For thousands of years pearls have been worn by the rich and glamorous, and given as rare and expensive gifts. Traditionally worn by new brides on their wedding day, for thousands of years they have been a symbol of love, purity and perfection. Nowadays pearl jewellery is available to more people than ever before, and you no longer need to be royalty to afford it. Pearls of all shapes, sizes and colours are grown on farms around the world and with so many varieties to choose from any bride-to-be can find the perfect pearls to suit her wedding gown. In fact there are so many varieties that it can be difficult to know what to look for, so here are a few things to look out for:

Type of pearl – The two types of pearl are saltwater and freshwater. Saltwater pearls are found in oysters in the sea, and are usually bigger and more regular in shape than the freshwater variety. For this reason they are also usually more expensive. Freshwater pearls are farmed in lakes and rivers, usually smaller and often less regular in shape, though they come in a large range of different colours.

Size – When it comes to pearls, size makes a huge difference. The larger the pearl, the more expensive it will be. Saltwater pearls are usually the bigger variety, and are therefore more highly sought after.

Nacre – Pearls take a very long time to form inside an oyster shell. When a foreign object gets into the shell the oyster produces layers of nacre, which gradually build up forming the pearl. The thicker the nacre coating, the more durable the pearl will be as jewellery. Some saltwater pearls from farms are made with a ‘beaded’ large nucleus used to speed up the process and ensure a round shape. Natural pearls are formed entirely of nacre, which accounts for their more irregular shape.

Luster – No pearl is as smooth and shiny as a mirror but they do have a sort of reflective quality to them, called the lustre. Pearls with this shimmery effect on the surface are the most popular type.

Colour – The natural colours of pearls are various shades of white, pink and lilac although cultured pearls are often dyed so they are available in almost any colour. A pearl necklace made of matching naturally-coloured pearls will cost more than dyed ones, as it can take a long time to collect enough matching pearls for a whole string.

Shape – When we think of the ideal pearls, we usually picture them to be perfectly round and smooth. In reality round pearls are rare, and these round pearls are hugely sought after and so can be very expensive. Small cultured pearls are more likely to be round and some of the larger ones have been formed around a bead to help the shape develop. Irregular pearls are also used and made into unique jewellery and pendants.

Matching – It can be difficult to find enough matching pearls to make a whole necklace, so a string of regular naturally coloured pearls will cost more as it is rarer and more desirable.