Whether you’re dressed up or down, the polished sheen of these organic beauties lends style and elegance to any outfit. Unlike the purchase of diamonds, buying pearls involves choosing what you love rather than making an investment. Abrasions and cracking are common because pearls are soft, like opals. Also, their body color and luster are affected by the oils in your skin, “so they season over the years,” explains Rhonda Cooper of Van Atkins Jewelers in New Albany, Mississippi. Rhonda says pearl jewelry is often passed down through families for its sentimental value. “They are memory pieces,” she explains.
