A new breed of pearls has hit the market and is causing a buzz. Known as Edison pearls, these are a high-quality, high-end variety of saltwater pearl known for their stunning look yet affordable prices.
If you haven’t heard about Edison pearls before, you’re not alone. Because Edison pearls have only been on the market for a couple of years, they’re relatively new and not many people have heard of them.
However, it’s worth getting to know what Edison pearls can offer you as they’re turning out to be extremely promising. Here’s a look at what Edison pearls are and whether you should buy them.
Why Are They Called Edison Pearls?
The pearls are named after the great inventor, Thomas Edison, who for all his intelligence and innovation, said “There are two things which couldn’t be made at my laboratory – diamonds and pearls.”
The jewelry world has since gone on to do both these things and with great results. Edison pearls are one of the latest in a long line of pearl innovations and the name Edison is a reminder that what can be seemingly impossible, can be done.
What Are Edison Pearls?
Edison pearls were created by the Zhan siblings who come from a family with over 40 years’ experience in the pearl industry. The research for Edison pearls took many years and an enormous budget but the outcome has been highly lauded. Edison pearls were first sold in 2010 and has since carved a name for itself as a high-end pearl variety.
No one except the Zhan family company knows exactly how Edison pearls are created. This is kept top secret and Edison pearls only come from a couple of closely guarded pearl farms in China where they’re cultivated.
Edison pearls were created to rival the prestigious South Sea pearls from Australia, much like freshwater pearls have become a more affordable alternative to Akoya pearls. They were first introduced in 2014, with the initial pearls priced very high but today they’re known as affordable alternatives to South Sea pearls.
How Are Edison Pearls Made?
To understand the difference between Edison pearls and freshwater pearls, we need to take a look at the process of nucleating molluscs in pearl farming.
In the pearl industry, saltwater pearls are considered superior to freshwater pearls, as they have higher quality. While freshwater pearls are grown in mussels in a short period of time, saltwater pearls are formed by oysters and take a much longer time to fully form.
Freshwater pearls are typically nucleated with tissue of the mussel, which results in a vast majority of these pearls being irregular in shape and made of solid nacre.
Saltwater pearls, on the other hand, are bead-nucleated, where a perfectly spherical bead is embedded into the oyster. This helps the oyster to form the perfect round shape that is in high demand when it comes to pearls.
What the Edison pearl creators did was to use bead nucleating on their freshwater mussels, aiming to create perfectly round pearls. Also, while most freshwater mussels are nucleated with multiple pieces of tissue resulting in up to 50 freshwater pearls being created at a time, the mussels for Edison pearls are nucleated with a single bead. The mussel is able to focus its energy on a single pearl at a time. This results in a lower yield, but the focus is on quality not quantity.
What Makes Edison Pearls Special?
The resulting Edison pearl has impressed buyers and sellers alike with their high quality and stunning appearance. Here are the main characteristics of Edison pearls:
1- Edison Pearl Size
Edison pearls grow to large sizes and can reach up to 16.0mm, much like South Sea pearls. This is possible because of two reasons:
- The pearl is allowed to grow for a longer time and
- Only one bead at a time is inserted into the mussel
The company is trying to create a smaller version of the Edison pearl, to compete with the Akoya pearl but so far haven’t been successful in this venture.
2- Edison Pearl Color
Edison pearls come in a range of colors, including white, metallic cream, pink, gold, lavender, plum and dark purple. Some pearls can exhibit a grayish color, however, all black Edison pearls have been dyed. The pearls also have excellent orient and beautiful overtones that accentuate the beauty of the stone.
3- Edison Pearl Nacre Thickness
The nacre thickness on Edison pearls is similar to that of South Sea pearls at about 2.0mm to 3.5mm on an average sized pearl. This is considered a thick layer of nacre, which is responsible for the beautiful pearlescence and appearance of the gemstones.
4- Edison Pearl Price
Edison pearls are much more affordable than most other pearl types even though they’re marketed as a high-end pearl variety and have a quality and appearance that make them remarkable. These pearls come at price ranges to suit most budgets and can be enjoyed by anyone. This is the first time that pearls with quality equal to the South Sea variety are easily accessible.
The quality of the pearl also determines its price. Perfectly round, smooth pearls are priced higher while baroque shapes are less expensive.
5- Edison Pearl Surface
Edison pearls are typically blemish free and have smooth, lustrous surfaces. They can sometimes have ridges and bumps, but the best pearls are smooth to the touch.
Once Edison pearls have been harvested, they’re typically washed and bleached to enhance the color.
Should I Choose Edison Pearls?
Edison Pearl Strand from ZebaCreations. See it here.
If you’ve always wanted to own a large pearl but found it beyond your budget, an Edison pearl might be just the perfect substitute.
Edison pearls have quickly become the new standard for cultured freshwater pearls because of their high quality and affordability. They can be made into gorgeous types of jewelry.
Because the pearls come in baroque shapes as well, they offer designers the ability to create unique designs, mix and match colors and accentuate the beauty of the pearl.
The best part is that these pearls typically cost less than 20% of similar saltwater pearl varieties so you’ll still get the look but not the massive price tag that comes with such pearls.
Where Can I Find Edison Pearls?
When looking for Edison pearls, beware of some sellers who’re trying to pass off average freshwater pearls as the more expensive Edison pearl. Most pearl retailers now offer Edison pearls, sometimes as a limited-edition collection. Always purchase from retailer you can trust, who stands by their products.
While Edison pearls are still fairly new and considered a novel pearl variety, it’s highly likely that in the future these pearls will become more commonplace and easily available.
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