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As long as pearl jewelry have been known to people, they have been a highly sought commodity for their beauty. It's only in recent times however that the industry has taken the hunt for the perfect pearl to a whole different level. Today, the shiny orbs that we see on in display in jewelry stores have actually almost always been grown in farms.
That's a far cry from the dangerous extraction and collection methods used before the invention of modern technology. In the past, not more than 100 years ago, the only way to retrieve pearls was by diving in lakes, floods and the ocean to pick them up, one at the time. The unfortunate divers who'se job it was to do this, were often poor and lured by the relative large sums they could get. The diver would sometimes have to dive as deep as 100 feet on one single breath of air. In order to preserve air and to stay submerged the longest, the divers would hold on to heavy stones on the way down.
Naturally, this dangerous activity was reserved for the desperate or the powerless - in many cases slaves or extremely poor peasents. Today, this method is all but obsolete in most places of the world. The cheaper cultured pearls have become popular and are many times the only pearls available to the consumer.
There are however still a few isolated areas that practice this old art of pearl diving. Some of the finest natural pearl speciments come from the gulf of Bahrain. Here, divers still risk their health to retrieve what are considered the top of the crop in the world. In fact, Bahrain wants no part of the sale of cultured pearls, banned from trade. Bahrain is one of the few places on earth that does an active job in trying to preserve the natural habitat and waters from pollution.
It's an interesting story and one that continues to fascinate buyers around the world. Somehow, the beauty of the pearl grows when it's been retrieved from the depth of the ocean.
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Buying pearl jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of pearl jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality pearl jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.
Pearls
Natural or real pearls are made by oysters and other mollusks. Cultured pearls also are grown by mollusks, but with human intervention; that is, an irritant introduced into the shells causes a pearl to grow. Imitation pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organic materials.
Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pears. A cultured pearl's value is largely based on its size, usually stated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating, which give it luster. Jewelers should tell your if the pearls are cultured or imitation. Some black, bronze, gold, purple, blue and orange pearls, whether natural or cultured, occur that way in nature; some, however, are dyed through various processes. Jewelers should tell you whether the colored pearls are naturally colored, dyed or irradiated.
Clams, oysters, mussels and many other mollusks with limy shells are known to produce pearls. But very few kinds yield gem pearls of jeweler's quality. The pearl is an abnormal growth of mother-of-pearl, or nacre, imbedded in the soft bodies of these shellfish. It is built up, layer upon layer, in the same way as nacre is added to the lining of the growing shell and always has the same color and luster. For example, over the country, hundreds of good-sized pearls are found each year in the oysters we eat. Unfortunately these have no commercial value regardless of whether they have been cooked or not because they are dull opaque white or purple like the shell of the parent oyster. In recent times almost all pearls of gem quality come from the oriental pearl oyster which has a bright shimmering translucent nacre.
A pearl starts growing when some irritating foreign substance such as a sand grain, bit of mud, parasite or other object becomes lodged in the shell-producing gland called the mantle. Pearls formed in the soft flesh where nacre can be added on all sides are most likely to be spherical and the most highly prized. By far the great majority are flattened or variously distorted and have little value. Size, color, luster and freedom from flaws are other essential qualities. Unlike other gems, such as diamonds, pearls have an average life of only about 50 years. In time the small amount of water in a pearl's make-up is lost and its surface cracks. Because they are mostly lime, necklaces which are worn often are injured by the acid secretions of the human skin.
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Buying pearl jewelry can be fun, exciting and confusing. Whether you're considering a gift of pearl jewelry for someone special or as a treat for yourself, take some time to learn the terms used in the industry. Here's some information to help you get the best quality pearl jewelry for your money, whether you're shopping in a traditional brick and mortar store or online.
Pearls
Natural or real pearls are made by oysters and other mollusks. Cultured pearls also are grown by mollusks, but with human intervention; that is, an irritant introduced into the shells causes a pearl to grow. Imitation pearls are man-made with glass, plastic, or organic materials.
Because natural pearls are very rare, most pearls used in jewelry are either cultured or imitation pearls. Cultured pearls, because they are made by oysters or mollusks, usually are more expensive than imitation pears. A cultured pearl's value is largely based on its size, usually stated in millimeters, and the quality of its nacre coating, which give it luster. Jewelers should tell your if the pearls are cultured or imitation. Some black, bronze, gold, purple, blue and orange pearls, whether natural or cultured, occur that way in nature; some, however, are dyed through various processes. Jewelers should tell you whether the colored pearls are naturally colored, dyed or irradiated.
Clams, oysters, mussels and many other mollusks with limy shells are known to produce pearls. But very few kinds yield gem pearls of jeweler's quality. The pearl is an abnormal growth of mother-of-pearl, or nacre, imbedded in the soft bodies of these shellfish. It is built up, layer upon layer, in the same way as nacre is added to the lining of the growing shell and always has the same color and luster. For example, over the country, hundreds of good-sized pearls are found each year in the oysters we eat. Unfortunately these have no commercial value regardless of whether they have been cooked or not because they are dull opaque white or purple like the shell of the parent oyster. In recent times almost all pearls of gem quality come from the oriental pearl oyster which has a bright shimmering translucent nacre.
A pearl starts growing when some irritating foreign substance such as a sand grain, bit of mud, parasite or other object becomes lodged in the shell-producing gland called the mantle. Pearls formed in the soft flesh where nacre can be added on all sides are most likely to be spherical and the most highly prized. By far the great majority are flattened or variously distorted and have little value. Size, color, luster and freedom from flaws are other essential qualities. Unlike other gems, such as diamonds, pearls have an average life of only about 50 years. In time the small amount of water in a pearl's make-up is lost and its surface cracks. Because they are mostly lime, necklaces which are worn often are injured by the acid secretions of the human skin.
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Rafael Benitez, the Liverpool manager, conceded that he has a major task to restore confidence. Photograph: Nick Wilkinson/EPA Rafael Ben¨ھtez was engulfed in the biggest on-field crisis of his Anfield reign last night after a 2–1 defeat to Lyon left Liverpool facing elimination from the Champions League and Steven Gerrard became a major doubt for Sunday's critical contest with Manchester United. The Liverpool manager conceded he has a major task to restore confidence after César Delgado's stoppage-time winner consigned the Anfield club to a fourth successive defeat for the first time in 22 years. He is likely to be without Gerrard for the pearl jewelry Premier League match with United, with the captain aggravating an adductor strain for the third time this season, while Fernando Torres, Glen Johnson and Albert Riera are all doubts for Sunday, when a fifth straight defeat would leave Liverpool 10 points behind Sir Alex Ferguson's side. The loss to Lyon left Liverpool, twice Champions League finalists under Ben¨ھtez, languishing third in Group E and likely to need to win their three remaining group games to reach the knockout phase, a feat they achieved two seasons ago. It also intensified the spotlight on the club's manager, who says he retains the appetite to resurrect Liverpool's miserable campaign. "It is very disappointing. It was a difficult game for us but we were winning and had two or three chances to change everything," said the Spaniard. "Then we conceded in the last minute. We had too many problems before the game and it is really disappointing. "It was a difficult game but we could have won and now we have to lift ourselves for Sunday. It is something we have to do. We have to prepare the players, push them and keep going. Now it is a question of doing things properly and to have the biwa pearl confidence that we can do it [against United]. Had we taken our chances tonight everything could have been different. "For me it is simple, I have to prepare for the next game. That is my job and I will do that as soon as I finish this press conference. We have to be ready for our next game. For me personally, my staff and the players will be there, everyone who wants to see Liverpool winning." Liverpool travel to Lyon in a fortnight where defeat, coupled with another Fiorentina victory over the bottom club Debrecen, could leave Ben¨ھtez's team with a mountainous task to escape Group E. "I think we need to win all our matches now," said the Liverpool manager. "We have done it before and we have to do the same again. We have to have the confidence that we can do it again." Ben¨ھtez's team were floored by Delgado's winner, his fellow Lyon substitute Maxime Gonalons having equalised Yossi Benayoun's first-half opener, and events on the night conspired against Liverpool. Johnson was ruled out before kick-off with a tight groin and his replacement, the impressive 19-year-old Martin Kelly, was injured attempting to prevent Gonalons' leveller. But it was the akoya pearl loss of Gerrard that could have lasting repercussions. The Liverpool captain missed Saturday's league defeat with an adductor problem collected on England duty and is likely to miss the United game after suffering a reaction last night. But Ben¨ھtez said: "It wasn't a risk to play Stevie. He wanted to play and the doctor said he was OK. He has trained for the last two days but sometimes it is bad luck. I think it is the same problem as before and we will check him and the other players tomorrow." Ben¨ھtez was left in no doubt that supporters' patience is wearing thin. The manager's decision to replace Benayoun with Andriy Voronin in the 85th minute prompted a chorus of disapproval around Anfield but the manager was unrepentant. "The fans know Yossi is a quality player but I thought he was looking a bit tired and I wanted to use fresh legs and quality," he said.
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The Champions League has been a scene of spectacle for Liverpool on many occasions, but now they must achieve the highly improbable if they are simply to survive the group stage. They were defeated here as Lyon capped a comeback with the winner in the 90th minute, as César Delgado tuned in a perfect low cross from Sidney Govou. The scorer was a substitute and so, too, the scorer of the equaliser, Maxime Gonalons. That is not simply a statistical curio. It will make Liverpool wince all the more when they recognise the contrast with their own depleted state. Rafael Ben¨ھtez had to pearl jewelry send out an improvised selection from the kick-off. Steven Gerrard then lasted a mere 25 minutes until a recurrence of his adductor muscle injury forced him from the field. There was booing at the end, but that must surely have been a venting of frustration or a general comment on the condition of the club. A makeshift line-up could hardly have offered more. The crowd was staring in horror at the broader circumstances. Their team have already been beaten four times in the Premier League and Manchester United will come here on Sunday with great hope of adding to that heap of dismay. This season, too, it now appears that there will be no exploits in the Champions League to compensate for a domestic problem that could be nothing more than a thankless slog. If spirit were decisive in football, Liverpool would have held out against Lyon. The home support, however, has long understood that the squad is shallow in quality. With Gerrard's participation curtailed and Fernando Torres not fit to take part at all, the side had to deal with a match that was played on the edge of jeopardy. Liverpool's fans will quibble anew about some of Ben¨ھtez's purchases, but the main target of rage will, once again, be the owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks. The Americans, for their part, will be even less capable of assuaging the anger with January signings if early elimination chokes off the flow of Champions League cash. Ben¨ھtez's side have not been knocked out yet, but the return with Lyon is next in this tournament, on 4 November. In addition, Liverpool have a single group match remaining at biwa pearl home, against Fiorentina, even if Debreceni will surely hand over three points in Hungary. This has the makings of far more than a rough season for Liverpool. The pride within the line-up was vast here, but the outcome confirmed that such an attribute will not suffice. This could be a grim turning point in Liverpool's affairs. It is rational to suppose that Hicks and Gillett would already be open to offers, but the size of bids to take the club off their hands will drop sharply. Like Mike Ashley at Newcastle United, they might simply see no acceptable way to shed their ownership. Hicks and Gillett may be counting now on nothing more than the sheer peculiarity of football. This Liverpool side, after all, had appeared capable of extracting a win against Lyon despite every handicap. With Glen Johnson ruled out by a groin strain, the 19-year-old Martin Kelly made his first start, having only ever appeared before for a mere eight minutes as a substitute. The Liverpool manager was naturally determined to limit disruption elsewhere. Despite the injury to Torres, Dirk Kuyt was kept in his now customary wide role, with the 20-year-old David Ngog at centre-forward. There was every cause for the side to be disjointed and the visitors might well have deepened the misgivings by taking the lead. Liverpool did occupy territory and went on to akoya pearl make use of that foothold. F¨¢bio Aurélio, on for Gerrard, achieved prominence before the interval. It was his thrust from the left that led to Yossi Benayoun firing home in the 41st minute after the ball had deflected off Cristiano Cris. The Lyon centre-half had to go off injured just before half-time and Liverpool had a period in which they seemed calm, but it did not last. Gonalons, who took over for the injured Cris, notched the equaliser. Each seemingly random event appeared to punish Liverpool. Ricochets in the goalmouth never ferried the ball to safety in the 72nd minute. Reina blocked efforts by Jérémy Tolulalan and Govou, but he could not stop the header from Gonalons. Amid the mayhem, Kelly also collided with a post and had to make way for Martin Skrtel. Liverpool had no means left to transcend all the adversity.
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