Pearls - A beautiful jewelry choice
Pearls are a classic, simple and tasteful addition to any outfit that can be worn by anyone for any occasion. They are perfect for a wedding, dinner party, romantic date, or in the office.
Pearls are produced deep inside the Earth and are created by living creatures called mollusks. Mollusks commonly have a soft body and a hard exterior shell, such as a clam has. These animals live in the sea and freshwater habitats as well as on land. Any mollusk that produces a shell can produce a pearl. Nevertheless, naturally occurring pearls are rare, found in perhaps one of every 10,000 animals. The cultured pearl industry, which has flourished since the early twentieth century, has developed techniques to greatly improve these odds.
Pearls hardly ever result from the intrusion of a grain of sand into an oyster’s shell. Instead, a pearl forms when an irritant such as a food particle becomes trapped in the mollusk. The animal senses the object and coats it with layers of aragonite and conchiolin. These two materials are the same substances the animal uses to build its shell.
Because a pearl is the product of a biological process, its surface often shows minor imperfections. When a mollusk secretes the microscopic layers that make up a pearl, each layer does not always encircle the entire pearl. These uneven layers create additional irregularities on the surface. As a result, it is easy to distinguish a real pearl from an artificial one by rubbing it gently across your teeth; a real pearl will feel gritty and an artificial pearl will feel smooth and slippery.
Pearls come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. Most people think a pearl is round, but they are actually more irregular. A perfect pearl is extremely rare. The size and shape of a pearl depends on the species of mollusk that produces it, how long it took to form and the size and shape of the particle that started formation.
Pearls can be many colors—white, gold, black, purple. The color depends on the species of mollusk and the environment in which it lives. A pearl has a natural luster which gives it a unique beauty. Because of their shape, they easily reflect light, giving them a shimmering affect.
Because of their rarity, imitation pearls have been made for many years. Whether you choose imitation or the real thing, you can’t go wrong with pearl necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Pearls are always in and make a tasteful statement to any outfit.