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Jewels of India...

This is a start of a journey that is very very precious infact its all about precious jewelry. In many forms jewels and jewelry have been a part of our rich heritage. Many kings and emperors plundered our country for the wealth and power. The British Crown jewels have the "Kohinoor" which was taken from the Indian Emperor.

Our old monuments and sculptures are inspiration to many international designers who imitate the old opulent wonders in design. Infact one of the most common design by Cartier is the elephant or the running panther.

We begin our discovery of these precious jewels with pearls the most mystical and the most elusive of all.

Pearls

They also call its tears of love. It's the only precious jewel known to man that is made from a living object.

Pearls with its warm inner glow and shimmering iridescence have been one of the most highly prized and sought after gems.

In the ancient times only the royal were allowed to adorn themselves with these gems. History traces pearls way back to 520 BC when a fragment of pearl jewelry was found in the sarcophagus of a Persian princess who died, is displayed in Louvre in Paris.

Through ages Pearls have been highly regarded as gem stones beyond value. Almost all scriptures refer to pearls as symbols of wealth. Infact if legends are to be believed, they say that Cleopatra crushed an expensive pearl in her wine and drank it to prove and impress Marc Antony regarding the wealth she had, and the power to use a precious pearl worth a small fortune just to enhance her beauty.

Oysters take a long time to create pearls infact it takes over 100 oyster years to make a perfect high quality, matched necklace. Making pearls, the most coveted piece of jewelry that only the royalty could afford. Thanks to the advent of cultured pearls we neither have to wait that long nor pay that high a price to own our own strand of pearls. Hardly any designer will ignore its importance as a highly, versatile accessory for a modern woman' wardrobe. The classic, round pearl necklace is perfect for evening wear or suit dressing. Long strands can be doubled with the assistance of jeweled or gold clasps.

There are quite a few varieties in the market.

Natural pearl forms when an irritant works its way into a particular species of oyster, mussel or clam.

A cultured pearl undergoes the same process. The only difference is that the irritant is a surgically implanted mother-of-pearl bead or piece of shell. The core is, therefore, much larger than in a natural pearl.

Imitation pearls are a different story altogether. In most cases, a glass bead dipped in a solution made from fish scales. This coating is thin and may eventually wear off.

However, - some Pearls Of Wisdom before you buy some pearls

In most cases if you go to a reputed dealer he will not only recommend the real thing but also take pride in telling you about the quality of the pearl.

But some tips that help (inputs from abc news) are:

Colour: Well though most people prefer white pearls or creamy, the most precious are the ones with a rose overtones.

Thickness: The other important aspect is the thickness of the nacre, the substance that's deposited on the bead when it is placed in an oyster. A thick nacre is best. Thicker the nacre better is the luster.

Shape: Perfectly round pearls are the most sought after and are more expensive than a bit oval ones. If you roll pearls on a flat surface, you can see if they are slightly elliptical or not quite perfectly round.

Size: you size the pearls by , millimeters. "Like any gem, size is going to have a major role in what the price of the pearl is going to be," says Altobelli, from ABC news.

Blemishes: A pearl is not considered high quality if it has blemishes. Pearls must be smooth and roll easily.

The Tooth Test: To find out if a pearl is real, lightly rub it against the front of your tooth - not against the edge, which can scratch the pearl. If the pearl is natural or it is cultured there will be a slight gritty feel to the surface of the gem

The Grading Game: There is no industry-wide grading system, so jewelers often make their own. They also sometimes borrow the grading system used by Mikimoto, the most recognized name in pearls. Though other vendors may say their pearls are Triple-A, which is Mikimoto's highest rating, their versions may not be equivalent.

Match: Pearls on a strand should all match in terms of color, luster and roundness.

Drill Holes: Though this is a less important factor than the others, the drill holes should be properly centered. "If the drill is off center," says Altobelli, "the pearls will roll differently on the strand."

So don't worry after reading this no one need take you dive - I mean a ride! And if you get a good deal, wear it and smile. After all the oldest diva of all -Cleo had one too.

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