendant.

Ruby and Akoya Pearl Stud Earrings with 18ct Gold

 

We will be adding further videos over the coming weeks to our jewellery collections, including our new range of Pearl Rings. If you have a question regarding the video clips, please do contact us.

Launching this Autumn at Winterson, our new collection of Pearl Rings celebrates the enchanting beauty and subtle luxury of the pearl.

One of the earliest forms of adornment by women, the ring has taken many forms since its ancient beginnings as a simple band of silver or gold. Today the ring is one of our most precious pieces of jewellery, with the symbolism of a wedding ring or the fashionable drama of an eye-catching cocktail ring.

Before diamonds became forever associated with engagement rings, rings made with natural freshwater and saltwater pearls were also the romantic and popular choice of gemstone for a new bride.

The inspiration for the designs of the first pieces in this collection of pearl rings was to celebrate this heritage with a simple classic, and contemporary design. Each ring is crafted in Britain from 18 carat white or yellow gold, with the band of the metal having a angular sharpness to its outside edge whilst being rounded on the inside for comfort.

Set into the beautifully proportioned shoulders of the gold ring are two types of saltwater pearls. The first is a round white Akoya pearl, a classic pearl that is much admired for the quality of its lustre and shine. The second type of pearl chosen for the collection is a Tahitian pearl, which has a naturally grey colour with overtones of light green and pink.

Set into yellow gold, with a sparkling trio of white round brilliant cut diamonds on either side, the Tahitian Pearl and Diamond Yellow Gold Ring is already a firm favourite at Winterson.

All the rings are now available for order in a standard UK size M, which is a standard 6¼ size in the United States. It is possible for each ring design to be be resized to accommodate most ring sizes. Please contact us for more details if you would like some more information about ring sizes.

With their shining, lustrous surface and pretty shapes, pearls have inspired ancient myths of gods, angels and mermaids and been revered as fallen teardrops. Loved today by women, royalty, brides and fashion icons, the beautiful styling of pearl drop earrings may echo these enchanting images.

THE PEARL

 

As the central element, pearls are a foremost consideration in any design of pearl drop earrings. Round, near-round, oval or drop shaped pearls are favoured by designers as their symmetrical shapes allow the jewellery to be admired from every angle. We would recommend selecting exceptional pearls with a high lustre and clean surface, as well as larger sizes of between 8 and 12 millimetres in diameter.

 

All types of pearls are suitable for pearl drop earrings and the design choice depends on the direction of the styling and budget. Freshwater pearls can be beautiful and offer excellent value, Akoya pearls are perfect for their high lustre and pink overtones, Tahitian pearls for their contemporary, cooler hues and South Sea pearls for their luxurious silvery white and golden colours. Whichever the pearl type, both the pearls used in pearl drops should be matched carefully for comparable grading.

THE DESIGN

 

The classic design of a pearl drop earring is that of a pearl attached to a stud or a hook, composed of silver or gold. The pearl may sit just below the stud or hook, or may hang below between two to four centimetres in length. Longer pearl drops today are fashionable, easy to wear and very popular.

 

The attachment of the pearl to the drop may be rigid or supple with a chain that creates a pleasing movement in the form of the jewellery. Designs may also include multiple pearls on each earring, amplifying the elegance of the movement.

 

Amongst our contemporary designs, Sophie Breitmeyer has created a collection of Akoya pearl drop earrings with sparkling and colourful gems of blue sapphires, green tsavorite garnets and pink rubies.

THE OCCASION

 

Pearl drop earrings are very versatile, suiting women of all complexions and hair styling. Completed with sparkling diamonds or gemstones, pearl drop earrings are a perfect choice of fine jewellery for smart evening wear.