Our Pearls
You should look for a number of qualities when looking at pearls: luster, shape, color, and surface. Our pearls adhere to the following parameters:
| Quality | AA (boutique quality) |  |
|---|---|---|
| Luster | High | |
| Body Color | Cream/White, Coral, Pink, Silver, Gold, Sable/Black | |
| Shape | Round, Coin, Teardrop, or Baroque | |
| Surface | Clean and Almost Entirely Smooth | |
| Waters | Freshwater | |
| Nacre (the actual pearl material) | Very Thick | |
| Matching | 95% | |
| Kind | Cultured Pearls | |
| Stringing | Knotted Silk Thread |
We realize that in reading over this, you may have a few questions. So below, we’ve provided a little more detail on a few of the describing characteristics.
Our Clasp
Most of our pieces come with unique clasps. For smaller items, we use our signature French rose clasp, a sterling silver clasp with a small engraving of a rose bud. For larger necklaces, we use a stylish and convenient magnet clasp.
Luster
The higher the quality of the pearl, the higher the luster, or what can be thought of as the amount of shine of the pearl. At Tiana Pearl Co., we hand-select all of our pearls to ensure each one has the exceptional luster of only the finest AA pearls. The difference in luster between AAA quality pearls—those pearls that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars in high-end retailers—and AA quality pearls is barely noticeable.
Shape
At Tiana Pearls, we believe that uniform shape is as important as dazzling luster. So we make sure that all of our pearls are smooth and symmetrical, according to one of the following shapes:
Round Pearls
Round Pearls are round with few imperfections. These are the pearls worn by Elizabeth Taylor and Coco Chanel and what comprise the traditional strand of pearls. At Tiana Pearls, we offer the finest strands of classic Round Pearls.
Coin Pearls
Coin Pearls are flat with a remarkable luster. They come in a number of different colors and make unique earrings and distinctive necklaces.
Teardrop Pearls
Teardrop pearls are fuller on one end and tapered at the other, much like the shape of a teardrop,but come in a number of colors. They provide a unique twist on Classic Pearls, and we offer a number of pieces for you to choose from here.
Baroque Pearls
Baroque pearls are asymmetrical and come in a variety of colors. We're not sure why they're named "baroque", but Chad told us it's his favorite type of classical music, so we'll go with it.
Surface
The perfect surface of freshwater pearls is as free of grooves or blemishes or possible and smooth to the flesh, yet gritty to the nail or tooth, verifying both their quality and genuineness. More than 90 percent of the surface of our AA quality pearls is perfectly smooth, a requirement before we select any pearl to be included in our collection. In fact, only AAA quality pearls-those that cost hundreds to thousands of dollars-have a smoother surface.
Caring for Your Pearls
Properly caring for your pearls is important, helping to preserve their beauty and elegance. To help ensure your pearls maintain their beauty and purity, we suggest the following:
Act with Care around Personal Care Products
Personal Care products such as makeup, cosmetics, and sunscreen all can potentially harm your pearls, due to the strong chemicals present in such products. So try to refrain from wearing your pearls until twenty to thirty minutes after applying these products
Protecting Your Pearls
If you put your pearls on shortly after using any of these products, wiping the pearls with a soft cloth after wearing them can help prevent the chemicals from dulling your pearls. To help prevent scratches, store your pearls separately from other jewelry, preferably in a soft box such as the one that we have provided with your piece of jewelry.
Restringing
Restringing your pearls on new silk strands (for those pearls that are, in fact, strung on silk) every one to two years can also help preserve the luster of your pearls. Between each pearl, the thread should be knotted to prevent friction and to keep the pearls from colliding.
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