What are Mallorca pearls – are they real?

What are Mallorca pearls

The Mallorca variety, created in a factory using mother-of-pearl, is an organic pearl. It acts as an intermediate link between natural (extracted from the sea or grown on farms) and artificial gemstones, having absorbed the best from both types.

Pearls from the Spanish jewelry brand Majorica are distinguished by their ideal shape, thick layer of high-quality mother-of-pearl, and increased strength. The appearance of stains, scratches, and other defects during normal use is excluded.

Research by the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) has confirmed that the properties of Majorica pearls are identical to high-quality natural sea minerals.

History of the discovery and purpose of the experiment

Natural stone has always been characterized by a high cost due to the difficulties of cultivation and extraction. This once prompted a promising researcher to come up with the idea of ​​simplifying and improving this process.

A new method of producing pearls was invented in 1890 by the German inventor Eduard Hugo Hesch, who emigrated to Paris. He spent about 50 years perfecting the technology. In 1951, he patented it, after which Majorica was founded. Later he moved to the island of the same name - Mallorca, where the company is now located.

To watch a video blog from the Majorika store-museum:

Manufacturing technology

Organic Majorica pearls (or “Majorica”, we call them “Majorca”) are impeccable in color, rainbow overtones, and texture. The technology imitates the processes occurring in a natural pearl:

1. The glass or porcelain core base is fixed on holders.
2. Immersed in essence, that is, a mixture of pearl powder, fish scales and oil. If the bead is colored, a natural pigment is added.
3. After drying, the process is repeated 25–40 times. The number of layers determines how much a particular pearl subsequently costs.
4. Each layer is carefully polished.
5. After the final immersion, pure mother-of-pearl is applied, a protective coating is applied, and the pearl is irradiated with ultraviolet light.

Control is carried out according to 25 gradations - color, strength, shine, and other properties of the stone for each layer.

A bead is created in ten to thirty days.

Technology for producing mother-of-pearl beads

The secret of obtaining perfect pearls is carefully guarded, but some aspects of production are known to the general public.

Preparing the Kernel

The process of making beads begins with a core, onto which subsequent layers of coating are applied. Base - high quality porcelain, glass. During the preparation process, the finished kernel is dipped into a bowl with a solution whose composition is unknown. Supposedly, it consists of crushed mother-of-pearl, a natural pearl powder.

Layering

The pearl coating of the beads consists of crushed fish scales, mollusk shells, and oil. The prepared kernel is immersed in the composition for 40 minutes, then dried with ultraviolet rays. The number of layers on a large bead reaches 30; for a small pearl, 20 is enough.

Shape and color

All layers of mother-of-pearl must undergo a grinding stage in order to achieve the shape of an ideal ball. The production involves the creation of ellipsoidal, teardrop-shaped pearls. The tint is achieved by adding natural dyes to the mother-of-pearl coating. They are mixed with the base in the required proportion.

Tour of a pearl factory in Mallorca and trying on jewelry:

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any precious gem, organic has pros and cons.

pros

The advantages compared to natural mineral are significant.

Wear resistance

The coating is not afraid of aggressive factors such as cosmetics, sun, sea water, sweat, perfumes. Wearing a major stone does not affect visual attractiveness or physical qualities. Its “life” is much longer than natural.

Maintaining original appearance

Natural specimens contain water and conchiolin. Water evaporates over time, and conchiolin, reaching the surface of the pearls, decomposes. As a result, natural pearls become dull and crack. Therefore, it is recommended to periodically “bathe” them or wear them more often so that they are saturated with moisture.

Mallorca pearls are free from this drawback. The manufacturing technology provides for the presence of water only in the mother-of-pearl made from fish scales, so that the coating is viscous and shiny. The processing process removes conchiolin so the beads do not fade or crack.

Variety of colors

If in the seas the tone of pearls is determined by the composition of the water and the depth of the shell, then the artificial Mallorca variety receives its colors from natural dyes. For lilac-lilac colors, manganese is added to mother-of-pearl, for red colors - iron, green tints are created by copper. The range of colors is from white to black, with many tones for each base color. For natural minerals this indicator is poorer.

Impeccable form

Only Majorica beads can be large and at the same time ideal in shape. Natural river material does not happen like this; sea material is present at auctions and costs exorbitantly.

In this variety you will not find “baroque” pearls (or baroque pearls), that is, irregularly shaped specimens. Although the company’s craftsmen will create such delights if necessary.

Ease

Jewelry from Mallorca is lighter than that made from natural stone. This is especially appreciated by ladies who prefer massive earrings or long beads.

Minuses

There are very few of them:

1. Fragility of the surface layer. Natural pearls are expensive due to their monolithic structure. The base in products from Mallorca is not so firmly bonded to mother-of-pearl, so the coating can chip when hit, and the thin mother-of-pearl layer gradually wears off.
2. Lack of healing and magical qualities.

They are compensated by easy care. Unlike natural pearls, which are capricious in everyday use, this variety does not require much trouble.

Properties and application of artificial stone

Gemologists believe that Majorica products are almost completely identical to natural pearls. The synthesized mineral is used in jewelry, decorating bags and other accessories.

Physical properties

Mallorca pearls are characterized by the following features:

• durability, wear resistance;
• strength: from 2.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale;
• ideal spherical shape without flaws or roughness;
• color: may vary depending on the natural dye, the shades are delicate, with a rainbow tint.

This means that major pearls can be used in jewelry only if they have an absolutely smooth shape.

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Magic properties

The sea mineral has some magic.

• It protects the owner from negative energy and bestows youth and beauty.
• The stone brings prosperity to the house, attracts money and success.
• It harmonizes a person’s general condition, gives peace of mind and cleanses the aura.

Pearls are often used by fortune tellers in magical rituals. It is believed that the magical power of the mineral heals emotional wounds from a painful breakup and unrequited love.

Whether the Mallorca stone has the same properties is still a question that occupies the minds of lithotherapists. It is believed that only stones of natural origin have magical powers.

But if a person feels the need to have a pearl necklace as an amulet, one should not give up this idea. In the end, the belief and attitude of the owner towards this issue determines the enormous significance in the magical effect of a stone on a person. In addition to this, due to its weak energy, the stone will definitely not be able to harm anyone.

Jewelry with pearls "Mallorca"

Mother-of-pearl beads will fit amazingly into the neckline of both a cocktail dress and an evening dress. Majorica jewelry has always been popular. Jewelers create true masterpieces using minerals: earrings, bracelets, necklaces, brooches and much more.

Even for men, Majorika produces cufflinks that will ideally complement any business or formal suit.

The best setting for the major stone is considered to be 925 silver or gold.

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Who can wear jewelry from Mallorca?

Spanish pearls are unpretentious in choosing their owner. Each of the zodiac signs can wear it, because the minerals were produced under artificial conditions. But this fact does not exclude the possibility of an organic stone possessing magical powers.

Jewelry is most suitable for Pisces, Scorpios and Cancers, since pearls and three signs belong to the same water element. The mineral will protect them from negativity from the outside, strengthen the best aspects of their soul, while muting unpleasant qualities.

Representatives of the earth element Virgo, Capricorn and Taurus are recommended to wear products from Mallorca only on holidays or for important events. Natural stone, when worn every day, can harm their health, provoke family conflicts, and difficulties at work.

Jewelry with pearls Mallorca

Externally, pearls are indistinguishable from natural ones. It does not require any processing, so the intervention of jewelers is limited to creating a durable, beautiful frame.

The best setting for a Mallorca pearl is 925 silver or gold. But the stone can deteriorate due to prolonged contact with metals, so galvanic rhodium coating is applied to the frame of the product.

Given Mallorca's vulnerability to chipping and abrasion, Spanish jewelers have created unique mounts that cover and protect pearls.

Price

Mallorca pearls are not natural pearls, but they are not plastic either. Therefore, its cost is higher than its artificial counterpart, but tens of times inferior to a natural marine specimen of equal quality and parameters.

So, the price of a necklace 45 cm long with beads 6 - 8 mm is 11-13 thousand rubles. For rings or earrings they will ask five to six thousand rubles.

WE BUY SMARTLY

Noble pearl beads are a symbol of style, breed, completeness and elegance. But only if high-quality pearls were used in the process of creating the jewelry. For example, Mallorca. How to distinguish the products of a Spanish jewelry house from ordinary beads masquerading as pearls?

Visual features and price

The originality of Majorica pearls can be determined by the following characteristics:

• PEARL TIDE. White Mallorcas shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow when the sun's rays hit them. The more intense the radiance emanating from them, the more valuable the products.
• SHINE. The surface shines, reminiscent of the sheen of satin fabric.
• TEXTURE. This characteristic takes into account the diameter, shape, thickness and quality of mother of pearl. Ideally, each pearl should resemble a sphere (ball). Uneven shape, scratches, cuts, discolored spots reduce the quality and, accordingly, the price of pearls. Mallorca products combine all the described properties.
• COLOR. Colors range from pearlescent white to sophisticated black.
• STRENGTH. Unlike capricious natural pearls, Mallorca is not afraid of heat, cold, as well as beads of sweat, perfume, cosmetics, etc.

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Magic properties

Only natural stones have magical and healing properties, no one argues with that. It is not surprising that Mallorca, combining artificial production with natural materials in its composition, has provoked splits and disputes in the esoteric community.

Opponents insist that the origin of the pebble - in the laboratory for just a month, and even with the use of technology - excludes magical properties. This requires years and the native sea element.

Defenders point to the conclusion of the highest gemological authority, the GIA, which recognized the identical physical qualities of the stone to its natural analogues.

What follows from this? Anyone can wear it, regardless of their zodiac sign.

Contemplating and wearing it improves the mood of the hostess, increases self-esteem, and puts her in a philosophical mood. What is not a magical or healing effect?

Cultured pearls: artificial or natural?

The very first pearl jewelry was made from so-called wild pearls, obtained from the shells of mollusks living in natural conditions.
Natural pearls are formed as a result of a foreign object entering the oyster shell. The foreign body causes a defensive reaction in the mollusk, the oyster begins to produce nacre and gradually envelops the foreign object with pearl matter. After a few years, a pearl is formed. With the growing popularity of pearls, their reserves began to rapidly deplete, which led to an increase in the price of jewelry. To satisfy the needs of the fair half of humanity for exquisite mother-of-pearl stones, experts have invented a technology for growing pearls that does not harm the environment. Pearls grown under human supervision are called cultured pearls. It is worth noting that the extraction of natural pearls has been prohibited since 1952 throughout the world.

Cultured pearls are no different in properties from “wild” pearls. Its production technology is similar to the natural process: a mother-of-pearl seed is placed in the shell, after which specialists carefully care for the mollusk, creating natural living conditions for it. Depending on the required size and quality of stones, pearls can be grown for 2 to 12 years.

Therefore, cultured pearls are completely natural and have nothing to do with synthetic stones.

How to care for Mallorca

This variety is quite durable, the care rules are not burdensome, but mother of pearl requires delicate handling.

1. It is better to store jewelry in an individual bag or separately in a box so that harder stones do not scratch it.
2. For cleaning, no abrasives or household chemicals are used, which will irrevocably destroy the shine of the pearls or destroy the mother-of-pearl layer.
3. Dirt is removed with warm soapy water and rinsed under running water. Dry naturally on a soft cloth.
4. Do not test it with hot water or the scorching sun, cosmetics or perfumes.

Jewelry brought from Mallorca is the best reminder of visiting an exotic island. Moreover, this pleasure will cost half as much as at home.

Pearls of this variety are constantly at the peak of popularity. Although the exact manufacturing technology is a trade secret, they are trying to make it not only in Spain. Only a specialist can distinguish Mallorca by eye, so when buying jewelry, inquire about the presence of a quality certificate.

Jewelry with organic pearls

Madreperla is a company that specializes in improving technologies and processes for the production of organic pearls, jewelry from which looks stunning on the fair sex.

Jewelers today create unique products from this type of pearl; silver earrings made from Major pearls will become a universal decoration that can be worn every day or on special occasions.

Also, brooches, cufflinks, beads, bracelets and other jewelry can be purchased from the collection at a fairly attractive price.

It is worth noting that the price of jewelry with organic pearls is much lower than for products that contain a natural mineral.

Mallorca pearls are used to create beautiful, ideally shaped beads, a 45 cm long thread that costs approximately 10-12 thousand rubles. Many people will think that this is not that cheap for artificial pearls. But in fact, organic pearls, firstly, are not inferior to real pearls in terms of external characteristics and, secondly, they are not beads made of plastic or acrylic. Rings, earrings and bracelets with one pearl of this type cost from about 2,000 rubles, but the artificial mineral in them shines and shimmers like a real one.

Types of pearls by origin

Pearls can form in the shells of both marine and freshwater mollusks. Accordingly, it is divided by origin into marine and river (or freshwater).

Sea and river pearls differ in size, color and other characteristics.

Sea pearls:

• grows faster than freshwater due to the presence of salt in the water;
• has large dimensions (on average 8-14 mm, but often up to 20 mm);
• often has a regular spherical or hemispherical shape;
• it shines very much, as it is covered with a thick layer of mother-of-pearl;
• comes in different shades.

Freshwater pearls:

• grows slowly, but in large quantities;
• rarely larger than 11-12 mm, its average size is 3-10 mm);
• has an irregular shape (spherical pearls make up only 2%);
• hard, but has a thin layer of mother-of-pearl, matte shine;
• its palette is not as diverse as that of sea pearls.

Also, according to their origin, pearls are divided into natural and artificial, each of them has its own subspecies.

By the way, pearls smaller than 2.5 mm are called pearl beads.

Which celebrities wear pearls?

Many celebrities are true pearl fans.

It is believed that the fashion for artificial pearls was introduced by the well-known Coco Chanel. It was thanks to her that beads with mother-of-pearl stones became a true classic.

Audrey Hepburn did not like elaborate jewelry, but she could wear a pearl necklace or miniature earrings with mother-of-pearl stones every day.

Elegant studs and a necklace made of black pearls to the taste of Angelina Jolie. This set makes her look more sophisticated.

Bright and outrageous Rihanna is also a fan of pearls. In her jewelry box there is a necklace of a couple of hundred pearls, cute earrings, a metal necklace with stones, a massive bracelet, a choker and even glasses decorated with mother-of-pearl polka dots.

On the stars you can see unusual pearl jewelry, for example, an original ring, elegant hairpins, massive earrings, etc. d.

Even Johnny Depp could not resist the temptation to purchase accessories made of black and silver minerals. At the same time, the set does not reduce his masculinity and makes the image more noble.

See other articles about pearls:

Features, properties and types of baroque pearls

Mallorca pearls - artificial or not: technology, price and properties

Is it possible to wear and accept pearls as gifts at a wedding?

How a pearl forms and grows in a shell

All about freshwater pearls

Basic ways to distinguish natural pearls from artificial ones

How to clean pearls at home

Caring for pearl jewelry

Who can wear pearls and how: traditions and a modern look

What is cultured pearl, its properties and differences from natural and artificial

To whom and when can you give pearls?

All about pearl jewelry: how to do it right

How to choose, wear and care for black pearls

Types of pearls by color

The most common pearls are the following shades:

• white;
• cream;
• golden;
• pink;
• white-pink;
• silver;
• green;
• blue or gray-blue;
• eggplant;
• benzoic;
• black.

Initially, only the so-called “Thai” pearls are black. The remaining black pearls are either x-rayed or dyed.

Natural black pearls are valued higher than pearls of other colors. Of the light shades, pink, blue, purple and gold are considered more expensive. The price is affected not only by the shade, but also by the degree of its saturation.

Who is Majorica suitable for?

Mallorca pearls are endowed with strength and energy, belong to the water element, and are suitable for Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio. Calms its owners and protects them from making rash decisions. Natural pearls for signs of the sea element are a cure for depression, lift your spirits, and get rid of negative thoughts.

For Aries, Taurus and Leo, more aggressive jewelry framed in gold is needed. Pearl is too calm a stone for these signs, but in some cases it helps to moderate the ardor.

Aquarius, Gemini and Libra can wear the products of the Spanish brand for a short time. This helps to increase self-esteem and develop intuition. But Majorica is contraindicated for earthly zodiac signs, as it can worsen health and create conflicts in the family.

Main conclusions

As you can see, pearls are not just a white round stone; there are different types of minerals that differ in deposit, color, and shape. Sea pearls have more saturated colors, various shades, and deep shine. The river mineral is not as large, and its surface is more matte. Pearls help strengthen the immune system, protect against diseases, and bring harmony to life. Natural and cultivated minerals are more expensive than artificial ones. When choosing jewelry, you need to pay attention to the surface structure, weight and shade of the products. To ensure that the beauty of pearls pleases you for as long as possible, follow the rules of caring for them.

Types of pearls by shape

Shape is one of the main characteristics of pearls, on which its value depends.

Pearls are:

• spherical, that is, having the shape of an even ball. If they are rolled down an inclined surface, their trajectory will be straight;
• hemispherical, that is, having the shape of a not quite even ball. When rolling down an inclined surface, they deviate to the side;
• forms of rice. This is the name given to symmetrical oval specimens;
• drop-shaped, that is, at one end much wider than at the other;
• blisters, that is, convex on one side, flat and often without a pearlescent layer on the other;
• flat, they are called buttons or buttons;
• baroque - pearls of irregular shape, including “paragons” and “monsters” (that is, similar in outline to figures of people, animals and birds);
• semi-baroque - spherical pearls with pronounced surface irregularities (grooves, bulges).

Spherical pearls are considered the most valuable, but sometimes teardrop-shaped ones, which have a very regular shape, are valued even higher than them.

If we talk about fashion trends, today baroque pearls are very popular, allowing, thanks to their bizarre shapes, to create unusual jewelry.

How much does quality pearl cost?

The cost of stones depends on its size, surface, shape, shine and origin. The most expensive are black, gold-plated, pink or white sea pearls. The yellow-colored mineral is the most accessible.

The quality of a pearl depends on its shape, so the most valuable is a spherical stone with a smooth surface. However, perfect circles are rare, so oval or pear-shaped pearls are considered expensive.

This is interesting! The cost of sea pearls is 5 times higher than that of river pearls.

Large specimens are rare; stones from 3 mm are more common, and “pearl dust” – up to 2 mm.

The price of a sea pearl 10 mm in size is from 380 to 400 dollars, the same stone, but 15 mm - 1,500 dollars. The final cost depends on how rare the stone is.