About Beads

For centuries beads have been part of nearly all societies, representing decoration and beauty.

I fell in love with beads as a teenager and have been captured by the beauty of Czech lampwork beads ever since. Now my design work is introducing me to gemstones as well - peridot, pearls, amethyst, rose quartz and more.

So here is a repository of information about beads and jewellery. Some links within the site include:

• The Heritage of Lampwork Beads
• Jewellery Components
• Fair Trade

Fair Trade and Jewelry

Fair Trade and jewelry is an important issue and one we each have the opportunity to be the change we want.

Here at Creatively Belle we work in Czech glass and crystal as well as organic pearls (pearls are inherently organic as they are living gem stones that grow in flowing water like rivers and oceans).

Creatively Belle designs are made from Czech glass and crystal so quality and fair trade is assured.

We import our beads then design and make the jewelry here in our own studio assuring Fair Trade principles are respected.

We work in the Czech glass and crystals for a whole host of reasons, including the work environment they are created in, the qualify of the work, the design and beauty of the components.

Click here to for more info about Fair Trade.

Pearls

The natural beauty of pearls have lured people for centuries and I have completely fallen in love with them since working with them in my designs.

How Pearls are Formed

Pearls are organic and are formed in shellfish - mainly oysters and mussels. Pearls vary in colour from white, white with a hint of colour to brown or black, depending on the environment they have grown in.

Pearls are formed inside the shellfish as a natural defense against an irritant, such as grit. So when pearls are cultured (grown on purpose for our pleasure) a small 'bead' is inserted in the shellfish and left for the shellfish to cover in layers of aragonite, known as nacre. Gradually these layers build up to form a solid pearl. Light reflecting from these overlapping layers produces a characteristic iridescent luster. It is the number and depth of these nacre layers that directly relate to the quality of the pearl.

So a pearl with only a few nacre layers has only had a short time to grow and does not have the depth for the pearl luster to shine. These pearls are not as valuable as the pearls that have had longer to grow.

True or False: Real Pearl or Fake Pearl

So how do you easily tell the difference between a real pearl and a fake pearl? It is a simple test of gently rubbing the pearl on the front of your tooth. If it has texture, some describe as 'gritty', it is real. If it is perfectly smooth it is fake.

The more texture there is the more valuable the pearl is. So a $1,000 pearl is going to have more texture than a $20 pearl.

Looking After Your Pearls

Being organic they are sensitive to acids (such as perfumes), dryness (like being kept in a plastic bag) and humidity.

So when you are getting ready put your pearls on AFTER you have done your hair and put on your perfume.

Pearls can be gently washed and dried with a soft towel. Pearl Polishing cloths are also available so the natural luster of the pearl can be shown.

Store pearls in ways so they can breathe as they sweat if kept shut tight in plastic containers. So a lovely jewellery box that is regularly opened is ideal.

If you live in an area that gets particularly dry or humid weather it is best to store your pearls safely out of the air. It is fine to wear them as much as you like, it is just the storage that you need to be considerate with.

Where Pearls Are From

Natural pearls have been harvested from the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Manaar (Indian Ocean) and the Red Sea.

Cultured pearls (grown specifically) are harvested from the coasts of Polynesia and Australia so are saltwater pearls. Both freshwater and saltwater pearls are cultivated in Japan and China.