Jewellery Information

Below you will find a brief description of some the materials used by Pam Kerr Designs.

Paua is sometimes referred to as the opal of the sea due to the depth of its colour. Sourced from New Zealand, the paua that Pam Kerr Designs uses is a species of abalone (Haliotis iris). Its vibrant intensity of colours is unique to New Zealand paua due to the cold southern ocean. Each shell is unique in its pattern and colour tonings ranging from intense blues, greens and purples through to subtle pinks. The exterior of the shell is usually covered in hardened lime and is ground off to show its true beauty and colour. Inside the shell the colours are softer and more luminous.

Shimmering Mother of Pearl Shell

Mother of Pearl has a soft feminine look and complements any colour you may be wearing. Mother of Pearl comes from the shell of molluscs, such as marine clams and oysters. These grow in the warm waters around the Pacific Rim. The light rays reflected from different layers within the shell cause the iridescent shimmering effect.

Beautiful Freshwater Pearls

Pearls are highly regarded as gemstones, and have been associated with love for thousands of years. The beauty of pearls lies in their simplicity. They are found in the mussel or oyster. A small irritant is implanted inside the shell and the resulting layers of nacre form the pearl. True freshwater pearls are never perfectly round, and often have slight blemishes. The outside lustre of a pearl comes from an inner glow radiating outwards.

Pearl jewellery is best stored in a satin-lined box or coiled into a circle and wrapped in a soft cloth. These storage methods allow the pearls to breathe.

Tigertail Wire

Tigertail wire is used widely in Pam Kerr Designs jewellery. This delicate looking wire is a very strong stainless steel cable covered with a plastic coating. To help the tigertail wire to look its best, and for your continued pleasure, please follow these care suggestions:

• Take off jewellery before showering, bathing and sleeping. This helps prevent any accidental kinking or damage to the tigertail wire.
  
• Put on jewellery after makeup, hair spray and perfume.
  
• Store your jewellery flat, separate from other pieces. By doing this, a possible tangle-up can be avoided.