http://www.globalgemtv.com/golden-south-sea-cultured-pearls.html | Pearls are formed by mollusks, such as oysters and clams. Naturally formed pearls are very rare, so most pearls used in jewelry today are cultured. Learn how these beautiful and beloved gems are formed and the different varieties of pearls available today.

2. Unlike most gems, which are found in mineral deposits deep within the surface of the
Earth, pearls are created by mollusks like oysters, clams, and mussels.
Pearls are formed by mollusks in both freshwater and marine environments, and oysters
by far produce the most pearls.
How exactly are pearls formed? Let’s explore.

3. To understand how pearls are formed, we first need to understand the basic
structure of an oyster.
Oysters are bivalves, which means they have two valves (shells) that open and
close. An elastic ligament holds the shells together, and the shells are often kept
open so the oyster can eat.
The oyster has an
organ called the
mantle, which
produces a
substance called
nacre. Nacre forms
the oyster’s shell and
also forms pearls.

4. The formation of a pearl starts when an “invader” such as a grain of sand or food particle makes
its way into the oyster’s mantle.
In order to protect itself, the oyster immediately begins to cover the invading particle with
layers of nacre, which is made of aragonite (ah-RAG-uh-nite) and conchiolin (KON-kee-uh-lin).

5. The result of this layering process over time is a beautiful pearl. The shape and size of a
pearl depend on the size of the mollusk and how long the pearl took to form.
Most pearls are not perfectly round—in fact, perfectly spherical pearls are extremely rare and
tend to fetch the most money. Pearls that are irregular in shape are called baroque pearls.

6. Given the rarity of naturally-formed pearls (only one of approximately every 10,000
mollusks will produce a natural pearl), most pearls today are cultured by “pearl farmers.”
Pearl farmers simply embed a grain of sand or another material into the mollusk to start the
process of pearl formation.
To increase their chances of getting large, round pearls, farmers implant large, perfectly
spherical objects in the mantle (which then becomes the pearl’s nucleus).

7. Pearls have been revered for
thousands of years as symbols of
wealth, status, and even religious
belief.
Archaeological evidence dating back
almost 6,000 years shows that
people in the Persian Gulf region
were sometimes buried with pearls
held in their right hand.
Pearls are loved today just as they
were in ancient times; in fact, pearl
jewelry is more popular today than at
any point in history.

8. Pearls come in a variety of
forms, shapes, and colors,
from both freshwater and
marine environments. Let’s
take a look at the different
types of cultured pearls.
Akoya Pearls: Saltwater
cultured pearl from the akoya
oyster. Considered the classic
pearl for necklaces and other
jewelry—often have a
perfectly round shape and
high luster.

9. Tahitian Pearls: Dark and exotic. Often referred to
as black, but can range in color from creamy white
to green to iridescent to deep black.
White South Sea Pearls: The
rarest of all pearl types, with an
extended growth period and
limited area for culturing. They
range in color from optic white
to deep honey gold.
Golden South Sea Pearls: Large and valuable pearls.
Warm and completely natural golden tones ranging from
yellow to champagne.

10. It’s not hard to understand the
enduring popularity of pearls.
Their iridescent glow and wide
color range make these versatile
gems beautiful both as the focal
point of pearl earrings, pearl
necklaces, and pearl pendants,
and as a complement to other
gems and precious metals in
jewelry pieces.
Pearls have a timeless beauty
that will undoubtedly continue
long into the future.

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