Berning’s is proud to carry the classic add A Pearl™ necklaces. add A Pearl™ necklaces are great gifts for birthdays, graduations, or many other special occasions. With the ability to add pearls over time, you can give a great gift that can continually be added to or enhanced. Add additional pearls for special occasions, just because, or to commemorate a special memory. Once complete, the add A Pearl™ necklace will be a beautiful strand of pearls that they’ll treasure for years and years to come.

add A Pearl™ corporate website

Below you will find a short FAQ on natural and cultured pearls from the add A Pearl™ corporate website. If you have any further questions about add A Pearl, ordering additional pearls, or how to start a necklace, please give us a call or send us an email.

What is the difference between a natural and a cultured pearl?

A natural pearl (often called an Oriental pearl) forms when an irritant, such as parasite, works its way into a particular species of oyster, mussel, or clam. As a defense mechanism, the mollusk secretes a fluid to coat the irritant. Layer upon layer of this coating is deposited on the irritant until a lustrous pearl is formed. With a cultured pearl, the difference is that the irritant is a surgically implanted bead or piece of shell called Mother of Pearl. Once the bead is implanted, the oyster begins secreting layers of nacre to form the pearl. The core of a cultured pearl is much larger than in a natural pearl.

Is there a standardized grading system for pearls?

Pearls do not have a standardized grading system because each pearl is different; some are so unique that they would not be able to be compared, so to have a grading system would mean that there would have to be hundreds of quality parameters. Thus, there is no universal grading system. General descriptive terms for pearl quality are often the same as used to describe anything else: excellent, very good, average, etc.

How are cultured pearls evaluated?

Cultured pearls are rated on five different qualities:

• Luster and Orient: Luster is the sharpness and intensity of reflections on the pearl’s surface, the orient is the iridescent colors one sees within the pearl. The higher the luster and orient, the more valuable the pearl.
• Color: Color describes both the main color (usually white) and the undertone (often pink, rose or green.) In addition pearls can be dyed any shade to meet personal preference.
• Cleanliness: Describes how many imperfections are found on the surface of the pearl. Some imperfections are expected on all pearls, natural and cultured, but the fewer and less noticeable they are, the better.
• Shape: In general, spherical pearls are the most prized. However, it is common to find small imperfections of shape, which can often be desirable as long as they are symmetrical. For example, teardrop shapes can be very desirable when used in rings and pendants.
• Size: Cultured pearls and natural pearls are sold by diameter, measured by millimeters, with the size changing every ½ millimeter. Natural pearls change sizes with every 1/10 of a millimeter. In general, larger pearls are rarer and more costly. Price rises significantly with the size of the pearls

What is the difference between natural and cultured pearls?

• Natural pearls: one of the most rare and beautiful of all gems. A natural pearl begins as a single grain of sand that becomes imbedded in the soft, fleshy part of the pearl oyster. The oyster relieves the irritation with a secretion called nacre. Natural pearls are made from layers of pure nacre, from the tiny sand core to the surface of the pearl, that exude an unmistakable iridescence. Pure pearl through and through, natural pearls are truly a magical gift from nature.
• Cultured pearls: are essentially man-made – a bead is placed inside the shell of an oyster, and instead of the thick layers of nacre that form a natural pearl, the layer of nacre formed on the bead is usually only about a millimeter thick. Cultured pearls radiate a wonderful lustrous sheen. More abundant than natural pearls, cultured pearls are more affordable in all sizes. Cultured pearls are a beautiful and extraordinary gift of love.

What kind of pearls is used in add A Pearl™ necklaces?

add A Pearl™ offers necklaces in either natural pearls or cultured pearls.

How do I decide which type of pearl to select?

Natural pearls are the only gemstones grown inside a living organism with absolutely no assistance from humans. Natural pearls are pure pearl from core to surface; they are extremely rare and valuable. Full strands of natural pearls are valued at thousands of dollars. add A Pearl™ offers the ideal way to acquire a strand of natural pearls over time, a precious heirloom.

Cultured pearls , with some human intervention, are much more readily easily produced in pearl farms. Modern cultivating techniques ensures that the cultured pearls glow with an illuminating luster similar to a natural pearl and therefore makes a beautiful and affordable option as an add A Pearl™ necklace.