A pearl is the gem produced by oyster (the non-edible variety) in saltwater, or by a freshwater mollusc. In either case, a small foreign object (such as a tiny sea parasite from the ocean floor) finds its way into the shell, and then into the tissue of the mollusc. If the intruder becomes trapped, and the oyster can't rid itself of it, the foreign body becomes an "irritant." To ease the discomfort this irritant creates, the mollusc takes defensive action, and produces a blackish substance called conchiolin, over which another substance, a whitish substance called "nacre," is secreted. The nacre is composed of microscopic crystals, each crystal aligned perfectly with others so that light passing along the axis of one is reflected and refracted by the others to produce a rainbow like glow of light color. The pearl is the result of the build up of layer after layer of this nacre. The thicker the nacre, the more beautiful the pearl.
The pearl market is a "cultured" pearl market today
Most pearls sold today are cultured pearls. Natural; or "Oriental" pearls, as they are sometimes called, have become one of the rarest of all gems, with prices to match. Cultured pearls are much more affordable.
Freshwater pearls are cultured in a freshwater environment, as the name suggests. Grown in lakes, ponds and rivers, freshwater mollusks are nucleated by inserting a small piece of mantle tissue into a young mollusk's valve. This can be done up to 25 times per valve, although it is usual to limit insertions to 12-16 per valve. After the growth period the pearls are harvested, dyed (if required), drilled and strung for sale. Freshwater pearls are generally low quality, irregularly shaped and with a lesser luster than their saltwater cousins. As such, they fetch a much lower price, and so are in demand for costume Pearl Jewelry.
Saltwater pearls
Saltwater pearls are grown in marine mollusks, and are usually rounder and of a higher quality than freshwater pearls. This is because marine mollusks are nucleated with a small bead nucleus as well as the piece of mantle tissue which forms the bead sac, and having a round nucleus to form the scaffolding for the pearl reults in a round pearl being grown. There are multiple types of saltwater pearls available, which explains the confusion around what the various names for pearls actually mean.MORE:white pearl necklace
The pearl market is a "cultured" pearl market today
Most pearls sold today are cultured pearls. Natural; or "Oriental" pearls, as they are sometimes called, have become one of the rarest of all gems, with prices to match. Cultured pearls are much more affordable.
Freshwater pearls are cultured in a freshwater environment, as the name suggests. Grown in lakes, ponds and rivers, freshwater mollusks are nucleated by inserting a small piece of mantle tissue into a young mollusk's valve. This can be done up to 25 times per valve, although it is usual to limit insertions to 12-16 per valve. After the growth period the pearls are harvested, dyed (if required), drilled and strung for sale. Freshwater pearls are generally low quality, irregularly shaped and with a lesser luster than their saltwater cousins. As such, they fetch a much lower price, and so are in demand for costume Pearl Jewelry.
Saltwater pearls
Saltwater pearls are grown in marine mollusks, and are usually rounder and of a higher quality than freshwater pearls. This is because marine mollusks are nucleated with a small bead nucleus as well as the piece of mantle tissue which forms the bead sac, and having a round nucleus to form the scaffolding for the pearl reults in a round pearl being grown. There are multiple types of saltwater pearls available, which explains the confusion around what the various names for pearls actually mean.MORE:white pearl necklace
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