Business and Executive Gifts
Proud gifts
We are proud to offer unique gifts for your important contacts and valued staff. We enjoy creating customised concepts and products especially for your company. Our corporate gifts and promotional products will leave a lasting impression:
Make a good first impression with Proud Pearls…
An unique corporate gift can be personalised with your company logo or business message on a compliments card. All our gifts come perfectly presented in a luxurious package. Whether you are looking for elegant executive gifts, presents for business associates, or recognizing valued employees, we have the expertise and luxury jewellery to assist you.
We will partner with you to find the perfect gifts and awards that will best achieve your marketing goals and show your appreciation. Our enthusiastic team wants to help you build an even stronger brand for your company: please contact us with your requirements or for more information and possibilities. We are proud to help you find the perfect gift: every time for every occasion…
The origin of Delft blue
Delft pottery is glazed pottery that was first made in the early 17th century in Delft, The Netherlands. The inspiration for the paintings came from Chinese porcelain, which was imported to The Netherlands using VOC vessels.
At the end of the 16th century, the Portuguese and later the Dutch were introduced to Chinese porcelain. This import of blue and white porcelain was fine and graceful and was immediately in high demand. Only the very wealthy could afford it. In the beginning, the Delft potters mainly applied oriental decorations to the porcelain, but later the images became more Dutch.
The best of both worlds
The tiles, pharmacy bottles, decorative plates, vases, candlesticks and crockery are especially famous. The first Chinese porcelain that the VOC transported to the Netherlands was made during the Ming dynasty. This explains why many of the Delft products, even long after the fall of this dynasty (1644), are decorated with typical Ming-like or Wanli motifs.
But Delftware is more than copies of Chinese porcelain. In the 17th century, Delft ceramic painters such as Isaac Junius, Frederik van Frytom and Arie de Milde managed to raise the quality of their products to unprecedented heights. Their end products are true works of art. Thanks to new painting and baking techniques, they always created unique pieces.
Examples of Chinese porcelain and Dutch Delft blue pottery
We have brought these two worlds together in our ‘Dutch Details’ collection: a unique collection of pearls with hand-painted porcelain and handmade silver ornaments. All jewellery is carefully made, especially for you. Each piece of jewellery is unique – an item to cherish! Because we design and make all collections in our own studio, we can adjust everything personally for you. Dutch design to be proud of!
This collection of jewellery is for anyone with an appreciation for Dutch culture and is also ideal as a unique souvenir or exclusive promotional gift, we have options for every budget. We ship worldwide and all jewellery is delivered in a beautiful matching gift box. Please contact us to discuss the possibilities.
The pearl farm
Mikimoto
The Japanese Kokichi Mikimoto discovered in 1896 when you put a piece of tissue in a mussel or oyster, it creates a pearl: it creates an irritation which ensures that many layers of pearl are formed around the piece of tissue, ultimately creating pearls we know and love. Mikimoto has worked for many years on a method to grow the perfect pearl. He experimented with different types of mussels and oysters until he finally succeeded. Known as “the king of pearls”, the Mikimoto brand has grown into an exclusive pearl jewellery brand that is highly regarded to this day.
Kokichi Mikimoto in his laboratory
Pearl farms
Pearls are formed in mussels (freshwater pearls) or oysters (sea pearls). Since it is no longer legal to source pearls from the wild, all available pearls are grown by pearl farms. A pearl farm is a lake in which the mussels and oysters grow.
We visit “our” pearl farm every year to ensure that our pearls are of the highest quality.
Circa 1920, the production of cultured pearls started on a large scale and to this day is the method used to grow pearls. The oysters and mussels are “operated on” and a core is implanted. This job requires delicate care because the animal has to survive this procedure. Freshwater pearl mussels are very strong and can grow up to 30 pearls at a time. The saltwater pearl oysters are much more sensitive and only produce one pearl per cycle. The oysters and mussels are clamped between grates and hung in the water in the lakes of the pearl farm.
The cultivation of pearls takes time since the mussels or oysters need to mature. This will take about three years. Then the pearl must grow, this takes at least three years and it can take up to seven years before a sufficiently thick layer of mother-of-pearl is created and a beautiful pearl of high quality is created.
The harvest
The pearls are rinsed and then sorted by colour, size, shape and quality. With rarer pearl types, it can sometimes take a few years before there are enough similar pearls to be able to make a pearl necklace. The sorting process is very precise and is done by specialists.
We selecteren zelf de mooiste parels voor in onze collecties
A fair trial
During the breeding season, the shells are cleaned regularly, the algae, parasites and other deposits are carefully removed. The water temperature and the quality of the water are carefully monitored by the growers. Pearl farmers are therefore very conscious of the environment and do everything they can to keep the water in which they grow their pearls as pure as possible. This makes the cultivation of pearls more sustainable than the production of any other gemstone.
Sustainability
The pearl cultivation can be done with minimal waste: the mussels and oysters used for pearl cultivation are not thrown away since they can last for multiple cycles. The shells are then ground and used for road construction, for example, and the meat is used for animal feed and fertiliser. Pearls are the only organic jewellery made by nature itself. The cultivation of pearls has sustainable and social effects on the environment making it a particularly sustainable industry. Mussels and oysters need clean, unpolluted water to produce high-quality pearls. We work with small certified pearl farms which we visit ourselves every year so we can process the most beautiful pearls in our collections.
Bron: https://nl.wikipedia.org
Parels and social media
Do you also love pearls? Take a look below to see an overview of cute and inspirational photos and reviews from our loyal customers and pearl-friends. Use their photos as inspiration for how to style your own pearls! If you click on the photos, you can see which pieces of jewellery these beautiful girls are wearing and how you can order them. We would love to see you wearing our pearls too… Because we make all of our jewellery in our studio, we can make sure that each piece suits you perfectly: let us know if you want to customise a piece! Follow us -> tag us and we will share your post, can’t wait to see how you style our jewellery! Use the hashtag: #weloveproudpearls
Our latest news...
stay up-to-date with refreshing & surprising pearl-news
Business and Executive Gifts
Proud to present our Dutch Details collection. Lustrous pearls beautifully combined with Dutch Delftware, featuring…
The pearl farm
We visit our pearl farm every year to ensure that our pearls are of the highest quality. We select the most beautiful…
Parels and social media
Do you also love pearls? Take a look below to see an overview of cute and inspirational photos and reviews from our…
How to recognise real pearls
We give a 100% guarantee that all of the pearls in our collections are real. Proud Pearls guarantees that all of the…
Pearls for men
See Harry Styles wearing a pearl earring at the Met Gala, historically, men were big wearers of jewellery, dripping…
Pearllovers worldwide
Meet pearl lovers world wide! Follow the hashtag #weloveproudpearls to see an overview of beautiful women: each with…
Pearls and Dutch porcelain
Proud to present our Dutch Details collection. Lustrous pearls beautifully combined with Dutch Delftware, featuring…
Pearls and the different types
What types of pearls are used in our collections? How can you recognise them? Everyone knows the round pearl as seen in…
Down Under
Proud to be Down Under! We are very proud to present our Pure Bohemian collection, which is specially designed for our…
Wine and Shine
Wijn-sieraden voor wijn-liefhebbers, met succes gelanceerd bij de exclusieve gift-shops van de mooiste wijngaarden in…
Meet The Maker
Love from Holland Who is the woman behind the brand? Meet Hannelore, the Dutch founder and designer of Proud Pearls,…
Pearls and caring for them
How to take care of your pearls? Be careful with your hygiene and cosmetic products. Personal care products can damage…
"Mooie sieraden met prachtige parels, m'n moeder was al vaste klant maar ik nu ook!" -Suzanne Lammers, Oisterwijk
"Mijn armband is speciaal voor mij op maat gemaakt, super service..." - Marijke de Wild, Rotterdam
"Hannelore weet alles over parels en heeft voor mijn trouwdag een hele mooie ketting gemaakt..." -Babs Verlinde, Harlingen
"Mooie ketting voor mijn vrouw haar verjaardag gekocht, goede en snelle service..." - Menno Boskamp, Utrecht
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Contact
E-mail:
info@proudpearls.nl
WhatsApp & telefoon:
+31636357063
Head office & Atelier:
Het Hooge Land
4213DB Gorinchem
The Netherlands
How to recognise real pearls
How to recognise real pearls
Proud Pearls guarantees that all of the pearls used in our pieces are real, but how can you tell whether they are real or fake on your own…
Some simple tests can help you determine whether your pearls are real or not. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of the pearls you have in your possession, you can always have them tested by us.
On the is left an example of the highest quality AAA pearls, these are round pearls. On the right is an example of Baroque pearls, also commonly referred to as “wild” pearls. Read more about the different types of pearls in our other blog posts.
1: Look for minor imperfections:
Real pearls are rarely “perfect”. Real pearls usually have minor imperfections or irregularities in their shape. The outer layer of mother-of-pearl can reflect the light differently on different parts of the pearl. Imitation pearls are almost always too perfect, they appear perfectly round, they have an even shine throughout, and have no dents or other flaws. Even though there are perfectly round pearls, they are very rare and a necklace seldom consists entirely of this type of pearls. A necklace made of pearls that all appear to have the same smooth, round shape is almost certainly a fake.
2: Examine whether the pearls have a sharp, healthy shine:
“Lustre” or shine is a term used by jewellers to describe the type of light being reflected from a pearl. The shine is one of the things that makes a pearl so beautiful; good quality pearls have a bright and clear lustre that makes them sparkle when light shines on them.
Pearls come in all shapes and colours: freshwater pearls can be white or pastels such as lilac, cream, or pink. Pearls can also be dyed to other colours, you can read more about this process in our other blog posts about the different types of pearls.
3: Look at the overtone:
High-quality pearls are often valued for their overtone, which is the subtle colour that shows on the surface when light hits them. Imitation pearls tend to not have this effect because this overtone is hard to emulate. As such, if you notice that your pearls have a bit of a different colour when light falls on them, chances are that your pearl is real. Pink and ivory are two of the most sought after overtones for white pearls, but many different colours are possible.
4: Look for clues near the borehole:
Pearls that are part of a strand or necklace usually have drill holes for the cord to pass through. Studying these holes carefully can help you find out if the pearl is real or not. Pay attention to the following things:
A drill hole with clear edges. Real pearls usually have sharp-edged boreholes (like a hollow cylinder). Imitation pearls often have rough or rounded edges. However, older, more worn real pearls can also have boreholes with rounded edges. Drill holes in imitation pearls can also bend outward on the surface of the pearl, instead of being perfectly cylindrical.
Chipped paint or varnish around the hole. Imitation pearls rub against each other when you wear them often and the imitation varnish around the holes can therefore wear away. You may see splinters of glass or plastic under the paint. This is a clear sign that the pearl is not real.
The pearls to the left are a good example of precious Akoya (sea pearls), the pearls on the right are a good example of “perfect” fake pearls.
5: Look in the Drill hole to see if you can see a line between the mother-of-pearl and the core:
Pay attention to the following: a real pearl almost always has a clear outer layer of mother-of-pearl, while imitation pearls have thin layers of imitation mother-of-pearl or none at all. If your pearl has a borehole, you can use a magnifying glass to see if it has a layer of mother-of-pearl. Real pearls usually (but not always) have a clearly visible stripe that separates the mother-of-pearl from the core (the inner part of the pearl).
6: Rub the pearls against your front teeth:
Hold one or two pearls between your thumb and forefinger and gently push them against the cutting edge of your front teeth. Rub them along your teeth in a sideways motion. A real pearl usually has a slightly rough or grainy texture caused by tiny, flaky blemishes in the outer layers of the pearl. Imitation pearls of glass or plastic are usually almost perfectly smooth.
Sea pearls grow in oysters, freshwater pearls grow in large mussels, above is an example of freshwater pearls, read more in our blog about pearl cultivation.
7: Rub the pearls together:
Hold a few pearls between your fingers and gently rub them together. See if you feel a slight friction. Rubbing real pearls together will usually create some friction because the outer layers of the mother-of-pearl are not perfectly smooth. Imitation pearls, on the other hand, often have a smooth finish and will therefore slide past each other when you rub them together.
In the photo an example of the beautiful round AAA quality pearls that we use in our collections.
8: Check if the pearls are not “too perfectly” round:
Since pearls are natural products, every real pearl is slightly different, just like snowflakes or fingerprints. Most pearls will not be perfectly round, they are usually a bit oval or have minor flaws. If your pearls look perfectly round, chances are they are imitation pearls. However, real pearls can be perfectly round, these pearls are very rare and therefore very expensive. Perfectly round pearls are referred to as AAA pearls, we also use them in our collections, but these pieces are a lot more expensive than jewellery with baroque pearls.
9: See if the pearls feel cool:
For this test, you will need some pearls that you have left somewhere for a long time – not pearls that you have worn. Hold the pearls in your hand and pay close attention to how they feel. Real pearls will feel remarkably cool for a few seconds before heating up. It feels similar to stepping on a marble floor with bare feet. Plastic pearls, on the other hand, will be about room temperature and will also heat up faster. Please note, good quality glass imitation pearls can still feel “cool”. If this is the first test you’ve tried, run more tests to see if your results are correct.
10: See how heavy the pearl feels in your hand:
Gently bounce one or two pearls into your hand to get an idea of how heavy they are. Most real pearls feel a little too heavy for their size. However, imitation pearls (especially plastic ones) will feel light and hollow. Obviously, this test is not perfect, it can be difficult to determine the weight of a few small pearls. For the best result, it is best to compare your pearls with pearls that you are sure are real or fake. Always check the results by running another test, no matter how confident you are of the weight of a pearl.
Fake pearls production: glass beads are dipped in a “mother-of-pearl” solution.
Majorica pearls and other fake pearls
Running in a completely different direction, Majorica pearls, sold in red boxes, are artificially made pearls in a factory. These pearls are made of glass balls that are immersed in a solution made of, among other things, fish scales. The layer on the glass is usually thin and can wear off over time. On the island of Mallorca, many of these pearls are falsely sold as real pearls. These tend to be targeted towards tourists. In addition to factory pearls made from fish scales, there are also shell pearls, which are made by sawing blocks from thick shells and grinding and polishing them. You can recognise a cord with shell pearls because all pearls have the same shape and are perfectly round. There are also plastic pearls and glass pearls on the market, of course, these have nothing to do with natural or cultured pearls.
We give a 100% guarantee that all of the pearls in our collections are real, if you have any doubts about the authenticity of other pearls that you have in your possession, you can always have them tested by us.
Bron: https://nl.wikipedia.org
Pearls for men
Proud men
Historically, men were also big wearers of jewellery, dripping gold and jewels just as much or even more than women. The Black Pearl collection is bringing this back with an edgy jewellery line perfect for all genders. Search for images of Maharajas and Mughal emperors and you’ll wonder how they could move under the weight of their finery. Toxic masculinity has refined jewellery to be something particularly for women, however, in recent years, the codes governing masculinity have finally loosened up, and the traditional lines between masculine and feminine fashion are blurring. As a company filled with powerful women in the workforce, we strive to achieve gender equality, part of this being to blur the divide between conventional gender stereotypes and roles.
Maharadja’s and their jewellery
Maharadja Yadavindra Singh and the famous Patiala necklace (1930) made by Cartier.
This evolution has been far from smooth since elements of the streetwear constituency are very much attached to masculine stereotypes. Kanye West’s Givenchy leather kilt on tour in 2011 caused fashion uproar at the time for its unorthodox approach. Looking back on this moment, Kanye considers this his fashion “awaking”. (source: http://www.bbc.com/culture/story)
Harry Styles, wearing a pearl earring and Gucci’s Alessandro Michele at the Met Gala 2019 (Getty Images)
The black pearl collection
We are proud to introduce our unisex collection, bold & brave items for him and for her meticulously handcrafted from genuine freshwater baroque pearls beautifully combined with stainless steel. This collection features unique interchangeable designs: make your own personalised statement piece by combining two or more items into one contemporary design.
Marcel Veenendaal, lead-singer of Di-rect is wearing Proud Pearls wrap bracelets
Rock’n Pearls
Dutch lead-singer Marcel Veenendaal (from Rock band Di-rect) loves Proud Pearls Black Pearl collection and is very creative in mixing and matching his unique style. In the above pictures, Marcel is wearing our wrist wrap with black pearls and the ‘feather and pearls’ necklace, both available in our shop. Read more about Marcel, his band and up-coming concerts.Di-rect
Waylon wearing Proud Pearls black pearl necklace at the Voice of Holland
The voice of…
Dutch singer and songwriter Waylon is a role-model for jewellery-wearing men, he combines several stainless steel necklaces with black pearls and creates a brave and edgy style. He is a judge on the Voice of Holland, as shown in the above pictures he is wearing our long, black baroque pearl necklace combined with other necklaces.
Pearllovers worldwide
Meet pearl lovers world wide
We are proud to meet pearl loving women around the world, are you following us on Instagram? Follow the hashtag #weloveproudpearls to see an overview of beautiful women: each with their own unique and inspiring style. Add the hashtag to your posts when you wear Proud pearls’ designs, we would love to follow you back and get inspired!
@stylebeyondage
Beautiful Sonia is a perfect example how to age gracefully, she helps you stay in touch with your power by showing you timeless style with a contemporary edge. She laughingly mentions that she has been “dressing herself since 1952“ a tongue-in-cheek nod to her age. She is a lifelong fan of costume jewellery: the creativity, the color, the vibrancy and the variety all totally hypnotise her as she is writing in her blogs: Stylebeyondage.com (Styling by Serena Duffin & Photography by Erin Reas).
@abigailoneill
What happens when we strip away the buzziness of wellness trends and the business of conventional modern living? We find beautiful ways to enhance our natural rhythm, and with any luck, it’s as graceful and dreamy as that of ageless Australian model and mother of three, Abigail O’Neill. Abigail’s hardcore holistic approach to wellness is incredibly inspiring. The Aussie mama — an author, model and raw chocolate obsessee — is truly living her best life, embracing a mostly raw vegan lifestyle, nourishing herself with sunshine, spring water, fresh air, and pure faith in the power of plants.
@sooziesstyle
Creative, sportive and beautiful Suzie, living in the stunning and diverse landscape of Victoria, you can find her with her tripod and self-timer shooting all photos by herself. Suzie is a great example for all fashionable ladies of 40+ looking gorgeous in our Proud Pearls jewellery.
@maria_fiselier
A happy, optimistic and passionate person, Maria! Maria is a classically trained singer, mostly working in the classical and operatic field. However, there are so many more art-forms, styles of music and ways to put your creativity into the world, Maria is lucky enough to be given the opportunity to explore those as well! The goal in her career has always been to reach people, show people the wonder that is music, and by doing so, connecting them to each other.
@turquoise.and.stardust
Meet Melissa, the most positive woman you can find down under in WA, being a flower-child with a free spirit surrounded by butterflies and stardust she creates a beautiful fairyland on her social media, we are proud she is a pearl-lover and we love seeing how she styles her Proud Pearl pieces.
@sonish_space
Soul fashionista and working mum Sonia lives in Brisbane. Sonia has a love for writing, fashion, and empowering and infusing hope in others. She calls it ‘soul fashion’ because she aims to connect people with their soul through fashion. Her blogs are a place where you can come to be inspired, empowered and be hopeful for the future.
@redcarpetroxy
Celebrity interviewer, style expert and don’t forget animal lover, Roxy, loves jewellery. You can find her on the red carpet in the USA making exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews from some of Hollywood’s biggest stars and insight into A-list events. Roxy co-hosts a hilarious podcast with actress Tammin Sursok that delves into the truths about being female, being a mother and the general chaos that goes with trying to navigate life with boobs, burp cloths, and the strong desire to have a life. Follow their podcasts here: Roxy’s podcasts
@pen_penelle
Classic beauty Penny is also positive about ageing and always looking gorgeous in her Instagram posts, loving fashion and pearls and loving her life during her 50s. She is a model at Australia’s first mature age talent agency Silverfox group, ‘style has no age limit’.
@damkolbe
Meet Diana, a beautiful senior lecturer, consultant and coach at educational master programs for teachers at a university in Holland. Diana epitomises our company’s support for powerful women in the workforce! She loves to inspire other women, walk in nature and visit museums to see contemporary and classic art.
Pearls and Dutch porcelain
The origin of Delft blue
Delft pottery is glazed pottery that was first made in the early 17th century in Delft, The Netherlands. The inspiration for the paintings came from Chinese porcelain, which was imported to The Netherlands using VOC vessels.
At the end of the 16th century, the Portuguese and later the Dutch were introduced to Chinese porcelain. This import of blue and white porcelain was fine and graceful and was immediately in high demand. Only the very wealthy could afford it. In the beginning, the Delft potters mainly applied oriental decorations to the porcelain, but later the images became more Dutch.
The best of both worlds
The tiles, pharmacy bottles, decorative plates, vases, candlesticks and crockery are especially famous. The first Chinese porcelain that the VOC transported to the Netherlands was made during the Ming dynasty. This explains why many of the Delft products, even long after the fall of this dynasty (1644), are decorated with typical Ming-like or Wanli motifs.
But Delftware is more than copies of Chinese porcelain. In the 17th century, Delft ceramic painters such as Isaac Junius, Frederik van Frytom and Arie de Milde managed to raise the quality of their products to unprecedented heights. Their end products are true works of art. Thanks to new painting and baking techniques, they always created unique pieces.
Examples of Chinese porcelain and Dutch Delft blue pottery
We have brought these two worlds together in our ‘Dutch Details’ collection: a unique collection of pearls with hand-painted porcelain and handmade silver ornaments. All jewellery is carefully made, especially for you. Each piece of jewellery is unique – an item to cherish! Because we design and make all collections in our own studio, we can adjust everything personally for you. Dutch design to be proud of!
This collection of jewellery is for anyone with an appreciation for Dutch culture and is also ideal as a unique souvenir or exclusive promotional gift, we have options for every budget. We ship worldwide and all jewellery is delivered in a beautiful matching gift box. Please contact us to discuss the possibilities.
Pearls and the different types
Natural and Cultured
Pearls can be divided into two groups. Natural pearls and cultured pearls. Often people are mistaken and think that cultured pearls are not “real” pearls. The difference between natural and cultured pearls is that natural pearls, as the name implies, are found in nature. Cultured pearls are cultivated in large waters in mussels and in oysters by pearl farmers.
Cultivated freshwater pearls in a mussel
Ecologically sound
The advantage of cultured pearls is that the people influence the environment in which the shells live. This allows the pearls to be of higher quality and to be more beautiful. In nature, it is difficult to find a high-quality pearl. When these are found, they are extremely expensive (think of sheiks and royal houses). Another reason that more cultured pearls are sold is that the extraction of natural pearls is not ecologically sound. Growing pearls can be ecologically sound, you can read more about this and about the growth of pearls in our blog “The Pearl farm”.
Another distinction is between saltwater pearls and freshwater pearls. Both can be found in nature and on farms. A fun fact, saltwater pearls are created in oysters and freshwater pearls in mussels.
Most pearls that are currently for sale in the world are grown at special pearl nurseries, these pearls are called cultured pearls. There are four main types of pearls that have been farmed. These are Akoya pearls, Tahiti pearls, South Sea pearls and freshwater pearls. The first three are sea pearls, the pearls in our collections are freshwater pearls.
Beertje, our studio cat, with a necklace made of round and baroque pearls.
Difference in shape
We are often asked what types of pearls are used in our collections and how you can recognise them. Everyone knows the round pearl as seen in a classic pearl necklace, think of Queen Elizabeth’s necklace and the pearls you probably saw your grandmother wearing on special occasions. The pearls in our collections include round pearls, baroque pearls and potato pearls, from small 2/3mm to large 12/14mm.
Ronde AAA-kwaliteit parels, herkenbaar aan de mooie ronde vorm en mooie glans.
Round pearls
Within the round pearls,k there is a huge difference in value, this is determined by the size, how perfectly round the pearl is and what kind of shine it has. Round pearls that are almost perfectly round and have the most beautiful shine are indicated by AAA quality. Round pearls are much rarer than all other shaped pearls, we have both very small AAA pearls (4-5mm) in our collection as well as very large round pearls (10-12mm).
Small and large baroque pearls, capricious and unpredictable in shape.
Baroque pearls
Baroque pearls are pearls of irregular shape. This irregular shape varies from small deviations to large, irregular, natural shapes. This pearl is often incorrectly referred to as a “wild” pearl, although the shape may appear “wild”, these pearls are also cultured. We love this surprising pearl and you will see it in our designs from very small (4 / 5mm) to very large (12 / 14mm).
On the left photo from top to bottom: baroque, round and potato pearls. On the right photo a combination of black baroque pearls with large round potato pearls.
Rice and Potato pearls
Rice pearls are elongated pearls and look a bit like a grain of rice, hence its name. The potato pearl has a round to oval shape and looks a bit like a potato. Both pearls come in different sizes and are used by us in both a small size and a very large size.
In the workshops we give, we work with beautiful baroque pearls, just like in our DIY packages.
Other pearls
In addition to the pearls mentioned above, there are many more pearls such as the nugget pearl (flat at the bottom and convex on the other side), coin pearls (shape of a coin), the Keshi pearl (poppy seed pearls) and many more. Perhaps in the near future we will dedicate a new blog to the many names of pearls.
In the first photo, an example of the natural colour of freshwater pearls, in the other photos examples of coloured pearls.
Coloured pearls
The natural colour of freshwater pearls is white, salmon, light pink and other light pastels. In addition, it is possible to obtain pearls in all possible colours. The colouring of freshwater pearls is done in two ways:
1- The first way is dyeing, pearls are treated with silver nitrate which is so strong that it penetrates into the pearlescent layers. Sometimes different dyes are used. Dyed pearls often have a higher concentration of colour around the borehole.
2- The second way of colouring pearls is by using y-rays or gamma rays. This is an invisible electromagnetic radiation. The result is a darkening of the outer layer of the pearl and a black-blue metallic sheen.
Coloured pearls retain their value and are therefore worth no less because of the treatment they have undergone.
Down Under
Proud to be Down Under
We are very proud to present our Pure Bohemian collection, which was specially designed for our fellow pearl connoisseurs Down Under. We hope to share with our Australian customers the idea that pearls are no longer a formal fashion accessory worn by an older generation, with one look at our products you will completely scrub out the mental image of a string of white pearls with twinsets and come explore a whole new exciting world of pearls…
The Pure Bohemian collection is designed specifically for our Australian customers using vegan suede with baroque freshwater pearls or a unique combination of pearls with crystal beads and charms, some designs can be worn as a necklace or wrapped around the wrist as a bracelet.
The collection is comprised of unique designs that capture the essence of the relaxed and laid- back lifestyle of Australians and their love for the ocean. This season’s colours reflect the three essentials of our living: the earth, the sky and the sea. Every item in the collection is accentuated with a beautiful charm featuring the Endless Knot. This is an old Tibetan symbol, a line without a beginning or an end, which signifies both calm and movement, while representing the idea that everything in this world is interconnected. This represents Proud Pearls’ concept of all cultures coming together as an inspirational way of life.
This avant-garde collection can be worn in the cooler months teamed with jeans, knitwear, or a plain shirt and boots. This bohemian collection is also perfect for the warm weather, as boutiques around Australia begin to stock our summer tones and styles. These pieces can be teamed with your togs, shift dresses, maxis, shorts or caftans. Each design is completely unique and handcrafted from the highest quality materials and hand-selected pearls.
This collection is diverse and offers a piece for every occasion. The range features classy combinations of vegan suede, authentic pearls, wooden beads and charms. All of our orders can be personalised upon your request! During one of our designer, Hannelore’s, visits to Australia, she identified a market for the beautiful freshwater pearl designs to be worn as everyday jewellery. The stunning landscape of Western Australia inspired her to design this unique pearl collection.
We are very proud to work together with our lovely wholesale managers: Tracey, Anna & Ilse. Proud Pearls are currently seeking exclusive stockists in the Netherlands, for more information or wholesale inquiries please contact us for individual retail sales.
Our favourite bestseller Down Under
Our bestsellers in the Proud Pearls range are the pearl wrap bracelets. Each item is handcrafted from the highest quality materials featuring hand-selected, genuine, baroque pearls and vegan suede. We have two different styles:
white pearl wraps (125cm length / 3mm wide braid)
black pearl wraps (140cm length / 4mm wide braid)
White Pearl Wrist Wraps
You can wear this as a necklace or wrapped around the wrist as a bracelet. This season’s colours reflect the three essentials of our living: the earth, the sky and the sea. Each white wrap bracelet features our logo charm and the Tibetan Endless Knot.
Black Pearl Wrist Wraps
We are proud to present our new black pearl wrap bracelets, these wraps are a little longer and wider for larger wrists and for an edgier look. These pieces are available in the following colours: chalk, stone, steel, onyx, midnight or a custom colour upon your request. Visit our “shop” page to discover both collections of white and black pearl wraps.
Ontdek unieke details zoals hout, kristal en edelstenen gecombineerd met hoogwaardig staal, faux suède en zoetwaterparels.
Bohemian Parels
Wine and Shine
The Vin Noir collection
Proud Pearls is very proud to release new designs in our unique jewellery range for wine lovers. Each design is hand-crafted with love in Holland from high-quality stainless steel. These pieces feature a stainless steel grapes-charm and genuine freshwater baroque pearls. The Vin Pearls collection is available in two colours: Vin Blanc and Vin Noir.
The Wine & Shine collection
Besides the Vin collection, we have released the Wine and Shine collection. Each design is hand- crafted with love in Holland. This collection features vegan suede and unique wine-charms: a wineglass, a bunch of grapes, a wine bottle and a corkscrew, combined with hand-selected, genuine, freshwater, baroque pearls and alluring crystal.
The Wine and Shine collection is available in several colours representative of favourite wines enjoyed by women all over the world.
• Prosecco-Silver with white pearls
• Sparkling Rosé with white and rose pearls
• Shiraz-Red with red pearls
• Pinot-Noir (black) with grey and black pearls,
• Champagne-Gold with white and rose pearls,
• Chardonnay-Green with white pearls
• Cognac-bronze with golden pearls.
Or custom colours by request.
Follow fans of @ProudPearls:
• The Travelling Corkscrew @travellingcorkscrew
• Fabulous Ladies Wine Society @fabladieswine
• Ferngrove and Killerby Wines @ferngrovewines
• Myattsfield Vineyards @myattsfield_vineyards
• Galafrey wines @galafreywines
• Sittella winery @sittellawinery
• Mistletoe Wines @mistletoewines
• The Lake House Denmark @lakehousedenmark
• Cheeky Monkey Brewery @cheekymonkeybeer
Contact us for more information about our other business gifts and to become part of our expanding list of wine-lovers.
Get in touch
• Interested in purchasing your own beautiful Wine and Shine Bracelet, or becoming an exclusive stockist of the Wine and Shine collection?
• Please contact us for more information we look forward to hearing from you.
