Jewellery Made from Freshwater Pearls
Pearl jewellery is completely timeless and is a staple in many wardrobes, whether you are dressing up or down. We believe that the beauty of pearls shouldn't be kept for special occasions only and that pearls can be a modern accessory worn and loved by anyone. We only use natural gems to make our pearl jewellery collection which are sustainably grown. The stone is loved for it's gorgeous lustre and comes in a huge variety of shapes and sizes - making it the perfect choice for gorgeous pearl earrings, luminous pearl bracelets and everday pearl necklaces - both delicate and statement as well as birthstone charms.
What are freshwater pearls ?
Freshwater pearls are pearls that are formed in freshwater environments - such as lakes and rivers, rather than the sea. Pearls that develop in mollusks in these freshwater environments are known as freshwater pearls. Mollusks are living creatures such as oysters, mussels or clams. A pearl is formed when an irritant such as grain of sand or piece of shell, becomes embedded in a particular species of mollusk. The mollusks secretes a protective liquid around the irritant and over time the layers of this liquid build up and eventually become a pearl.
This can happen naturally but can also be cultivated such as on pearl farms. Natural pearls are more rare than cultivated pearls and are therefore more expensive.
Freshwater pearls are the most commonly produced type of pearls and come in a huge variety of colours, shapes and sizes.
What's the difference between Freshwater vs Saltwater Pearls ?
Saltwater pearls are formed in the same way but by mollusks that live in a marine environment or some other salt water. Saltwater pearls are most often produced by oysters and need the salt water to be formed. Cultivated saltwater pearls often have a completely smooth and round shape. Pearls that form naturally in saltwater can have a more irregular shape, similar to freshwater pearls.
What are Baroque Pearls ?
Baroque pearls are any pearls that have an irregular and unique shape rather than a perfectly round shape. They often have a beautiful high lustre making them popular with jewellery designers. Baroque pearls can be freshwater or saltwater and nearly all freshwater pearls are baroque pearls - as they have a non-uniform shape. Baroque freshwater pearls come in a huge variety of shapes including completely irregular - meaning no two pearls are the same. Some of the variety of pearl shapes include teardrop pearls - which have the shape of a teardrop, potato pearls - which have an almost oval shape and rice pearls which are long and shaped like a grain of rice.
What type of pearls do we use in our jewellery at Lulu + Belle ?
At Lulu + Belle we use a number of different types of cultured freshwater pearls in our jewellery. For our birthstone charms and many of our necklaces we use freshwater potato pearls - such as in our leafy birthstone earrings. For some of our delicate necklaces and earrings we use teardrop freshwater pearls, such as our gold or silver crystal and pearl earrings. We also use beautiful and unique nugget baroque pearls for our pearl pendant and matching earrings, which are all completely unique... while we match the general shape of the pearls for earrings - no two pearls are exactly the same making your jewellery completely unique.
Double pearl bracelet - the two of us
Are baroque pearls genuine pearls ?
It's very rare to find completely perfectly shaped pearls - while baroque pearls are more readily available. Baroque pearls are real pearls but at a more affordable price point and can be made into beautiful delicate and statement jewellery that is accessible and wearable.
How to take care of your pearl jewellery ?
The best way to take care of your pearl jewellery is to give it an gentle wipe with a soft cloth after wearing it to remove any oils or dirt that may have deposited on the pearls. It's best to avoid contact between your pearls and perfumes, lotions or sun screen as these may damage your pearls over time and make them dull and less shiny. Put on your pearl jewellery after you have applied creams or perfumes to avoid damaging your jewellery.
You can find our full collection of pearl jewellery here and if you are searching for a June birthday gift you may also love our June birthstone jewellery edit.
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At Lulu + Belle Jewellery, we create meaningful, personalised jewellery designed to celebrate life’s most special moments. From our boutique and workshop in Skerries, we craft and ship beautiful pieces to customers across Ireland and beyond.
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