Pearls: Orbs of Miraculous Beauty

Michelle Pajak-Reynolds Undina Collection Venus necklace handcrafted in pearls, 174.85 carats (total weight) rock crystal quartz and oxidized recycled sterling silver. Photo credit: Julie Stanley/JuleImages

Michelle Pajak-Reynolds Undina Collection Venus necklace handcrafted in pearls, 174.85 carats (total weight) rock crystal quartz and oxidized recycled sterling silver. Photo credit: Julie Stanley/JuleImages

Mystical and miraculous, pearls have captivated us for millennia.  Unlike gemstones mined from the ground, pearls are born inside a living creature.

A pearl’s shimmering beauty begins when an irritant enters certain salt and freshwater mollusks. These humble creatures respond by coating the irritant within layers of calcium carbonate, the same material that lines their shells.  These layers build up like tree-rings, in concentric circles, over many years and, just like trees, older and larger pearls will have more rings than younger and smaller pearls.  The reflection of light on these overlapping translucent layers, known as mother-of-pearl or nacre, gives pearls their signature iridescent sheen.

Pearls are rarely found in the wild with only one in about 10,000 mollusks containing a natural pearl. Today, most pearls on the market are cultivated in collaboration with Mother Nature.  Cultured pearl technology requires highly skilled seeding technicians implanting mollusks with a tiny mother-of-pearl “seed” or bit of mantle tissue as the irritant that will initiate nacre production.   The mollusks are then placed in special netted-panels and nurtured in pristine waters on pearl farms for several months to years depending on pearl type and desired quality.   Constant care, proper nutrients and ideal weather are necessary for the mollusks to produce pearls. Even when all the proper attention and steps have been taken it is still up to the individual mollusk and Mother Nature to decide whether a pearl will be produced.

While pearl farmers work hard to cultivate flawless identically matched pearls, I prefer pearls with more character and a broad range of textures.  My favorites are the tiniest of seed pearls. Often only 1-2mm in size, seed pearls are gorgeous when pin-set in clusters and mixed with other gems.  

A pair of Adva hoop earrings in pearls and oxidized recycled sterling silver sits on Michelle Pajak-Reynolds workbench. Photo credit: Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

A pair of Adva hoop earrings in pearls and oxidized recycled sterling silver sits on Michelle Pajak-Reynolds workbench. Photo credit: Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

 

 

Photo credits: Julie Stanley/JuleImages

Please note, all metaphysical and healing properties listed are collected from a variety of sources and shared for educational, historical and entertainment purposes only. The authors and Michelle Pajak-Reynolds Studios LLC do not guarantee the validity of such statements nor is any of this information meant to treat medical conditions. If you have a medical concern, please consult your medical provider for appropriate treatment options.

Michelle Pajak-Reynolds

Michelle Pajak-Reynolds began designing jewelry at 5 years old after being inspired by the power bracelets and tiara worn by actress Lynda Carter in the Wonder Woman television series. And her history with jewelry goes back even further as her parents met and fell in love across a jewelry case; Michelle's mom was a jewelry department manager and her dad was a police officer.

As a young child, Michelle used her babysitting money to teach herself basic beading and wire-wrapping techniques with supplies from her local craft supply store. Her formal jewelry and metalsmithing training began in a high-school jewelry class and she went on to perfect her artistic and business skills via a BFA in Jewelry from Kent State University and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Baldwin-Wallace University.

Michelle founded her eponymous jewelry company in 2001 and specializes in small collections of one-of-a-kind designs. Handcrafted in gemstones, pearls and ethically sourced precious metals in her Ohio studio, Michelle’s creations are elegant and ethereal art to wear that stirs the soul. In addition to designing her signature collections, Michelle works one-on-one with collectors to create breathtaking custom designs.

michellepajakreynolds.com
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