Wednesday, July 2, 2008

SummerStones


There's nothing I like better than a bit of a tan and some great, colorful jewelry to make a summer outfit. Luckily, our homepage this week is in full agreement. Although most people tend toward materials like turquoise or coral, fashion forward pearls are also a great bet for the warmer months of the year. 

If you never thought much about where pearls come from, check out the image above. This is a photo from a Tahitian pearl farm--pretty spectacular, right? Tahitian (or black) pearls are found in French Polynesia, and the farms themselves are strategically placed in shallow atolls, just inside a lagoon. 


In the picture above, you can see a pearl diver carefully checking the harvest. Whether you like black pearls or any of the wide variety of colors available, there are a few helpful hints for cleaning and storing the precious gems that will keep your jewelry in great shape:

--If you can, try not to expose pearls to a lot of makeup or hand creams. 
--You don't need fancy cleaners, just a simple solution of mild soap and water works well.
--Don't use ammonia or harsh detergents on pearls; they are delicate and can get damaged.
--Don't rub pearls with anything abrasive. You can rub off the beautiful nacre (the colored coating). 
--Store pearls separately from other jewels. Harder metal or gemstones could scratch them. 
--If you have a strand of pearls, check periodically to see if they need to be restrung. 

Whether you are feeling more pearl or gemstone, definitely check out our featured items this week. 

Images via travelwithchallenge.com