www.gellner.com

F A S C I N A T I N G

C U L T U R E D P E A R L S

T h E S P I R I T O F P E A R L S

Jörg Gellner

Cultured pearls are nature’s beauties. Their element is water and the art of seduction is their mission. Modeled on Mother Nature’s blueprint and cultivated by human hand, they are impressive in both worth and effect. Pearls have been cultivated on farms for over a century – through the experience of farmers, their love of nature and respect for its unique treasures. Gellner works in close partnership and friendship with the most renowned pearl farms. We use our expertise to select the most beautiful pearls from the very finest offered. Strung on a neck-lace of the highest quality, they radiate an alluring, irresistible charm.

The saltwater oysters in which pearls grow are primarily at home on the ocean f loor in Asia and the South Pacific. Here, on secluded atolls or in protected bays, you will find the pearl farms where these ocean treasures grow. The process of forming a sufficient layer of nacre takes many years, and the amount of care the oysters need is enormous. Both natural selection and a strict selection process after harvesting ensure that the supply of true natural beauties out of all the cultured pearls remains limited and that these pearls are corres-pondingly valuable. Freshwater pearls are cultured in the rivers and lakes of China and Japan. Gellner works worldwide as a partner with the leading pearl-culturing specialists.

W h E R E

P E A R L

D R E A M S

A R E

B O R N

French Polynesia: Tahitian cultured pearls

S OU T H PAC I F IC

I N DI A N OC E A N

Japan:Akoya cultured pearlsKasumigaura cultured pearls

Australia: South Sea cultured pearls

The Philippines: South Sea cultured pearls

Indonesia: South Sea cultured pearls

Fiji: Fiji cultured pearls

China:Akoya cultured pearls

Freshwater cultured pearls

ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC:THE HOME OF CULTURED PEARLS

means that we not only know where our Gellner cultured pearls are from, but we also know how much dedication and experience went into growing them.

This gives our customers the assurance that we selected each and every cultured pearl personally, according to our stringent standards of quality.

Q U A L I T Y

R I G h T

F R O M T h E

S T A R T

Cultured pearls are natural products. This means that environmental conditions have an effect on the quality of the pearls. That is why both the leading pearl-culturing companies and we here at Gellner are committed to pro-tecting the oceans and handling natural resources with as much respect as possible. For example, we partner exclusively with pearl farms that not only adhere to environmental standards in the company, but are also dedica-ted to protecting the environment and impro-ving local education and quality of life. Gellner is invited regularly as an exclusive participant in many pearl auctions, which

E V E R Y P E A R L I S U N I Q U E

South Sea cultured pearls are the most precious of all cultured pearls and come from the warm areas of the ocean near Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Their color spectrum varies from silver-white to champagne-cream to a deep gold. The largest of these pearls can have diameters of up to 20 millimeters.The natural-colored dark Tahitian cultured pearls come from the lagoons of French Polynesia and from the Cook Islands. Their color spectrum ranges from metallic black to gray-green to violet-blue. They can grow to between 8 and 18 millimeters in size.Akoya cultured pearls, from the areas of the ocean around Japan and China, are considered to be the classic cultured pearls. They can either

be white rose, cream, or silver-gray in color. Their sizes range from 6 to 10 millimeters.Freshwater cultured pearls are usually grown as nucleus-free cultured pearls in Chinese rivers and lakes. They have a wide variety of forms, often round or baroque. Their color spectrum ranges from white rose and salmon orange to violet-brown, and their size can reach up to 13 millimeters. Kasumigaura cultured pearls, which have a nucleus, come from Japan.Fiji cultured pearls, with their intense colors, are grown in the bays of the Fiji Islands. Their natural color ranges from dark green and anthracite to a natural bronze-brown. Their size varies between 8 and 18 millimeters.

T h E V A L U E O F E X P E R I E N C E

By combining the experience of pearl farmers with our expertise in selection we guarantee the very highest quality. There are five key criteria for determining the value of a pearl: size, surface, luster, shape and color. The largest pearls are measured in millimeters, depending on the inserted nucleus and thickness of the mother-of-pearl layers. The texture should be as fl at and smooth as possible – allowing only for small imperfections added by Mother Nature. Luster is determined by how much the surface shines and refracts light through the fine layers of mother-of-pearl. When it comes to grading qual-ity, intensity is the key factor because the perfect luster depends on the perfect layering of mother-of-pearl. The shape is created by how the pearl grows inside the oyster. The rarity of the most popular shapes such as the perfect sphere, drop or baroque increases the value. The color has no inf luence on the quality of the pearl. In this case, the most important aspect is personal taste. In this context, popular colors such as white rose, peacock fea-ther, and deep gold, in conjunction with other criteria, can have an effect on the value.

Making sure your pearls stay looking beautiful is simple. Just keep them in a soft silk bag. This keeps them protected and retains their natural moisture. Pearls like to be alone, away from sharp-edged gold or diamonds that can scratch. Most of all, pearls like to be worn. The ingredients in some cosmetics and hair products can damage their delicate surface. That’s why it’s best to put your pearls on after doing your hair and make-up. When you’ve finished wearing them, wipe gently with a soft, damp cloth. It’s also a good idea to take your neck-lace to a jeweler regularly to have it restrung. That way you’ll be able to enjoy your pearls for years to come – and pass them on to the next generation.

C A R E T I P S

Your own individual Gellner cultured-pearl necklace. Date/signature/stamp

C U L T U R E D

P E A R L

C E R T I F I C A T E

Reference number

Type of pearl

Pearl size in millimeters

Number of pearls

Pearl shape/pearl color

Pearl quality

Value

We hope you enjoy your Gellner necklace. Our mother-of-pearl clasp is a symbol of quality and originality. It combines proof of origin with the Spirit of Pearls and Gellner craftsmanship.