| A pearl diamond earring is a classy gift that | | | | and the quality of the cut. Three of the most |
| contains two different elements: the flash of the | | | | common are the brilliant cut, the princess cut and |
| diamond and the quiet beauty of the pearl. This | | | | the emerald cut. The cut of the diamond will |
| contrasting combination has been a very popular | | | | determine how brilliant its shine is and the more |
| choice for jewelry and while it has been used for | | | | the cut brings out this quality, the higher the price. |
| many years, each time, it is still a knockout. | | | | Of the three, the emerald cut is the most |
| If you're planning to buy pearl and diamond | | | | affordable. |
| earrings either as a gift or as part of your | | | | Color since diamonds are a natural substance, |
| jewelry collection, then you've made a great | | | | they are not always crystal clear. They come in |
| choice. This combination is not only valuable, it also | | | | different colors yellow, pink and red, with the last |
| has lasting beauty and elegance. | | | | two the more expensive. |
| Know your pearls | | | | Clarity refers to the number of imperfections |
| If the pearl is the more dominant gem in your | | | | found in your diamond. Imperfections or inclusions |
| earrings, then be sure to pick a good quality one. | | | | affect the way light is reflected by the stone, so |
| Even if the diamond/s in your earrings is high | | | | the clearer the gem, the more expensive it is. |
| quality, a bad pearl can ruin the whole look of | | | | Carat refers to the size of the diamond with one |
| your jewelry. Here are a few tips and info on | | | | carat equal to about 200 mgs. An honest diamond |
| pearls: | | | | seller will have jewelry marked with 'ct' for carat |
| The pearl is the only gem that is produced by a | | | | or 'ctw/tcw' for total carat weight. When buying |
| live organism, namely mollusks and oysters. They | | | | earrings with diamonds, look for the tcw. Earrings |
| are formed each time a foreign particle, like a | | | | are bought in pairs and so they should have two |
| grain of sand, enters the shell. The mollusk or | | | | diamonds of equal size. |
| oyster then reacts by treating it as an irritation | | | | How to care for your pearl and diamond earrings |
| and proceeds to coat it with nacre, a crystalline | | | | Pearls and diamonds may look good together as |
| substance. It is the same substance that we find | | | | components of an earring, but their contrasting |
| in the interior of the shell when we open it. | | | | characteristics can actually affect their care. Pearls |
| The foreign particle is continuously coated with | | | | are softer gems because they are organic while |
| layers upon layers of nacre until it grows in size. | | | | diamonds are the hardest gemstones in the world. |
| In the end, this foreign particle with the layers of | | | | Pearls can get easily scratched or damaged if you |
| nacre becomes a pearl. Natural pearls are formed | | | | are not careful about their storage so the best |
| this way and are more often shaped irregularly. | | | | thing to do is, tailor your care on the weaker gem |
| Cultured pearls are in no way inferior to natural | | | | which is the pearl. |
| pearls. They are still real pearls, except that their | | | | It's not a good idea to store pearls with other |
| production involved a deliberate implanting of a | | | | hard jewelry. To keep your jewelry in good |
| foreign substance to stimulate a mollusk. | | | | shape, try to store them in the box they were |
| The value of a pearl depends on its quality: the | | | | bought in. Each earring will have a separate hole |
| size, shape, color, thickness of the nacre, luster | | | | where it can safely stay. This way, there is no |
| and texture. Since pearls are naturally occurring | | | | danger of one of the diamonds scratching the |
| gems and no two are alike, these factors can | | | | pearl of the other earring. |
| vary greatly. | | | | Pearls can also get affected by hair spray, sweat, |
| Choosing your diamonds | | | | body oils, colognes and perfumes. If you're |
| There are four Cs to note when choosing a | | | | planning to put on your earrings, best apply |
| diamond. These are good to note especially if it is | | | | cosmetics first. This way, you will minimize |
| the more dominant or focal gem in your earring. | | | | chemical contact with your pearls. |
| Cut involves two things: the shape of the diamond | | | | |