How are Pearls Formed
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| how pearls are formed |
There are
basically three types of pearls:
- Natural
- Cultivated and
- Imitation.
Information on Pearls
Natural
pearls are formed when an irritant is generally a parasite and not the
proverbial grain of sand which turns into an oyster, a mussel, or a clam. As a
defense mechanism, a fluid is used to coat the irritant. This coating of the
layer after layer, called “mother-of-pearl”, is a shiny pearl formed until its
deposit.
A cultured
pearl undergoes the same process. The only difference is that the irritant is a
pearl or a piece of surgically implanted shell called Mother of Pearl. These
"seeds" or "stones" are most often formed from mussel
shells. Quality cultured pearls require sufficient time, at least for 3 years,
to be deposited on a thick layer of mother-of-pearl, which gives a beautiful
gem-quality pearl.
Lower-quality pearls have often been "rushed" from the oyster too quickly and have a too-thin layer of mother-of-pearl.
Lower-quality pearls have often been "rushed" from the oyster too quickly and have a too-thin layer of mother-of-pearl.
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| pearls are formed from oysters |
Pearls can
come from salt or freshwater sources. Historically, saltwater pearls were
rounder and had better mother-of-pearl than freshwater pearls, while freshwater
pearls tended to be very irregular in shape, with the most common puffed rice
appearance... However, improved harvested techniques for freshwater pearls
have narrowed the gap, with freshwater pearls now showing great roundness and
deep luster.
The
cultivation process of pearls generally takes several years. Mussels must reach a mature
age, which can take up to 3 years, and only then can they be implanted or
receive an irritant. Once the irritant is in place, the pearl can take up to 3
years to reach its maximum size and thickness of mother-of-pearl.
Imitation
pearls are a whole different story. In most cases, a glass bead is dipped in a
solution based on fish scales. This coating is thin and may eventually wear
out. You can usually tell by rubbing it on your teeth. The false pearls slide
on your teeth, while the pearls on the mother-of-pearl are grainy.
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