What is a Pearl
By definition, a pearl is a gem formed in a mollusk. It is a small lustrous sphere of calcium carbonate that forms around a grain of sand in an ocean organism such as an oyster. The most exquisite and the most unique types of pearls are extremely valued, prized and treasured that’s why pearls symbolize great fineness, caliber, delicacy and distinction.
Types of Pearl
Shelled mollusk can definitely produce a “pearl”. However the gemstone pearls only comes from two groups of mollusk. One of these kinds is the pearl oyster, which lives in the sea. And the other one is the mussel, which lives in the freshwater. The pearls that are produced by these two groups are called the nacreous pearls. Nacreous pearls are divided into two kinds: the natural pearl and the cultured pearl. The former is a kind of pearl that is really rare because, as the name implies, the pearl is formed naturally without any intervention from people. These types of pearls are wild. The latter is the kind of pearl that has been formed and cared by humans on a pearl farm. Most of the nacreous pearls are cultured pearls.
Natural Pearls
Natural pearls are almost entirely calcium carbonate and conchiolin. It has been said that the formation of natural pearls has been formed only coincidence. It seems that a parasite entered, disrupted and settled inside a bivalve mollusk. The mollusk wounded up and emitted calcium carbonate and conchiolin to mask and bury the wound. The process is repeated many times hence the pearl is formed. This is the reason why there are only a very small percentage of perfectly round natural pearls.
Shapes
Cultured pearls have precise shapes because the workers in the pearl farm are trained to insert shell bead nucleus inside the mollusk. Once they’ve successfully implanted the bead, the mollusk will secrete calcium carbonate and conchiolin in the precise shape of the inserted bead. After half a year, the workers on the pearl farm will then cultivate the contoured pearls.
Value
The worth of the pearl depends primarily on its quality. Although an authentic pearl are quite rare and sporadic, its worth is equaled to the worth of other precious stones and gems. The assessment features of these pearls are the shape, size, quality of the outer surface, the place of origin and the gleam they produce.
Where
Nowadays, pearls are constricted at the seas of Bahrain, Australia and the Philippines. In fact, the largest pearl known and recorded was found in 1934 in the island of the Philippines. This pearl is not cultured but naturally secreted from a giant clam. Since this gigantic pearl is not from a pearl oyster, its surface does not feature the gleam of traditional pearls but a rather porcelain-like surface.
So enjoy thinking about these pearl facts when you wear your pearl jewelry!
Technorati Tags: Pearls, pearl facts, pearl jewelry
Post a Comment