By Keturah Kemugasa

There are gems and there are pearls. These ancient stones, literally fished out of the water, were so pricey that they could only be afforded by the wealthy.

Perhaps owing to their cost, pearls were only worn for special occasions like weddings, balls and high society events.

Today, every woman I know has a pearl necklace be it fake or real. Fake is good because it is very unlikely that someone will want to cut off your neck for it. You, therefore, can kill two birds with one stone; achieve elegance and peace of mind at the same time.

However, it does not hurt to add real fresh water pearls to your jewellery box. They really are worth having as they stand out due to their shine and beauty.

Types of pearls
The most expensive pearls are identified by their shine.

Older women prefer the perfect round pearls, which are more expensive while younger women normally opt for obelisk or rice pearls owing to their unique shapes.

Like everything else in nature, pearls have names by which they are identified and these are rice, button, wheat, tear drop, obelisk and round.

White is the natural colour of pearls, but they can be dyed. Today, you will find pink, grey, black, maroon and cream pearls.

At Krisna Mart, Kisementi, Kamwokya, you will find an array of fresh water (or cultured) pearls in various designs and colours. Deep sea pearls are the most expensive in the world and can set you back $1,500-6,000 (sh3.6m –14.4m) a piece.

Pearls can be mixed with African beads to create unique jewellery that fuses two cultures perfectly.

For example, pearls are mixed with cowrie or snail shells.Real pearls are quite dear and a pearl necklace will set you back sh250,000 – 850,000 depending on number of strands and typeof pearls used. Earrings go for sh20,000-100,000. There are styles for younger women named after popular international stars like Beyonce and Alicia Keys.

The Beyonce kind are over the top chandelier earrings, costing sh70,000, while the less flamboyant Alicia Keys go for sh60,000.

Mother of pearl
For centuries, the mother of pearl has been a popular addition to jewellery and ornaments for its ability to add sophistication and beauty.

“Pearls are formed inside oysters when it accumulates a substance called nacre (mother of pearl), which lines the oyster shell.”

Apart from women’s jewellery, mother of pearl is also used on cuff links, therefore, giving men additional elegance and class. So if you want to surprise the man you love or if you have a sophisticated dad, mother of pearl cuff links are quite appropriate as they are beautiful without being feminine.

How to wear pearls fashionably
If you are a shirt and jeans person, you can still add chic to a casual look with a pearl necklace and studs or skip the neckwear and opt for teardrop pearl earrings.Complete the look with a pearl and diamante bracelet.

This look works very well with dress down Friday. For a business casual look, team dark trousers or skirt with pretty plain tee and accessorise with a pearl brooch and simple studs.

Standing out means doing the extraordinary; for instance, a necklace with irregular beads makes quite a statement whether the beads are multi-coloured or monochrome. Or you could opt for elongated pearl earrings rather than the usual studs to look different.

This unusual styling is great for special occasions like weddings, cocktails and dinner parties. Create an ornate necklace by mixing and matching pearls of different sizes to achieve your desired look.

This works very well if you are flamboyant and love overdecorated stuff.

Let your wrists drip with pearls by twisting your necklace into a bracelet. This would look good worn with simple but fashionable attire like a navy blue silk shift.