Pearl Restringing
Webb's Jewellers offer a complete and fully insured Pearl re-stringing service. We can source, repair or replace broken pearls or clasps and re-string your pearls to restore your jewellery. Re-stringing can be done at any time but we recommend once a year to prolong their life and keep them looking their best. Depending on the item, we usually use silk thread to re-string and knot the string between the pearls to protect them from rubbing together and causing any damage to the nacre.
About Pearls
Natural pearls or cultured pearls? We are often asked the differnce between the two types of pearls. What sets them apart? Both are classifed as gemstones but the difference between the two is how the actual pearl is formed.
Both natural and cultured pearls are produced by an oyster or mollusk. A natural pearl is formed organically when an irritant finds itself inside the oysters soft tissue muscle accidently. The irritant could be seawater sand or dust. It activates the oyster's defense mechanism causing it to produce layers of secretions. The secretion (also called nacre) slowly develops into a natural pearl. The more layers of nacre the larger the pearl will be. Cultured pearls can be freshwater or saltwater but require human intervention. The nacre process in a cultured pearl is started with a human placing the irritant in the oyster so the pearl will form.
Most pearls on the market are cultured this therefore makes natural pearls far rarer and more valuable.
Pearls, whether cultured or natural, are typically white or cream. Black, gray and silver are also common but actually there are many diiferent hues of pearls. The main colour (body colour) is often modified by additional colours called overtones which are typically pink, green, purple or blue. Some pearls also show the iridescent phenomenon known as orient.