therefore, essential for the buyer to use every precaution in reference to the light in which he examines his purchase."

What Causes Pearl Color?

A lot of pearl farmers wish they had the full answer to this question. Then they could control the color of the

pearls they cultivated. Now they have only part answers or clues. Some of the determinants of pearl color seem to be:

• The type of host oyster. Oysters vary in their potential to produce certain colored pearls. For example, black pearls are cultivated in the black-lip oyster because other oysters don't produce pearls of the same type. Even though pearl farmers know the black-lip oyster is essential to the cultivation of black pearls, they don't know yet how to consistently make it produce a specific color. The pearl may end up being white or a variety of shades of gray as well as black, bronze, greenish or purplish.

• The quality of the nacre. If the nacre is very thin, the color will look milky and lack overtone tints. Besides being affected by the number of layers of nacre, pearl color is affected by the thickness of each layer. In Pearls of the World, researcher Koji Wada states, "The reason why the pearl made by the Akoya pearl-oyster has a better pink tone than pearls made by other mollusks is that it has layers of equal thickness. "

• The environment in which they are grown. It's theorized that there may be trace elements in the water that affect the color. For example, cream-color pearls are typical of natural pearls from the Ohio River, but not of those found in other American Rivers.

Pearls the Wedding Jewel

The tradition of giving pearls to brides probably dates back to about 1000 BC when the Hindu God Krishna gave his daughter pearls on her wedding day. It continued with the ancient Greeks, who believed that pearls would ensure a happy marriage. The association between pearls and weddings reached a peak during the 14' and 15' centuries when everyone from the bride to her male guests were adorned in pearls.

Today pearls, which symbolize purity and innocence, are as much a wedding jewel as diamonds. Just have a look at a bridal shop or wedding catalogue. You'll find pearls, both fake and real, decorating wedding gowns, veils, tiaras, gloves, purses, ring-bearer pillows, cake toppers and party favors. And at weddings, you'll notice that pearls have become essential jewelry for both the bride and bridesmaids.

Pearls of Wisdom from a Wedding Expert:
Jet Taylor of J Taylor Bridal Jewels in Charlotte, North Carolina has advised brides for years on their bridal attire. Here are some of her tips on selecting wedding pearls:

• The bride's pearl jewelry should be well matched. For example, her pearl earrings should be of the same type and color as her pearl necklace. The bride is the featured attraction, so she should expect that her guests will be closely examining everything she's wearing on this special day.

• Pearl jewelry should be color-coordinated with the pearls on the gown rather than with the gown itself. For example, if the gown is ivory-colored and the pearls on it are white, the bride's pearl jewelry should also be white. The pearls on the gown should be the same color as those on the veil. In sum, all the pearls the bride is wearing should look like they were made to go together.

• If the bride would like to wear a necklace, earrings or brooch from her grandmother that