Aidoilla helmillä refers to all pearls that have grown inside various types of shells. All shells that have a nacreous layer covering the inner surface can, in principle, produce a pearl. Genuine pearls can be divided into two groups: natural pearls and cultured pearls.
Natural pearls: pearls that have grown inside a shell in nature by chance. A natural pearl forms on its own when an irritant, such as a grain of sand, gets inside the shell. At that point, the mollusk begins to secrete nacre around the irritant to protect its tissues
Cultivated pearls: A cultivated pearl is formed in the same way as a natural pearl. The difference is that a person places the stimulus inside the pearl as a primary trigger. In practice, almost all genuine pearls are now cultured. Cultivated pearls are still commonly divided into two groups: freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls. Makeanvedenhelmiä are grown in low-salinity water, such as in lakes. The freshwater pearls are very durable in jewelry due to their thick nacre, but they are rarely perfectly round. Sea pearls are once again growing in salty water, aiming for a rounder shape.
Beaded jewelry has been used for millennia. Along the way, the main change has been the increase in offerings based on new cultivation techniques.
Varhaisaika. People discovered the first pearls thousands of years ago, probably while searching for food along the shore. Due to the beauty of the pearls and their rarity, they became highly valued and sought after. For example, pharaohs were buried with pearls, the Greeks associated pearls with love and marriage, and the Romans believed that pearls were a measure of wealth. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that pearls were lucky charms that protected against various harms. For a long time, only very wealthy people could use pearls. Cultivating pearls made it possible for pearls to be accessible to so-called ordinary citizens.
[/nt]The breakthrough in pearl cultivation. The Chinese have been making vaguely shaped pearls since the 1300s. This was related to religious rituals. Later, American, French, and Swedish scientists tried to cultivate pearls inside oysters. The Japanese also diligently explored the secrets of pearl cultivation and made crucial inventions. In 1896, the Japanese received a patent for cultivating semi-round pearls, and eventually, in 1908, they invented and patented a method for growing round, whole pearls.
The early 1900s, the golden age of the Japanese. The 1910s and 1920s were the golden age for the Japanese in pearl cultivation: they cultivated most of the world's pearls. Slowly but surely, Japanese pearl cultivation expertise spread to other areas. In the 1950s, pearl farming began in Australia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Since 1962, pearls have also been cultivated in Tahiti, the Cook Islands, Fiji, and the Micronesian Islands. These pearls were larger than Japanese pearls because they grew inside larger shells, even within oysters that were 20-30 cm long.
Originally, pearls were cultivated in salty seawater. The above examples are pearls cultivated in seawater.
1980s - new technology. The cultivation tradition of pearl water cultivation itself is very old, and pearls have been cultivated for sale in Japan's Lake Biwa since 1924. In the 1980s, the Chinese developed an updated technique. This new technique revolutionized the pearl market, as it allowed one shell to produce as many as 30 to 50 pearls before the shell's "pearl-forming age" was surpassed. China is currently a powerhouse in pearl cultivation, with most of the world's freshwater pearls coming from there. Pearls are also cultivated in Japan and the USA using the same technique in freshwater.
Pearl farming has been (and still is today) precise, demanding, and requires long-term commitment. The development of a single pearl takes a minimum of 2-3 years. The circumference of the pearl grows by about one millimeter per year. Pearl farming requires very special, clean conditions. If the water is even slightly polluted, the clams do not grow and pearls do not form.
QUALITY OF BEADS
The quality of pearls is influenced by the shape of the pearl, the quality of the surface, the luster of the pearl, and the color of the pearl.
Bead shape: The most valued bead shape is naturally perfectly round. However, this is somewhat culturally specific. In Asia, a customer might examine the shape and surface of an individual pearl with a magnifying glass, while in Western countries, a button-like, teardrop-shaped, or even multi-faceted pearl is often acceptable. Here, the round shape is the most valued.
Quality of the pearl surface: The most desired surface is clean and flawless. There are no craters, scratches, or roughness present.
Luster of the pearl: A deep and even luster indicates a higher quality of the pearl. There are indeed differences depending on whether it is a freshwater pearl or a sea pearl. In the makeanvedenhelmi, a more modest luster is more acceptable than in the sea pearls.
Helm color: The color of the pearl is a more important quality factor, especially in sea pearls. The most valued shades are dark and greenish pearls. Although there are many different colors available in freshwater pearls, it is not a significantly influencing factor on quality there.
PRICE OF BEADS
The price of the pearl is determined by its size in addition to the quality criteria mentioned above. The significance of the pearl's size in pricing depends on the type of pearl. In the case of freshwater pearls, size is a significant factor affecting the price, while in the case of sea pearls, the importance of size may be less. The price of cultured pearls rises sharply from about 7-8 mm size and above.
Said about the necklace
According to myths, pearls are symbols of loyalty, generosity, honesty, and honor. They provide protection, as well as attracting happiness and wealth into life. Helmets are known for their calming properties. It is also said that pearls are symbols of knowledge gained through experience.