Pearls

Pearl necklaces and pearl bracelets are popular with young adults today.  The terminology used to describe the various types of pearls is quite complex and sometimes confusing.  Here is a brief description of the various types pf pearls on the market today.

Freshwater Pearls:  Freshwater pearls are produced in freshwater bodies such as ponds, lakes, and rivers.  China today is the leading producer of freshwater pearls in the world.

Saltwater Pearls:  As the name suggests these pearls are produced by mollusks that inhabit saltwater bodies such as rivers and oceans.  Most saltwater pearls today come from the sea off the coast of Bahrain.  Saltwater pearls are generally larger, have a more smooth and round shape, and generally more expensive than freshwater pearls.

Cultured Pearls:  In cultured pearls, the irritant needed to trigger pearl development is introduced into the shell of the oyster by man. Typically, a small bead is inserted into the soft body of the mollusk, triggering secretion of nacre and pearl formation.  A different technique is used for freshwater cultured pearls.  A tiny incision is made into the soft tissue of the mollusk, and a small fragment of tissue from different mollusk is introduced into the incision, triggering pearl formation.  The typical host mollusk may have 12 to 15 such incisions, and therefore produces multiple pearls.

Natural Pearls:  In natural pearls, the process of introducing the foreign body or irritant is left to nature with no human intervention.  Since this process is solely left to chance, natural pearls are quite rare, and therefore quite expensive.  Usually, one mollusk will only produce one natural pearl at a time, further increasing their rarity and value.  Natural pearls can be found either in freshwater or saltwater bodies.  Tahitian pearls are a subset of natural pearls, and are produced by a large mollusk found around Tahiti.  These pearls can be quite large, are famous for their dark colors, and can be very expensive.

It is important to know that “fake” or “faux” pearls are widely sold on the market today.  These beads are not pearls at all, and have no connection with mollusks.  They are created in a factory somewhere using artificial materials.  Reputable sellers will mark their fake pearls as such, while unscrupulous merchants will attempt to pass them off as genuine pearls.