Showing posts with label pearls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pearls. Show all posts

How Pearls Are Formed From Oysters

How are Pearls Formed


How are pearls formed, how are pearls harvested, information on pearls, pearls, how pearls are formed
how pearls are formed


There are basically three types of pearls:
  1. Natural
  2. Cultivated and
  3. 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.

How are pearls formed, how are pearls harvested, information on pearls, pearls, how pearls are formed
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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