Simple, yet the definition of beauty and elegance, pearl necklaces have graced the necks of women and young ladies for centuries. From weddings to formal parties, a strand of pearls draped delicately around the female neck was a common sight. Long ago when pirates ruled the seas, even the beautiful and tough women traveling on the ships were fond of wearing pearl necklaces in a less formal fashion. Women today could learn a lesson from the seagoing ladies of yesteryear. More often than not, your stunning strand of pearls are probably tucked away in a jewelry box just waiting just for a special occasion when you can wear them. Which is such a shame since the pearl necklaces you bought at places like The Pearl Source can complement casual clothing just as they do with elegant evening wear.

In order to properly pair the jewelry with the clothing, you must first select which pearl necklace will look best with the outfit. Simple outfits, such as a dark tank top and dark jeans, can be beautifully accented with a bold pearl necklace. To prevent a casual outfit from looking bland, simple wrap a long strand of pearls twice around the neck. If your outfit is a bit more complicated with prints and bright-colored shoes, it may be best to forgo a strand of pearls and instead wear a pendant necklace.

Since pearls jewelry can be both demure and dramatic, you should keep any other jewelry you might wear to a minimum. These naturally eye-catching gems should be allowed to take center stage, so coordinate your other jewelry appropriately. What you must remember when wearing pearl necklaces casually is to make sure you don’t look overdone or tacky with too much flashy jewelry. Excessive jewelry will only distract from your outfit and make your appearance look messy.

Matching a strand of pearls with a pair of jeans has become increasingly popular. Just look through the latest celebrity magazine and you’re sure to see at least one famous female strutting the pearls and jeans combo. Despite its popularity, you can stand out from the crowd while still rocking your jeans and pearls. One way to personalize the pairing, is to move away from the classic white pearls and instead wear one of the many colored pearl necklaces available at sites like www.thepearlsource.com. Or you can simply wrap a strand of pearls around your wrist several times to create your very own pearl bracelet.

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It has been said for many years that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. People who love the soft luster of pearls probably quietly disagree. After all, pearls are very subtle gems, and so are the people who wear them.

Freshwater pearls are an affordable option for pearl lovers on a budget. Found in various species of mussels that grow in ponds, streams, lakes and other bodies of freshwater, most of the cultured supply now comes from China.

Freshwater pearls lend themselves to dyeing in a range of colors. Black, blue, yellow, pink, purple and green are the most popular colors for fashion jewelry made from them.

Saltwater pearls, the traditional type familiar to many people, are found primarily in pearl oysters in warmer waters. Most of today’s saltwater pearls are cultivated in protected beds near volcanic atolls and in lagoons. Natural pearls, those not actively farmed by humans, are rather rare and relatively more expensive than the cultured varieties.

While there is a price difference between cultured and natural pearls, they both have the same characteristic luster. An x-ray examination will reveal a difference in their internal structures, but most people who wear them usually do not go to this length. They are more interested in a pearl’s beauty.

Saltwater cultured pearls may also be dyed different colors, but this is less common than it with the freshwater varieties. The mirror-like metallic glow of a high-quality pearl is usually sufficient unto itself.

Tahitian pearls, often called black pearls, are very rare and highly valued. They are a type of cultured pearl grown deliberately to produce a natural black color. Growing black pearls is a time- and labor-intensive process and producing them on a large scale at a lower price is not possible.

Akoya pearls are coveted by pearl lovers around the world. Cultivated only in the akoya oyster, they were first grown in Japan, still the major producer of these pearls. Some are also grown in China.

Akoyas have all the classic characteristics of a fine pearl. They are round, have the distinctive mirror-like glow and are a natural white color with a hint of pink. Akoyas are among the most popular pearls for jewelry making today.

To learn more about Akoya and other all the other beautiful pearls, please visit National Pearl at www.nationalpearl.com.

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A man who wants to give his wife a necklace for her birthday has a lot of things to consider. Naturally, he will want to give her a necklace that she will love to wear. In short, he is not just getting a birthday gift for his wife, he is getting her a keepsake that she will treasure for years to come. She may even pass the necklace along to her daughter one day! Here are some of the considerations that a man must take into account when looking for a necklace for his wife.

First, he should think of the color of the necklace. If he is getting a pearl necklace for his wife, he will want to choose a color that she loves. For instance, he may want to go with gold instead of white pearls. One way to figure out what color she would like would be to checkout the other pieces in her jewelry collection. This will give him a good indication of her color preferences. Or, if a man wants to research what is available, he can travel to a place like www.thepearlsource.com.

Next, a man may want to consider the size of the necklace that he chooses for his wife. Some women like choker necklaces while others like to have a necklace with a little bit of extra length. She may want a choker necklace to wear with more elegant outfits. Alternatively, she may prefer to have a longer necklace she can pair with the more casual outfits in her wardrobe. A man would be wise to observe what kind of outfits she likes to wear and what type of jewelry she needs to enhance those ensembles. This is a thoughtful way to go about choosing a necklace for her birthday. She will appreciate all of the thought and effort that went into his selection!

Finally, the design of the necklace is also something a man should consider when selecting this type of gift. A husband should know whether his wife appreciates subtle designs or loves to go with something more intricate. Sometimes its wise for a man to look at a place like The Pearl Source to checkout the different designs that are out there. Then, he can give some serious thought to the choices available to him. The color, size and design of a necklace all contribute to the beauty of this gift.