Samantha Rose Designs, Inc. is borne out of a convergence of design talent and friends coming together to recognize a common passion for jewelry and jewelry design.
We are a trusted American company that brings together fresh, inspired jewelry products from around the world. SamanthaRose.us is dedicated to providing high-quality, exclusive pearl jewelry to everyone.
Samantha Rose features pearl accessories like pearl necklaces, pearl earrings, pearls bracelets, bridal jewelry and limited edition pearl pieces.
ABOUT PEARLS
Pearls in History
Pearl Formation | Color | Luster | Clarity | Shape | Size | Care for Pearls
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Pearls are organic gems that have been esteemed for their beauty and rarity for thousands of years. The natural pearl was a treasure of almost incomparable value to ancient cultures that spanned the globe from China to Rome, the Arab world to the Americas. Sometime in the late 19th and early 20th centuries Japanese researchers discovered a method of producing pearls artificially. Thus the process of pearl farming began, making the beauty of pearls affordable and accessible. Prior to the creation of cultured pearls, natural pearls were so rare and expensive that only the aristocracy or the very rich could afford them. A 16-inch strand of perhaps 50 pearls with a price range of approximately $500-$5,000 today would have financed an entire military campaign during the peak of pearl popularity during the height of the ancient Roman Empire. What was once an exclusive luxury can now be enjoyed by many, thanks to the innovations of modern pearl production. |
Pearls develop inside mollusks such as oysters and mussels. They are formed when an irritant, like a tiny stone or a minute particle of sand, enters the mollusk’s shell. A lustrous substance, called nacre, is secreted around the object to protect the soft internal surface of the mollusk and as layer upon layer of nacre coats the irritant, a pearl is formed. Light that is reflected from these overlapping layers produces a characteristic iridescent luster. This process of building a solid pearl can take as long as seven or eight years. Natural pearls form when an irritant accidentally enters the mollusk, while the irritant is artificially introduced to stimulate the growth of a cultivated pearl.
The ancient Chinese developed the technique of cultivating pearls as early as the 12th century B.C.E. The process starts with “nucleation”. After this seeding process, pearl farmers place the mollusks in wire-mesh baskets, suspend them in water and tend them for pearl development for 18 months to 5 years. The thickness of the nacre coating—an important factor in determining the value of pearls—depends on how long the seeded pearls are left in place before being harvested. Pearls are not judged by the common quality criteria of gemstones (color, cut, clarity and carat weight). Rather, a pearl is appraised according to color, luster, surface clarity, shape and size.
Primary body color for pearls can be white, cream, pink, rose, golden, silver, grey and black. Secondary body color refers to the surface sheen which is a result of subtle iridescence. The affect of color on pearl price varies, and it is advisable to compare pearls of the same type and color when comparing the prices of pearls.
Luster is the pearl’s natural shine and brilliance. The higher the luster, the stronger and sharper the light reflection and contrast between the bright and dark areas of the pearl. Pearls with low luster appear chalky and dull. Pearls with a higher luster are recommended.
The fewer and smaller the flaws, the more valuable the pearl. Cultured Akoya pearls may have fewer flaws than natural pearls because the latter have been in the oyster long enough to develop blemishes. Cultured pearls from the South Seas may also posses more flaws than Akoyas.
Rounder and more symmetrical pearls have higher value. However, some asymmetrical shapes have become increasingly desirable, especially in unique jewelry applications.
Like other gems, pearl size is intrinsically linked to value. The bigger the pearl the more desirable it becomes. However, there is one important difference: pearls are measured and assessed by their size (e.g., in millimeters) and not by their weight.
The organic substance in pearls makes it prone to change, especially to drying out. This can lead to what experts call the “aging” of pearls, the shortening of its useful, desirable life. Remember to wipe pearls with a soft damp cloth after wearing them. Avoid hot steam, bleach, chemicals, ammonia based cleaners and acids. Also, avoid hair spray, perfumes and cosmetics. It is best to put your pearls on last, after the application of these substances. To protect your investment, have your jeweler check your strands or setting, in case it comes loose. There is no guarantee of the length of the life of pearls but their beauty can last approximately 150 years. With proper care, this life span can be extended.
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MEET THE SAMANTHA ROSE TEAM
Rachel Ball | Ric Buraga | Candace Bucchan | Jay Canizares | Rochelle Farrales | Melanie Friebe | Na'shica Jackson | Philip Ruiz | Skippy Yu | Rowena Raroque-Watters
Rachel brims with creative energy. Her design vision has helped facilitate the redesign of the website and a variety of print and online materials that are both beautiful and functional.
Rachel is completing her degree in business with a concentration in marketing. She works as the liaison between the executive and creative areas of Samantha Rose, directing the skill and passion of an international web of artistic contributors to present the elegant face of Samantha Rose Designs to the public.
With her excellent ability to grasp and visualize opportunity, Candace will be instrumental in bringing about new ventures. As a native of Trinidad and Tobago, she has a very diverse background and a sense of multi-cultural ideas and concepts. With many great ideas and a "can do" attitude, Candace is sure to bring a positive vibe as our Manager of Business Development.
With an MBA in Marketing Management, she will add great insight into Samantha Rose Designs and take our Brand and Image to the next level. From ads to events, from networking to design, from selling to promoting, there's nothing Candace is afraid to get involved in, when it means taking Samantha Rose to new Heights.
Technology is Ric’s language, and the web is his chosen space. Ric is our guru on all things tech and we are thankful that he also nurtures his creative side through the management of our blog sites.
Analytical, considerate and always deliberate, our Ric also has multiple postgraduate degrees from the University of the Philippines and Nagoya University. We are fortunate to have him on our team.
No one looks at the world quite like Jay. His eye for color and light brings consistently fresh perspectives to our already fabulous collection. Young, passionate and highly creative – Jay works to tell Samantha Rose Designs’ story through his magic lens.
There is no stopping Rochelle. She has opened three jewelry and accessories store this year alone, and is still going strong. Her flawless taste in jewelry is reflected in hand-picked and custom-designed items that have consistently been in strong demand. She is highly successful and is now taking her designs to our shores. We are very pleased to add Rochelle to our family of designers.
Few organizations ever enjoy the privilege of top notch start up teams, as Samantha Rose Designs has. Melanie brought with her an expertise and discipline that helped to shape a motley group with diverse ideas into a functional unit.
Melanie was born in Munich where she graduated with a Master’s degree in Business Economics. She eventually moved to Dallas to complete post graduate studies in Human Resources. Now re-settled in Germany, she continues to provide guidance and will undertake the challenging task of directing our site’s visibility in the virtual universe.
Oh, but where would we be without Na’Shica. Our resident psychologist, she starts the day for us and keeps us on our toes. Ever reliable and always there when we need her. And just when we thought we had pigeon-holed her into delightful predictability, she springs upon us a new talent: Na’Shica has just joined our group of writers. Welcome to the creative divide!
Somewhere between an order confirmation and our jewelry arriving at your front door, Philip does his magic. He makes sure that precious jewelry pieces are in stock, sorted, organized and ready to go. Not only does he watch over every package leaving our warehouse, he works to ensure that orders arrive on time and in perfect condition.
Among the members of the Samantha Rose team, Skippy has the enviable task of taking the creative to the next level – that of the organized and the efficient. She works her magic behind the scenes, behind the website, and behind the creative team.
Skippy began her career in Employee Relations in Singapore before moving to the retail sector in Hong Kong. She earned her MBA from the prestigious Asian Institute of Management. Since then, she has worked in Manila, and is now in Dallas.
Samantha Rose has found another gem in Skippy.
At age five, Rowena received her first pearl studs from her mother. Rowena was mesmerized with the magical beauty of the perfectly round, creamy gems that were born from southern Philippine waters. It was the beginning of a love affair with pearls and gems that finds fulfillment in the founding of Samantha Rose Designs, Inc.
Pearls are the centerpiece of Samantha Rose Designs, and Rowena is our globe trekker, treasure hunter and chief. During her travels, she finds them all: the very best pearls, precious metals and semi-precious gemstones that combine to create the unique, limited-edition pieces that we take so much pleasure in bringing to you.