Pearl is generally valued based on their origin, formation and quality factors.
The three questions commonly asked by customers are
1) Difference between Natural and Cultured Pearl
2) What are Fresh water and Saltwater Pearl?
3) Whether treated or not?
The following blog is guidelines for buying Pearl.
Natural Pearl
They are formed accidentally and are rare to find.
When foreign objects such as worms, snails, crabs, fishes, tiny pieces of fish bones or tiny stones like pebbles, sand, etc. penetrate into the space between shell and mantle tissue, where they are trapped. To protect itself the mollusc secretes nacre to ease the irritant. This is a long process that finally forms pearl on the shell wall.
Another method of Natural pearl formation is when the foreign object tries to enter the oyster. The oyster creates depression in the mantle in which the irritant is trapped and forms a sac of mantle tissue (Nacreous layer) on irritant which in turn forms pearl.
Cultured Pearl
Cultured pearls are the ones that generally found in the market today. They are pearls formed due to human interference wherein nucleus is placed in gonad (reproductive part) of the pearl. Cultured pearl can be beaded and non beaded. Bead generally contains shell with mantle tissue of the donor oyster. Hence, like natural pearl, nacre surrounds the bead and forms pearl sac. Famous beaded cultured pearl are Akoya, South Sea and Tahiti.
Non beaded pearl: A small piece of mantle tissue from another mollusk as a donor for forming pearl sac, it is surgically implanted into the gonad (reproductive organ) of a mollusk.
Freshwater & Saltwater Pearls
These are two types available in the market. The difference is explained below:
| FRESH WATER PEARL | SALT WATER PEARL |
| Grown by mussels | Grown by oysters |
| Non Nucleated | Nucleated |
| Inserted between mantle and shell | Inserted in gonad (reproductive organ) part of the oyster |
| Grown in ponds, rivers, and lakes | Grown in sea, oceans. |
| Softer luster with less shine | Brilliant luster with good shine. |
| Thicker nacreous layer (almost full nacre) | Comparatively thinner nacreous layer |
| Lake Biwa and Lake Kasumigaura in Japan, China, United States (Mississippi River Basin). | Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the coastal waters of China, Japan, Thailand, India, Burma, Indonesia, and Philippines in Southeast Asia, as well as Australia and Tahiti in the South Pacific. |
| Produce 40 to 50 pearls in a mussel at a time | 1 0r 2 pearl in an oyster at a time |
| Different colors and different shapes | Limited colors and more or less spherical in shape |
| Cheaper | Expensive |
| Growth Period: 2-7 years | Growth Period: one year for akoya, 2–4 years for Tahitian and South Sea |
The process of nucleus with mantle tissue inserted forms a cultured pearl. Mussel is placed in the net and periodically checked. Once the pearl is ready, it is utilised in jewelry. The images below are of a pearl cultivation farm.
Treated or non treated?
Bleaching: Light coloured as well as white Pearls are bleached to make it more vibrant. Hydrogen peroxide solution is used to bleach the pearls to get desired results. The pearls are placed in the solution for a long period of time which changes the overall colour of the organic pearl. To achieve good colour it takes approximately one week to two months.
Irradiation on Pearl Stone
When light coloured pearls are exposed to gamma rays, the irradiated Pearls will achieve an iridescent bluish or greenish grey colour. Irradiation is used mainly for fresh water pearl.
Dyeing treatment: Pearls are porous and hence dye or oil can get absorbed giving pearl a beautiful lustre and colour uniformity. Pink pearl is dyed, especially to fufil demand of the the US market.
FOR PRACTICAL EXPOSURE FOR PEARL AND OTHER GEMSTONE, VISIT THE GEMOLOGY PAGE HERE.
