Cultured Pearl Jewelry

Pearls are natural gems. Unlike other gems that are cut, shaped and polished to bring color brilliance and shine. Basically, pearl is a natural product of an oyster’s body defense mechanism.

They grow inside their mother oysters with a shimmering iridescence, luster and soft inner glow that are unlike in any other gem on this earth. Natural pearls grow naturally in oysters living at sea without the human intervention. When any irritant or a parasite enters inside an oyster or mollusk then the process of natural coating begins with layer upon layer of nacre inside the oyster.

Natural pearls are rarely found now whereas cultured pearls are very real and genuine. These cultured pearls are formed with the human help when a nucleus is implanted inside the oyster and then the process of coating begins with layers upon layers of iridescent substance called nacre and it takes about 2-5 years to form a complete pearl depending upon techniques and where pearls are grown, sea or rivers among other conditions.

Reflection and refraction from the translucent layers truly determines the unique luster quality of pearls. The display of iridescence in pearls is result of overlapping of successive layers.

Difference in cultured and natural pearls can’t be made with naked eyes; however, distinction becomes very prominent when seen through x-rays. Cultured pearls are used in pearl jewelry as well as in cosmetics. One should also be careful about imitation pearls. Cultured pearls are generally in white colors but can be colored-enhanced in various colors.

All the pearls sold in USA and in other countries around the world are cultured pearls and are known by various names such as freshwater pearls, akoya seawater pearls etc. Freshwater pearls are generally grown in ponds, lakes or rivers whereas seawater pearls are grown under seawaters.

Freshwater pearls are known by freshwater pearls name only and seawater cultured pearls go by different names such as Akoya, Tahitian and South Seawater pearls depending upon the bivalve mollusks types producing them. No matter freshwater or seawater pearls, quality and price again depend upon the size, shape, luster, color and surface etc.

Cultured pearls are now available in high lustrous quality and much lower prices than ever before. Buy Cultured Pearl Jewelry - Quality Par Excellence!

By Kheri Chawla