Discount Prices on Sterling Silver, Gold, and Fashion Jewelry | Special Occasion Gift Sets

NOTE: All of our pearls in this section are imported from China.
China Leads The World In Freshwater Pearl Production. With a total production of 1,500 tons in 2006, China holds a monopoly over the pearl industry today. Although the birth of the Chinese freshwater pearl industry is traced back to the area around Shanghai, freshwater pearls are now produced in all the surrounding provinces.

Freshwater Cultured Pearls
Freshwater pearls appear in a wide variety of shapes and colors, and they tend to be less expensive than saltwater pearls, making them very popular. Because freshwater pearls are solid nacre, they are also quite durable, resisting chipping, wear, and degeneration. (Please read Pearl Care)

CARE Cultured pearls are precious and should be treated as such. They're also the products of living creatures. Cultured pearls are formed when an irritant is introduced into a mollusk. The mollusk secretes a substance called nacre which covers the irritant and produces the pearl. Nacre gives pearls the rainbow of colors and luster that makes these gemstones so treasured, but its delicate nature also makes pearls particularly susceptible to damage. For this reason you should be extra careful with your cultured pearl jewelry.

Apply cosmetics, hair sprays before putting on any pearl jewelry. When you remove the jewelry, wipe it carefully with a soft cloth to remove any traces of these substances. Perfume should be added carefully AFTER you have put your pearls on.

To clean pearls, rub them with a soft cloth. If soap is needed, use a non-abrasive cleaner such as hand soap. Let your pearls air dry fully before you wear them again. Never use bleach, abrasive cleaners, or an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner.

Do not toss your cultured pearl jewelry carelessly into a purse, bag or jewel box. A pearl's surface is soft and can be scratched by hard metal edges or by the harder gemstones of other jewelry pieces.

Place cultured pearl jewelry in a chamois bag or wrap them in tissue when putting them away. It may be necessary to have pearls restrung once a year by your jeweler, if they are worn frequently. Make certain the pearls are strung with a knot between each pearl. This will prevent loss of pearls if the string should break.

IMORTANT STORAGE FOR PEARL JEWELRY MADE IN STERLING SILVER:

Because pearls need to breathe, and silver will tarlish when exposed to air, here are a few guidelines you may want to follow when storing your silver pearl jewelry.

Instead of using plastic bags to store your silver in, as we generally reccommend, use one or two of these ideas to store your silver/pearls.
Wrap pearl jewelry in a soft, non-ebrasive cloth or cotton and get...

In-Expensive Anti-tarnish strips: Hagerty Silver Strips or 3M Anti-Tarnish Strips absorb the sulfuric gases that cause tarnish. These are Anti Tranish Silver Strips are a safe economical way to stay tarnish free. They are paper strips that contain activated charcoal that absorbs the gases. You can just lay them within a drawer or cut them up for compartments or smaller drawers. Jewelry does not need to be laid on them just placed in the drawer. These strips last at least 6 months and you can label/date them so you know when to replace them. You can find them online, at jewelry stores and even hardware stores.

Silica Gel granules: Do not throw away those little packets that come in your jewelry box, new purse, shoes etc.! These absorb moisture in the air and retard tarnish. Add one or more to each drawer to help keep your jewelry box interior dry. Lack of air movement can cause a moist environment. This is why the gel packets are in leather products and more when you purchase them. Since they come with most everything, you're sure to have quite a few to save. Store them sealed in a plastic bag and keep them in a dark cool place for future use. This will keep them from absorbing moisture before you need them. Change them every few months. A must have in humid climates.

Chalk: Standard blackboard or sidewalk chalk can be used in a jewelry box. It has wonderful absorption qualities and a little piece will work for months to control moisture / humidity.

This should put you more at ease when considering a purchase of pearls made in sterling silver.