| Today, there are 2 ways pearls are developed. | | | | saltwater oysters- One of the worlds finest type |
| The first, and the original way is by nature, hence | | | | of pearls, they command a higher price than their |
| the term natural pearls. A pearl is created through | | | | freshwater counterparts mainly for a couple of |
| a living creature called a mollusk, which is a hard | | | | reasons: They are rounder, have a higher luster |
| shell invertebrate animal similar to an oyster or | | | | and their mollusk cannot produce as many pearls |
| mussel found in rivers and lakes. When a sea | | | | at one time. |
| parasite finds its way and lodges itself inside the | | | | Biwa Pearls are grown in freshwater lakes and |
| oyster it becomes an irritant to the mollusk. The | | | | derive their name from Lake Biwa in Japan |
| mollusk, to soothe itself from this intruder, starts | | | | Barocque Pearls is any pearl which is not round |
| to produce a black substance called conchiolin over | | | | and has an interesting or unusual shape. |
| which another matter called nacre is secreted. | | | | Tahitian Pearls from Polynesia which are mostly |
| The continual secretion of this nacre is what | | | | charcoal in color and are well sought after. They |
| eventually produces a pearl. It takes many years | | | | are one of the most beautiful and expensive pearl |
| for this process to produce a pearl large enough | | | | varieties around. |
| to use in jewelry. | | | | South Sea Pearls from countries such as |
| The second way pearls are developed is similar to | | | | Indonesia, Australia, Myanmar and other countries |
| the first except, the process is helped along by | | | | in the Pacific. |
| science. Instead of waiting for a sea creature to | | | | Mabe Pearls (pronounced mah-BAY) is a dome |
| enter the mollusk on its own, the shells are | | | | shaped pearl available in many shapes. |
| injected with a mother of pearl bead called the | | | | Abalone Pearls (pronounced aba-lon-ee) one of the |
| nucleus to start the same process. Cultured pearls | | | | most beautiful pearls because of its rich peacock |
| are developed by this method. Today, most of | | | | and green hues. These pearls actually originate |
| the pearls that we see on the market are | | | | from a type of edible oyster. |
| cultured pearls. | | | | There are also a lot of imitation pearls on the |
| Pearls come in many shapes and sizes and are | | | | market, These are generally made up of glass |
| either from saltwater or freshwater lakes. | | | | and have a shine to them but not an inner glow |
| Generally, the rounder the pearl, the more | | | | like a real pearl.. The best way to tell if they are |
| expensive it is, although there are many irregular | | | | real or fake is to do the tooth test: Carefully run |
| shaped pearls that have a high price tag. Below I | | | | the pearls along the bottom of your upper teeth, |
| have listed some of the most well known pearl | | | | if they feel smooth, they are probably fake, if |
| types as well as a brief description of each. | | | | they have a gritty, sandy texture then chances |
| The Akoya Pearl from Japan produced by | | | | are they are real. |