When choosing your wedding bands and the ring engraving, make sure that if the ring needs resizing then do that before you have it engraved…

Bridal jewellery sets traditionally contain pearls- they are the classic symbol of beauty and have been used in jewellery for centuries (and most especially wedding jewellery) for centuries but with so many different types and terms (real, natural, wild, cultivated, cultured, farmed, crystal, glass, Akoya, South Sea, Tahiti) how do you know which ones are right for your bridal jewellery?

Real Pearls
Real or natural pearls are hard, rounded objects produced within a living, shelled mollusc. The finest quality pearls are highly valued as “organic” gemstones.

Almost any shelled mollusc is able to produce a “pearl”. However, the “pearls” produced are often undesirable because they lack the lustre (soft pearly sheen) and iridescence (colour changes with the angle of viewing) we normally associate with pearls.

Desirable pearls are composed of layers of nacre and are produced by saltwater pearl oysters and freshwater pearl mussels. These clams both have a nacre shell lining.

How are Natural Pearls Made?

When a pearl is formed in the wild it is because an irritant e.g. a parasite or other organic particle gets inside the shell. The natural defence mechanisms of the mollusc cover the invader in order to seal it off and protect itself. These protective layers are made of nacre and it takes many years to build a pearl as each millimetre of nacre takes about three years.

Difference between Freshwater and Saltwater Pearls

The difference is in the species of creature that created the pearl.

Freshwater mussels (Unionidae) live in lakes, rivers, ponds and other bodies of fresh water.

Saltwater pearl oysters (Pteriidae) live in the tropical oceans and are usually cultivated in protected lagoons in

• Akoya,
• South Sea and
• Tahiti and other Pacific Islands.

How are Cultured/Cultivated/Farmed Pearls Made?

When a pearl is farmed or cultivated, the irritant is introduced on purpose, and it tends to be much larger to begin with- typically a mother of pearl bead is used and then the mollusc deposit a few layers of nacre over a period of several months.

How are Crystal Pearls Made?

Crystal pearls are manufactured, usually with crystal core and then a special pearl coating designed to mimic the soft sheen of a natural pearl.

Pearl Shapes

The classic pearl shape is perfectly round and spherical or oval. Baroque pearls have an irregular shape as do blister pearls. Keishi pearls resemble bumpy flakes, these are formed when the mollusc ejects the pearl bead nucleus but continues to make a pearl. Other shapes include sticks, coins and crosses.

Pearl Colours

In natural pearls, colour is dependant on the species of mollusc and the environmental conditions when forming the pearl. The most famous coloured pearls come from the saltwater pearl oysters e.g. Tahitian black pearls or white-rose Akoya pearls.

Cultured/Cultivated/Farmed pearls are usually dyed, in most cases once they have been drilled and strung, and a multitude of colours are available.

Crystal pearls, being manufactured, come in all different colours and finishes.

Which Pearls are Best for my Bridal Jewellery?

As with anything, deciding which option to go for depends on your requirements.

Natural pearls are now so rare, that they are incredibly expensive.

Most affordable jewellery designs these days use cultivated, freshwater pearls and crystal pearls. Cultivated freshwater pearls are reasonable priced and they still have the beautiful lustre and iridescence of a natural pearl. They’re widely available and even within this single category there is enormous choice in quality. I have seen low-quality pearls with surface imperfections and hardly any iridescence at all through to near-flawless pearls having the very even lustre of a high quality natural pearl.

Although crystal pearls do not have the iridescent quality, the better ones have a very attractive lustre finish and have the advantage of being absolutely flawless with a pleasing weight and are very hard-wearing. This is an important property to consider since natural or cultivated pearls can be damaged by a number of things: heat, alcohol (in perfumes), creams, detergents, even perspiration.

Personally I like to use good quality freshwater cultivate pearls and also Swarovski crystal pearls- I feel like I’m offering the best of both worlds with these options while keeping the budget down to a realistic level.

Good luck with finding the perfect Wedding Pearl Jewellery for you!

Weddings, especially these days, can be very complicated affairs but as all eyes will be on the bride, it is vital to have an ensemble that doesn’t clash or draw attention for all the wrong reasons. The right jewellery blends in and adds to the look- the wrong bridal jewellery can clash or draw attention from the dress by looking like it doesn’t belong.

Mistake No1: Choosing Jewellery Before Dress

Choosing the accessories before you even have the dress is a mistake: the dress is so important, and it’s difficult enough finding the right one, you really don’t want the extra pressure of having to match with some accessories you picked up already.

Tip- if there are some accessories or jewellery that you have fallen in love with then keep the designer in mind- chances are you can still use their jewellery, but wait until you have the dress. Even if it’s different than the set you spied originally perhaps the designer has a different range in a style that will suit your dress, or can even customize it to suit.

The big exception to this is if you are using an heirloom piece of jewellery as your starting point.

Mistake No 2: Ignoring the Detail in the Dress

Once you have the dress and are looking for coordinating accessories take a good look at all the specific details. What beadwork, embroidery or other detail is used? Are there pearls or crystals? Which colours and shades are used? Are distinctive patterns or motifs used? How would you describe the overall style- clean, modern, simple, vintage, ornate, detailed, ethnic? Notice these details and make sure the accessories blend in with the overall “look” you have in mind.

Mistake No 3: Unsuitable Neckline

As with any dress and necklace combination, cast a critical eye over the lines created by the necklace and dress. V-necks usually look best with drop or pendant styles and a round neckline tends to work best with a simple round necklace or choker. Square necklines and strapless tend to work with all types of necklace- but watch for the length of the necklace and where it draws the eye to.

Mistake No 4: Not Coordinating the Look with the Bridesmaids

Your bridesmaids jewellery should echo some of the colours, materials or motifs that your jewellery and/or wedding colours have, but in a subtler or toned-down version. The undisputed star of the day is the bride and she should never be upstaged by her bridesmaids or have attention drawn from her by bridesmaids wearing clashing accessories.

Mistake No 5: Not Seeing the Jewellery with the Dress

Try all your jewellery on when you are wearing your dress. Without seeing everything together you may misjudge the length of the necklace or earrings, or the size of tiara. There’s a world of difference between seeing your wedding jewellery with your bridal gown as opposed to with your normal, workaday clothes. You may end up having to make another trip or even buy another whole set of jewellery if you end up buying unsuitable jewellery when you were in a rush.

A last word. Get at least one opinion from a friend who will tell you honestly how it looks. When my sister was trying her dress on in the bridal place, the employees there were so sweet they reminded me of Stepford wives as none seemed to have any opinion other than “wonderful!”.