We all know that a pearl necklace can be a thoughtful and meaningful gift when given to a special woman in your life, but when confronted with the purchase of a pearl necklace there are many different questions that may arise. First is what type of pearl do you choose, salt or fresh water and what is the difference between these two types of pearls and the many other pearls available. There is also the question of whether to purchase a full strand of pearls or to get a solitary pearl set in a pendant; this question will depend a lot on the type of pearl you choose as well as what your budget is. There are a number of different terminologies that you may be confronted with when you shop for a pearl necklace. There are saltwater and freshwater pearls of course, and then there is the cultured pearl, natural pearl and cultivated pearl. The first two terms refer to where the mollusk or oyster was grown that the pearl is found in, where as the last terms refer to how the pearl was grown. Most pearls today are grown in farms, natural pearls are a rarity that is seldom found these days. Salt water pearls tend to be more expensive than fresh water pearls this is because they are more perfectly round than fresh water pearls giving the pearl a more perfect appearance when on a strand of pearls.

A freshwater pearl can sometimes be a bit odd shaped, but the different shapes can give each pearl a unique personality and make them ideal for a solitaire pearl necklace adding more character to the piece particularly in the case of handmade jewelry. Fresh water pearls also come in a variety of colors such as cream, rose, blue and white, again this can add another depth of beauty to a pearl necklace pendant. Fresh water pearls have improved in quality greatly over recent years bringing them into competition with saltwater pearls and making them popular with artists worldwide in the creation of handmade jewelry. The pearls we buy on the market now are mostly farmed whether they are salt or fresh water. Natural salt water pearls are very rare and extremely costly pricing a pearl necklace out of the market for anyone but the wealthiest. Some pearls are cultivated naturally from farms being allowed to grow without human intervention.

These will be the most expensive of cultured pearls as they tend to be of a better quality than those that are cultured with a helping hand. To culture a pearl a diver will insert organ tissue into a mollusk to generate the production of the pearl. Whether you choose a string of pearls or a pearl solitaire depends a lot on budget and the person you are buying for. Not all women will have the opportunity or even the desire to wear a string of pearls which is normally considered a piece for a special occasion. A handmade pearl necklace made by David Tishbi may be just thing for the special lady in your life. Unique yet made for everyday wear this makes a wonderful gift for any special person in your life.