By Sandy Amazeen Jun 27, 2007, 18:28 GMT
Once reserved for royalty, pearls have long been prized for their rich lustrous glow, but their rarity and cost kept them out of reach of the common person. Fortunately today’s jewelry makers are not limited by such constraints as the market is filled with an incredible selection and that is where this book begins. After a brief description of nacre, the substance that gives pearls their unique qualities, readers are introduced to the five basics in selecting pearls including a broad range of shapes. As pearls are one of the softer gems, the section on how to properly care for and clean pearls is particularly important.
The all-time classic, a knotted pearl necklace and bracelet starts the project section with a collection of over twenty simple, yet effective designs that highlight the beauty and appeal of pearls. Close-up photography and clear instructions make creating your own pearl jewelry a snap. The materials and tools required for each design are laid out in an easy to follow cookbook format while sidebars of historical and scientific interest like the “Pearlies” adds an appreciation for this natural wonder. Particularly lovely is the “Sacred Vows Lariat” featuring double strands of pearls looped around a single strand that uses large coin shaped pearls as the focal point. The “Brilliant Bangle” is an effective design using only single row of multicolored pearls and seed beads on a sterling bracelet while “Pearl Fusion” mixes turquoise and sterling for more organic look. The projects are geared mostly toward beginning or intermediate beaders so it is the history and cultural importance of pearls that will most interest more advanced jewelry enthusiasts.
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