Pearl jewelry has been given as gifts and worn with pride since the first pearls were fished out of the oceans. Today, pearl jewelry made from saltwater pearls from the South Pacific are the most prized, while freshwater pearls are also sold at more affordable price points. While saltwater pearls are most valuable due to their uniformly round shape, freshwater pearls often are more irregularly shaped. These freshwater pearls often are oblong, flat, or even rectangular. The most classic piece of pearl jewelry is the string of white pearls, formed into a necklace. Pearl necklaces are considered an appropriate gift for a woman upon graduation from college, engagement to be married, or for her wedding. Pearl necklaces are worn proudly for years, before being passed down as heirloom items to th