About PearlsElegant, classic, and always appreciatedPearls have always had something magic about them, and in many cultures they symbolize purity, love and virtue (though not necessarily in that order). Today they’re considered to be timeless, even sentimental gifts. The pearl is the birthstone for June. How pearls happenPearls are born when a bit of sand, an insect, or some other irritant lodges inside a mollusk’s shell, usually an oyster, usually an oyster. The oyster tries to protect itself by covering the offender with a beautiful, pearly substance called nacre. The oyster does this again and again until eventually, the nacre builds up enough to produce a pearl. Unfortunately, pollution and over-fishing have made these rare accidents even rarer. So today, nearly all pearls are cultured pearls. Pearl farmers simply insert small beads into hundreds of oysters to jump-start the natural process. The oyster gets busy coating the bead, and a cultured pearl is born. You can’t tell the difference between cultured and "natural" pearls without an X-ray. Freshwater pearlsThese are the most affordable pearls, and come in a huge array of shapes, sizes and natural or treated colors. While they used to be irregular in shape, today’s freshwater pearls are usually roundish in shape. They’re cultivated in freshwater streams, rivers and lakes in China Japan and the U.S. Taking them homePearls’ rate only a 2 1/2 to 4 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. Surfaces can chip and they scratch rather easily. Time, intense light and dryness are not their friends, and neither are solvents, household cleaners, alcohol, many cosmetics and chlorine. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on freshwater pearls. About GoldGold is more than just a pretty facePeople don’t just love gold because it sparkles; for centuries, it’s been cherished for being strong. Gold is also malleable enough to suit endless designs, so it’s an excellent foundation for all types of jewelry. And because it’s resistant to corrosion, tarnish and rust, your gold jewelry will look new for a long time. Gold is very malleable making it ideal for jewelry designs, but to give it the strength needed for it to withstand wear it must be alloyed with other metals such as copper, silver, zinc or nickel. The percentage of pure gold to alloys is expressed in karatage. 24k would represent pure gold. 14k represents 14 parts gold and 10 parts alloy. In the United States fine jewelry is generally created using 18k, 14k or 10k gold. Yellow GoldThe shade of yellow gold can vary based on the alloy. As the amount of gold increases, so does the brightness of the yellow color. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on yellow gold. White GoldWhen yellow gold is mixed with nickel and zinc, it becomes white gold, which looks similar to platinum. White gold is often finished by plating it with rhodium, which will give it an even whiter, more brilliant appearance. Visit the Learning Guide for more information on white gold. | 
