24.00 CT. PEARL & LEMON TOPAZ (NATURAL) 925 SILVER PENDANT - 60 MM.

Pearl

Traditional birthstone for June

Since natural pearls are very rare, cultured pearls are the most common form of pearls on the market. A cultured pearl is created by seeding a live oyster or clam with a tiny shell bead, which the oyster gradually coats with layers of nacre, a substance produced by the oyster. Pearls are generally white, but are also available in a variety of natural tints, including cream, gray, pink, orange and violet. The most highly-valued shape is round, but they are available in a variety of shapes.

Saltwater pearls are produced by a saltwater mollusk in salt water. Any pearls cultured in this manner are considered saltwater pearls. The three most common are Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea Pearls. Saltwater cultured pearls are usually rounder than freshwater cultured pearls.

Akoya pearls are used in most jewelry today. They come from the Akoya oyster and are farmed in China and Japan. They are usually white or cream colored. Most Akoya pearls are on average larger than freshwater pearls.

South Sea pearls are among the largest pearls in the world. They are farmed on the northern coast of Australia and southern coast of China. South Sea pearls also have a subtle array of colors; they are usually white, but can also be found in silver or gold, which are rare among other pearl types.

Pearls are unique because of their natural dark colors. They come in several dark colors such as silver, charcoal, or a multitude of colors with the dominant color being green. They also come in black but they are extremely rare.

Pearls are cultured in Japan, Persian Gulf, China, Australia, Tahiti and the U.S. They are very soft, with a hardness of 2.5 - 4.5 on the Mohs' ScaleofHardness.

Pearls are often bleached, dyed or irradiated. Because pearls are very fragile, they must be stored separately from other jewelry. They can be cleaned with a warm damp cloth and soapy water. Ultrasonic and steam cleaners should not be used. Pearl strands should periodically be re-strung.

Topaz

Blue Topaz - Modern birthstone for December

Yellow Topaz - Traditional birthstone for November

Topaz comes in a stunning variety of colors, the most common and popular being the Blue Topaz. Most blue topaz is treated by irradiation or by being heated to create a vibrant vivacious blue. Topaz is also treated to create many other colors. It is also available in a distinctive combination of colors known as "Mystic Topaz".

The gem is found all over the world, including Brazil, Afghanistan, Australia, China, Nigeria, Russia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and the United States. Topaz has a hardness of 8 on the Mohs' Scale of Hardness.

Topaz can be cleaned with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Certain colors and treatments should not be cleaned with steam or ultrasonic cleaners.

Silver

Silver is the most reflectiveand affordable of the precious metals.

Sterling silver is the standard of quality for articles containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper.

Vermeil is a gold plated sterling silver.

MARKS - percentage of pure silver

General -Sterling Silver
American - 925
European - 935
French - 800
Russian - 88 or 84