NATURAL PEARL TYPES
Since ancient times, pearls have been appreciated for their beauty and rarity. There are two main types of natural pearl: fine pearls and cultured pearls, each with very different characteristics and formation processes.
FINES PEARLS
Fine pearls are formed 100% naturally, without any human intervention. They appear when an irritant, such as a parasite or a grain of sand, accidentally penetrates the interior of a mollusc, be it an oyster or a mussel. To protect itself, the mollusc secretes layers of nacre (aragonite and conchiolin) around the intruding object. This process can take several years and, due to their unpredictable nature, these natural pearls are extremely rare and therefore very precious. Fine pearls are considered collector's items.
CULTURE PEARLS
Cultured pearls begin their formation process with human intervention, but their development is entirely natural. A nucleus (a rounded piece of shell or a sphere of another material) is inserted into the mollusk, which then secretes nacre around it.
Most popular types of cultured pearls :
Akoya pearls
Origin: Grown mainly in Japan and China.
Color: Generally white with cream or pink tones, they also come in blue, gray and silver.
Shape: Round or almost round.
Mollusc: Oyster Pinctada fucata.
Size: varies from 2 mm to 10 mm.
South Sea Pearls
Origin: Grown in Australia, the Philippines and Indonesia.
Color: white to gold, with silver and cream tones.
Shape: Round, oval, drop-shaped or baroque.
Shellfish: Pinctada maxima oyster.
Size: generally larger, from 9 mm to 20 mm.
Pearls of Tahiti
Origin: Grown in French Polynesia, mainly around Tahiti.
Color: Known for their black color, they also come in shades of green, blue, purple and gray.
Shape: Varies from round and oval to baroque.
Mollusc: Pinctada margaritifera oyster.
Size: Generally between 8 mm and 18 mm.
Freshwater pearls
Origin: Mainly grown in China, but also in the United States and Japan.
Color: white, but also in natural shades of pink, lavender and peach.
Shape: Wide variety of shapes, from round to baroque.
Mollusc: Hyriopsis cumingii mussel.
Size: 2 mm to 15 mm or more.
Mabe pearls
Origin: Grown in Japan, Indonesia and Australia.
Color: Mainly white, but can have pink and silver tones.
Shape: Semi-spherical, as they are grown attached to the oyster shell.
Mollusc: Pinctada margaritifera or Pinctada maxima oyster.
Size: Generally between 12 mm and 20 mm.
It is important to know that natural pearls are very fragile due to their composition. They are mainly composed of calcium carbonate, a relatively soft mineral that can be easily scratched, dissolved, or damaged by chemicals. This is why they require special care to preserve their beauty and durability.
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