Weiss Report Blog

From pocket watch to a fashion accessory. What was once, in the earliest years of portable watches, considered to be unsuitable for men and only for ladies, has developed nowadays into a fashion utensil that everybody has. Meanwhile, the wristwatch is no longer only a instrument to tell the time. It is a designer piece and can indicate much more than the time.

A great deal of mechanics in a small housing

The first confirmable portable timepiece was made in 1500. This was not a wristwatch, but more of a pocket watch. Through technical advancement, which made it possible for people to house mechanics in an more and more smaller space, the required components of the clockworks were able to be brought into a manageable form. In this way, the first pocket watch was born, which at the time was still the size of an egg.

The computerized wristwatch from Japan

A completely different wristwatch came onto the market in the 1970’s from Japan, which had developed its own watch industry. The new wrist watch from Japan was no more set on a mechanical basis, but on a computerized control. This wrist watch expanded its range of capability rapidly. The wristwatch no more just showed the time. The small timepiece on the wrist now also knew the date, the day of the week and even knew whether a leap year was involved.

The wristwatch as jewelry

Today, the wristwatch is much more than a watch. The wrist watch has become a fashion accessory. Wristwatches come in all colouration and shapes thinkable. One can also purchase harmonious watches from all fashion collection. The current watches are dominated by the correct fashion trends. Despite these contrary styles, there is something for every taste. The tiny watches, which need spectacles to tell the time, and the extravagant giant watches, which make it hard to walk upright. By all means, one thing is clear: science is still likely to make so much progress - that the wristwatch will be found on the wrists of people for a long time, to answer the question as to what time it is.

The most frequent question my clients ask me is how they should choose their pearls? The simplest answer I can give them is to
choose pearls they love. There are, however, technical answers to this question. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) provides a set of seven value factors for grading pearls. These are: Size, Color, Shape, Luster, Nacre Quality, Surface Quality, and Matching (within a strand or set). In general, pearls of higher luster will provide higher value (in the long run) over pearl size, shape and color. This article talks about Pearl Luster value factor.

Luster actually comes from within the pearl surface. No other gemstone shares this characteristic. Other gemstones, diamonds, rubies and sapphires, shine from the surface. Pearls get their luster from the light reflecting off the aragonite (a form of calcium-carbonate) crystals that form the nacre (pronounced NAY-ker), or skin, of the pearl. Thus, the incomparable glow that comes from pearls.

Different varieties of pearls exhibit different qualities of luster. Akoya cultured pearls are renown for their high luster. The colder waters of Japan, where Akoyas are grown, are believed to produce long, thin aragonite crystals which thus reflect the light differently than Tahitians and South Seas. I have seen Akoyas that look like glass when viewed in the bright sunlight - absolutely beautiful! Tahitian cultured pearls tend towards a metallic luster. The thick-nacred South Seas cultured pearls have a silky luster. Chinese cultured Freshwater pearls (CCFP) have made tremendous advances in the last decade. The highest quality CCFPs now rival Akoya pearls in quality and luster.

Higher luster is desirable. You can see your reflection
in a high-quality pearl. The GIA identifies four distinct grades of luster:

- Excellent - Sharp, bright reflection

- Good - Bright reflection, but not sharp; hazy around edges

- Fair - Reflection is hazy & blurred

- Poor - Reflection is dim & diffused

Reputable pearl retailers will accurately use these descriptors with their pearl jewelry offerings. On-line retailers should offer generous return policies so clients can compare their purchases with these descriptors. This allows the client to gain confidence in the retailer and the retailer to establish a solid reputation in the online community.

Beth Schmitz, CEO Avant Pearl, GIA Pearls Graduate

Ms. Schmitz has more than 20 years in business and more than 6 years specific to the Jewelry Industry. She holds degrees from Harvard and University of TX at Austin. Her online boutique, http://www.AvantPearl.com features high end pearl jewelry from leading designers, limited-edition manufacturers and skilled craftsmen throughout the world.