Lifestyle Choices

Gold has long been used to adorn its lucky wearer; its lustrous beauty and intense natural color give it a unique appeal. Gold can be found in shades of yellow, white, pink, and green; each is lovely and special in its own right. Frequently, contemporary jewelry is “tricolor,” combining yellow, pink, and white gold to create a distinctly modern feel.

When shopping for bracelets, chains, pins, rings, watches, and earrings, remember that all that glitters may not be gold! Always look for the karat mark, e.g., 18k, 14k, 10k, stamped on the piece to indicate that you’re buying the real thing. The karat mark refers to the purity of the gold. Twenty-four karat is 100 percent pure, or twenty-four parts gold, and is considered too soft for use in jewelry. It must be alloyed with other special metals to increase workability and strength. Eighteen-karat gold is 18 parts gold and six parts other metals; fourteen and ten karat, are, respectively, fourteen and ten parts gold. These last three are considered the best choice for lasting jewelry.

Nothing less than 10k can legally be marked or sold as gold jewelry in the United States, according to the Jewelers of America, Inc. However, jewelry that has been processed with a layer of gold mechanically bonded to a base metal may be marketed as “gold filled” or “gold plated.”

Keep in mind that while real gold is more expensive, it cannot be rivaled for beauty, durability, and value. A delicate gold chain or gold filigree pin will never go out style and will add that special glow to your appearance for years to come.

A Pearl of a Girl

Pearls have a special, almost magical, appeal. Natural pearls are formed when concentric layers of a crystalline substance called nacre is deposited around an irritant that accidentally lodges within the body of an oyster. Cultured pearls are formed when the irritant is intentionally placed within the oyster’s body. Anything else that resembles a pearl but has been created by a manufacturing process is an imitation or simulated pearl and must be so labeled.

According to the Jewelers of America, Inc., the value of a pearl is derived from the orient, the deep inner glow and shimmering iridescent quality of sea-grown pearls. Size and shape are important factors too, along with surface perfection and color.

Pearls are of many types; the most common is the akoya, known for its lovely orient and warm color; they rarely grow more than 9mm in size. South Sea pearls are larger (10mm) and are grown in large oysters off the coasts of Australia; they are quite silvery in color. Burmese pearls are another large (10mm) variety grown off the Burmese coast; they are famous for their rich, warm hue and are both rare and costly. Mabe pearls are large, hemispherical pearls grown against the inside of the oyster shell rather than within the body. They are less expensive than round pearls and, because of their shape, are often mounted in earrings, rings, and pins. Freshwater pearls are cultivated in mollusks (not oysters) found in rivers and freshwater lakes. They are generally elongated in shape and can be very reasonable in price. Keshi are tiny pearls, hardly bigger than a grain of sand; they form naturally in many cultured pearl oysters. Biwa are freshwater pearls cultivated in a mollusk that is found only in Japan’s Lake Biwa. They are generally smoother and more lustrous than other freshwater pearls.

Selecting a  Necklace

Choose a cultured pearl necklace for its impact on your total appearance and personality. Long necklaces are slinky and elegant. Short necklaces can be demure or sophisticated. Dog collars enhance a long, slender throat, while longer strands will slenderize and elongate your look. Fair skins are flattered by pearls with a rosy hue; cream and gold tinged pearls set off darker tones best.

Below is a miniguide prepared by the Jewelers of America, Inc., to familiarize you with pearl terminology:

• Choker-14″ or 15″ in length. Should nestle around the base of the throat.
• Princess-18″ in length. Halfway between choker and matinee length.
• Matinee - 22″ to 23″ in length. Should fall to top of cleavage.
• Opera-30″ to 36″ in length, falling to top of the breastbone.
• Sautoir or rope- any pearl necklace longer than opera length.
• Dog collar—multiple strands of pearls fitting closely about the neck.
• Bib—multiple strands of pearls, each shorter than the one below, nested together within the necklace.
• Graduated—a necklace composed of pearls that taper downward in size from largest pearls in the center. An excellent “first pearl” necklace.
• Uniform—a necklace that appears to be composed entirely of identical-sized pearls, although there is usually a slight difference between the center and end pearls for a more proportioned look.

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