Category: Pearl Jewelry

Skin Renewal And The Pearl Laser

Laser resurfacing is one of the most common cosmetic procedures received to treat wrinkles, uneven skin and other minor dermatological conditions. Today, there are several types of lasers to choose from, but the Pearl laser is among the gentlest.

How does the Pearl laser work?

Like other lasers, the Pearl uses targeted pulses of light to gently remove top layers of the skin, but the Pearl does more by sending heat into the deeper layers to encourage collagen production. Following the treatment, collagen production can last for up to four to six weeks. Increased collagen production leads to firmer, tighter skin.

What’s the recovery time following a Pearl laser treatment?

Healing will vary among patients, but you can expect “social downtime” for a period of approximately one week. This means that you will be able to perform most of your regular, routine activities, but you will want to avoid scheduling any major social event – your skin will be red, and the top layers will eventually dry and flake away.

You won’t be able to wear sunscreen during this period either, so protective clothing and accessories will be required.

What are the benefits of a Pearl laser treatment?

Laser resurfacing treatments lead to smoother, more evenly toned skin; improved appearance of scars and wrinkles; and an overall more youthful appearance.

Pearl also offers the benefits of fewer treatments and less downtime. Typically, one or two treatments can effectively renew the skin, while some other resurfacing procedures require multiple treatments.

How do I prepare for my Pearl laser resurfacing treatment?

Laser skin resurfacing doesn’t require extensive pretreatment. You may be told to refrain from taking aspirin – or other blood-thinning medications – stop smoking and avoid alcohol for a period of time before the procedure.

Also, if you are prone to cold sores and fever blisters, you may need to take a preventative medication prior to treatment.

What are the risks of Pearl laser resurfacing?

Under the care of a skilled, experienced professional, skin resurfacing is safe and effective. However, as with any medical procedure, there are potential risks.

Some of these include:

-Burns

-Scarring

-Permanent changes to the skin’s pigmentation

-Reemergence or reactivation of cold sores

-Infection during healing

These risks are mild and diminishable. It’s imperative that you select a professional who has experience using the Pearl laser to minimize these risks. Also, follow your post-procedure instructions without fail to ensure optimal healing.

Pearl Jewelry The Shape Of Things To Come

Traditionally, the standard for pearl jewelry has been to use white or near-white cultured pearls, freshwater pearls, or natural pearls that are perfectly round. The white, round beauties have been treasured because, in the world of pearl jewelry, they are rare. Increasingly, however, women are appreciating the uniqueness and versatility of pearls in a variety of shapes and colors – just as nature makes them. If you’ve always thought of pearls as white and round, it’s time to think again.

Pearl Shapes

Round – Traditional round cultured pearls are often used for pearl bridal jewelry, the traditional pearl necklace, and other cultured pearl jewelry, like pearl stud earrings.

Rice – Rice pearls are small and shaped irregularly, and have crinkled surfaces.

Potato – As its name implies, potato-shaped cultured pearls have irregular oblong shapes.

Oval – Shaped like an egg, these saltwater or freshwater pearls are usually white.

Mabe – This pearl is flat on one side, giving it a dome shape.

Keshi – Also known as poppy seed pearls, these are tiny freshwater pearls.

Button – This round freshwater pearl is flat on one side.

Coin – Like the button pearl, except it is flat on both sides.

Baroque – These freshwater pearls are completely free form, having no pre-determined shape.

Circle – Also called the ring pearl, this saltwater pearl has concave, concentric lines.

Pearl Colors

Freshwater pearls, which are often used for fashion pearl jewelry, grow in virtually every color of the rainbow. They are an affordable – though no less beautiful – alternative to traditional white, round saltwater Akoya pearls. Black Tahitian pearls, which are also saltwater cultured pearls, have overtones of peacock and silver and are most often have semi-round, baroque, and circle shapes.

Pearl Fashion Jewelry – What’s Hot Now

Freshwater pearl jewelry offers women an incredible variety of accessory options. This season, look for multi-strand keshi (seed) pearl necklaces that combine different colored pearls, such as pink, peach, hazel, and brown for a stunning fashion statement. For formal occasions, multi-strand necklaces featuring a single color of keshi pearls – such as gray or black – are the perfect accessories.

Black Tahitian pearl bracelets and shimmering oval freshwater pearl bracelets are adorning the wrists of fashionistas this season, while brides are selecting classic Akoya pearl stud earrings as well as fashion forward freshwater pearl wedding jewelry that incorporates light pink or golden pearls.

The next time you treat yourself – or someone special – to the gift of pearl jewelry, remember that the beauty of pearls comes in many shapes and colors.

Pearl Of The Conch

The variety of conch most common in the Gulf’ of Mexico is the horse conch, Fasciolaria gigantea. It is long and rather trumpet-like. The interior is yellowish, sometimes golden, and occasionally a golden pearl is found. This species is widely distributed throughout the world, and its shell was used by the Norsemen and early clans. When the Spaniards and English first settled in the West Indies, they found an abundance of a beautiful conch not known in the old world. This was the queen conch or great pink conch, Strom-bus gigantea. Great numbers were shipped to England for use in manufacture, and the flesh of the animal was found to be highly nutritious. Also, pearls were found. The Queen conch is found only within a region embraced by the West Indies, the Bermuda’s and the south Florida coast. The outstanding characteristics of this conch are the extreme beauty of the interior of its shell, and the long, horny protuberances that spiral around the exterior.

Queen conchs often move in groups, like flocks of sheep, two hundred often being seen together near reefs. Each is equipped with two well-formed eyes, which are located on the extreme ends of flexible, stem-like organs, with a small elephant-like trunk at the tip, this being the mouth. When eating, the conch extends and contracts this at will. It sometimes extends to a length of four inches. The food consists of minute animal and vegetable life.

Professional conch fishermen known as “Iconics” usually get the conchs from a boat, using a water-glass and a long pole with an iron hook on one end. While one man takes care of the boat, the other leans over the side, locating the conch by the water-glass, slips the hook under the shell and brings the animal to the surface. Some fishermen prefer to dive for them. When Columbus first landed in the Bahamas, he found that the Indians owned large pink pearls of a kind unknown to Europeans. These were pearls made by Strom-bus giganteas. They were largely oval or elongated in shape, round conch pearls being rare. Pink, red, white, yellow and, occasionally, deep rich brown pearls are found; rarely a golden one. As the Bahamas and south Florida were settled these pearls appeared in London and Paris.

The larger and finer pearls drifted into the collections of crowned heads, and to the princes and rajahs of India. The crown of Sweden bears a large conch pearl from Key West. Conch pearls, however, seem relatively little known and appreciated in the United States. The finder of a large and perfect conch pearl offered it for sale, some time ago, in Miami, without getting a reasonable offer. New York gave the same result, but the pearl sold to a Bond Street jeweller in London for $10,000.

Pearl Rope Necklaces A Different Way To Make A Fashion Statement

Pearls are todays finest fashion jewelry for instant elegance and look of class and sophistication. They are considered as prized gems that bring out the best in the woman wearing it. They are worn in different forms of earrings, bracelets, and necklaces and frequently worn on special occasions such as weddings and family gatherings.

Pearl necklaces are a favorite of women the world over. A pretty top, cardigan, jeans or a long evening gown can be matched up with almost any pearl necklace.

One of the most popular type of pearl necklace is called rope pearl necklace. Rope pearl necklaces are a long strand of pearls at least 36 inches in length.
Often considered to be one of the most dramatic type of pearl necklaces, It can be worn on a casual day or with an evening waer to make it more elegant and sexy.

Since pearl ropes are lengthy, there are various ways for you to wear it. Have you ever tried experimenting with them? If not, then check out these various ways to wear your pearl ropes and make a cool statement in fashion:

Try doubling your pearls to make a double strand necklace, or even tripled to create a stunning multi-strand pearl choker. This would be perfect for an open neckline gowns or tube dresses.

Tie it in a knot, or tangle it nonchalantly in half-length to get that sophisticated and charming modern look reminiscent of the 1920s fashion.

Excite the crowd with your V-back or backless dress accentuated with the beauty of a rope necklace draped over the shoulder and knotted in the back.

Some rope pearls with several clasps can be broken down into different necklace and bracelet combinations.

Mix and match your pearls with two or more strands of various lengths and color to make a fashion statement.

Wrap your pearl necklace several times around your wrist for that chic and bold bracelet.

Get everyday gorgeous and wear your ropes stunningly with an unbuttoned neckline of a blouse or shirt.

If you want to try something different, wrap your pearls around your waist to serve as an elegant belt matched with your one piece dress or gown.

The versatility of these pearl ropes are endless. Instead of letting it hang down in one big swoop, which is the most common pattern, there are other exciting ways for you to wear your lovely strands of pearls.

Shiraz, A Pearl Of Persian Culture

Shiraz is located in the province of Fars and it is a true gem of veritable Persian culture. It used to be the capital city of Iran, but only for a short period of time, and it is known as the place where the poets Saadi and Hafiz were born. Shiraz is known for its wines, especially for the one name Syrah and its reputation is well deserved. Over 1.3 million people call this city home and you may be surprised to see how much they enjoy life and how friendly they are towards one another. Family parties are wide spread as friends’ get-together quite often and the atmosphere is quite lively.

Shiraz is mostly a cultural destination, as the home of many monuments to honor its cultural heritage. You should not miss the Mausoleum of Hafez where the well known poet of Persian origin was born in Shiraz during the 14 century. He spent his life in Shiraz and died here. He asked to be buried in a garden located in the northeast area of Shiraz where his tomb is now located. A veritable place of pilgrimage, the mausoleum was renovated about half a century ago. In order to get to the tomb you need to take the stone stairs. The cupola of the tomb looks like the hat of a dervish, and you can see two poems of the regretted poet written on the walls.

The other great poet that lived here was Saadi and a mausoleum was erected in his honor. The tomb where his physical remains are kept is a place of pilgrimage for people in love with the poetry arts. At the beginning of the 19th centurythe mausoleum was renovated and even the tomb was revamped half a century ago. People also come here to admire the Iranian architecture marked by columns made of pink marble.

Among the places to visit and see in Shiraz you will find the Arg of Karim Khan, which used to be a prison but is now open to visitors who want to admire its fine architecture. There are also many gardens in Shiraz that you can enjoy such as the Eram Garden, Delgosha Garden, or Afif abad Garden.

Don’t forget to visit a few bazaars for a bit of traditional shopping. The most appreciated are Vakil Bazaar, Moshir-e-Now, and Mesgarha Bazaar.

Another tomb that is veneered in Shiraz is the tomb of Seyed Amir Ahmad, also called Shah Cheragh by the people living here. The architecture of the place is quite amazing and travelers from everywhere come here to admire the tile work and the silver door. The mirrors are also incredible pieces that will leave you in absolute awe.

Another place to see in Shiraz is the main gate called Qor’an or Dar vazeh Quran. Built about one millennium ago, the gate was actually replaced by a new structure that exhibits some of the finest designs in Iran.