Pearl

Everyone seems to love the classic elegance and beauty of a strand of pearls. 

General Information 

Pearl is formed in shellfish as a reactant to an irritant such as a piece of sand. This then creates a pearl as layers of the inside of the shell grow over the added substance. Pearl colour varies depending on the type of shellfish and water. 

Cultured pearls are pearls that grow around a nucleus that has been manually placed within an oyster or mussel. The practice of inducing pearl growth is an ancient one, dating back to the 13th century Chinese, but was only perfected in the early part of this century by the Japanese. Prior to the advent of modern culturing techniques, a round nucleus, usually composed of clam or oyster shell, was placed between the the mantle and shell of the bivalve and allowed to grow for 2 or 3 years. The nacre which coated the pearl also coated the shell lining, resulting in a pearl that was attached to the shell (a blister pearl). In modern cultured pearls the nucleus, which is a bead composed of freshwater clam shell wrapped with a strip of the mollusks mantle, is placed within the mantle or gonad of the bivalve, away from the shell, allowing it to grow freely. Blister pearls, which are hemispherical in shape, are used today in ear rings, rings, and brooches, where only a half-pearl is necessary. A variant of cultured blister pearl is the Mabe Pearl, an assembled cultured pearl made by removing the nucleus of the blister pearl, painting the inside of the nacre coating with dye or pearl essence (see below), filling the opening with epoxy or other resin, and covering the base with a piece of mother-of-pearl.

    The size of cultured pearls depend on the size of the nucleus used, the species of mollusc, the temperature and chemistry of the water, and the time allowed for growth. Several pearls may be grown in a single oyster, but because the amount of nacre secreted by an oyster is constant, the size attained by multiple pearls in an oyster is smaller than for a single nucleus over the same time. Japanese culturing techniques vary, but in general nuclei remain in the oysters from 2 to 7 years before being extracted. For "nucleated pearls", those containing a shell bead as a nucleus, only about 1 in 4 oysters produce a cultured pearl. For non-nucleated pearls, a strip of mantle is inserted into the mantle of a freshwater mussel. About 80-90% yield pearls using this technique.

    Cultured, non-nucleated, freshwater pearls (generally referred to as simply freshwater pearls, despite the fact they are cultured) are small and irregularly shaped, resembling rice krispies in form. These are typically harvested after 12-18 months of growth; those from the Lake Biwa region of Japan are referred to as "Biwa" pearls.

 The price of pearls vary widely as a result of lustre, size, how they were grown, colour and type. Natural pearls are the most expensive, followed by cultured pearls. Fresh water pearls tend to be relatively inexpensive.

The shape of a pearl depends on two factors: 1) the shape of the irritant nucleus around which the nacre is deposited; 2) whether or not the pearl has moved during its growth. An irregularly shaped nucleus or shifting of the pearl during growth can both lead to an irregular, or baroque shape. Most natural pearls are not perfectly round for these reasons.

Some say rubbing a pearl against their teeth can determine whether a pearl is real or fake since fake ones will feel too smooth. Fake pearls will usually be either too heavy (inside is filled with glass) or too light (inside is plastic). The most reliable method of testing if a pearl is natural or cultured is a combination of the X-radiography and X-ray fluorescence testing procedures.

Pearls are less durable than most gems. They are sensitive to acids, dryness, and humidity. If you wear cosmetics and/or perfume, put these on before wearing your pearl jewellery. When taking off your pearls, wipe them with a dry, lint-free cloth. If needed, clean your pearls with warm soapy water being very careful to not get water into the drill hole as the pearl may discolour. Dry your pearls flat on an absorbent soft (preferably lint-free) towel.

Always store your pearl necklaces flat as the silk will stretch. Store pearls separately from other jewellery as they will scratch. Store pearls in a dry environment. Avoid using plastic bags (as moisture may get trapped and cause damage).

Where Pearls are found

The most historically important source for fine natural pearls is the Persian Gulf, where pearl oysters were once found in great abundance off the coast and islands of present day Bahrain. The creamy white pearls from these oysters are still considered the finest natural pearls in the world and command premium prices. Other historic and present-day sources for fine natural pearls are the Gulf of Manaar (Sri Lanka), and the Red Sea. More recent important sources include the north and northwest coast of Australia, with lesser production from Burma, Tahiti, New Guinea, Borneo, and Venezuela. Pearls of different colours are often associated with their place of origin; Persian Gulf pearls are creamy white; Sri Lankan are a paler white; Australian are white or silvery; Tahitian and Mexican are grey-black to reddish-brown; West Indies are rose red with wavy lines; "Indian" (actually Sri Lankan) may be a faint rose colour.

Japan has traditional been and continues to be the largest producer of both nucleated and non-nucleated cultured pearls. The single most important more recent producer is Australia, where warmer coastal waters and a slightly larger indigenous species of oyster currently yield cultured pearls of exceptional colour (silvery white), size (up to 10-12 mm in diameter) and lustre. These are sometimes referred to as "South Sea Cultured Pearls" and are distinctive for their size and colour. In recent years China has begun to produce commercially significant quantities of cultured freshwater pearls and should become a market force in the future.

Anniversary Gemstone for Pearl

Fresh Water Pearl is the anniversary gemstone for the 1st year of marriage; Pearl is the anniversary gemstone for the 3rd, 12th and 30th year of marriage.

Pearl Mystical Properties

Pearl is said to help one see themselves and help improve self-worth. Giving a loved one a gift of natural pearls is one of the nicest gifts one can give. It allows the wearer to see the love of the person who gave them the pearls.

More Pearl Lore

Pearls were once thought to be the tears of God

Pearl is often referred to as the "Queen Gem"; Diamond is referred to as the King Gem.

As an emblem of modesty, chastity and purity, the Pearl symbolizes love, success, and happiness. They often symbolize a happy marriage and in many countries are used as a wedding gift.

Tennessee Pearl is the US State Gemstone of Tennessee.