Our grandmothers had worn and cherished pearls, but pearls have changed over the years. What used to be rare is now commonly found thanks to the cultured pearl. There was a time when many oysters would need to be opened to find that one delicate and precious pearl. Now, we are lucky to have pearls at our fingertips, easily available and much less costly.
Natural pearls are formed when an irritant makes its way into the flesh of the mollusk. The mollusk then creates a protective layer of nacre around this foreign object which then forms the pearl as we know it. These type of pearls are extremely rare and have been harvested over the years. If you do find a naturally formed pearl, it may be very expensive to purchase.
Cultured pearls have a similar process except the fact that the irritant has been placed into the mollusk’s tissue intentionally through a delicate surgical procedure. These are grown in pearl farms based in a water environment. Even after this surgical procedure, it is not guaranteed to grow a pearl and the quality varies.
The quality of the nacre dictates the quality of the luster (shine) which it turn determines the pearls value. But what we determine as beautiful has changed over the years. The perfect round smooth pearl was once thought of as the most beautiful. It may still have high value in regards to price range, but some find the unusual off shaped bumpy pearls the most interesting.
Fresh water pearls are formed in fresh waterways such as lakes, rivers and ponds. For this reason, they are called “fresh water pearls”. These are predominately made in China.
Another new development in recent years is the creation of the Swarovski Crystal Pearl. No, it is not a naturally formed product, but it is just as pretty if you like a blemish free pearl. Swarovski Crystal pearls are created by covering a crystal core with a pearl coating to imitate a naturally made pearl. These pearls are very durable and are resistant to scratches, perspiration and perfumes. Our grandmothers may remember cleaning their pearls with a soft cloth to remove the oils and perfumes that transferred over when wearing their beautiful strands of pearls. No need for this with the Swarovski Pearl. In comparison to a natural or cultured pearl, the depth of luster is not as high quality in the imitation pearls (Swarovski pearl).
The assortment of pearls is spectacular. Pearls come in white, cream and pastel colours. They can also be dyed in a wide array of shades including bright colours. The shapes can vary from smooth spheres to an organic bumpy irregular shape called baroque pearls.