Nathalie Fiset asked:


There are so many variants of pearls originating from the world’s

countless oceans and lakes. They differ in luster and colors. It depends on

the type of oysters they grew in. Pearls can also take on a wide

variety of appearance, thus no two pearls are exactly the same.

Pearls are hard, rounded objects produced by mollusks and oysters. Over

time, pearls have been turned into jewelries and also crushed and

formed into cosmetics. Pearls are also valuable gemstones.

Formed inside shells of bivalve mollusks, the layer that is deposited

inside forms layers known as nacre. Now when these small particles form

altogether, a pearl is produced.

Pearls are known for their luster. The luster of the pearl depends on

the reflection and refraction of light. The finer the proportion of the

layers is, then the thinner and more numerous the light is.

Blackberry pearls are grown from black lipped oysters. They still come

in many colors, despite what its name denotes. Their colors vary from

specks of silver to a monochromatic black.

An example of a popular blackberry pearl is the ‘peacock green’ pearl

that has a magnificent luster and green tinge added to its black

coloring.

Blackberry pearls are attractive because of its radiance. It is

extremely valuable because of its rarity.

Most blackberry pearls come from the blue lagoons of Polyneisa. Now,

blackberry pearls are hundred times more rare than white pearls, thus

making blackberry pearls really valuable.

Aside from the color green mentioned earlier, blackberry pearls also

come in a variety of colors like emerald green, sea green, peach-copper,

pink, pale silver blue, melon, bordeaux, indigo, cranberry and

aubergine. Usually ranging from dark green to deep black, blackberry pears are

iridescent and constantly shimmering. They are very exotic.

Thus jewelry necklaces, earrings, bracelets made from blackberry

pears are indeed a fine gem. They represent love and romance.

How do you then determine the value of a blackberry pearl? There are so

many factors:

1. Luster

When you’re selecting a blackberry pearl, always check the luster. The

luster refers to the reflective surface giving off a shiny mirror-like

quality. The better the luster, the higher the quality of the
blackberry pearl. The luster denotes the thick layering of the nacre or the

pearl material. If there is a fine luster, it means that the pearl has been

inside the oyster for a long period of time. The thicker the nacre, the

more valuable the blackberry pearl.

2. Size

In evaluating black pearls, size is a very important criteria. The

Black Lipped Oysters, where a majority of Blackberry pearls are obtained,

are one of the largest in the world, so it is expected that the pearls

are of more-than-average size. The usual size is 8-10.5 mm or there are

some cases wherein it is 11-14 mm. The size of the pearl is determined

by the size of the nacreous layer that surrounded it when it was still

in the oyster. The largest Blackberry Pearl seen so far was 23mm

that’s the size of a small bird egg! Imagine how precious that pearl is!

3. Shape

Blackberry pearls come in a variety of natural shapes. It ranges from

mushroom, acorn, barrel, pear-shaped, tear-drop, button and baroque

shapes. All these shapes are marketable because they accommodate the demand

of the public. But the rounder the pearls are, the more valuable. That

is because it is so hard for oysters to create the perfect spherical

shape.

4. Orient

The orient is the heart and soul of the pearl. The orient is the

penetrating light on the pearl’s surface that gives depth of color and light.

This can be observed by looking through the lustrous surface and the

many layers of the nacre or pearl material. The layer reflects the light,

thus creating an illuminating glow in the pearl. The best way to see

the orient is to hold the pearl in front of a neutral background. Let the

light shine into the pearl. The eye will be able to see through the

surface color.

5. Color

Blackberry Pearls often come in rainbow-like or beautiful natural

color. Each color is special. In selecting color, one must determine which

looks best on the wearer. The color comes more alive when it suits the

skin tone and complexion.

6. Surface

The outer surface of the pearl is checked for smoothness and

perfection. The less visible scratch, the better. Each pearl has tiny “surface

marks” adding character to the pearl. These marks are like that of

birthmarks to human beings. However, the less surface mark, the better.

It is because of the blackberry pearl’s value that a mobile phone was

named right after it.



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