Pearls

Pearls

• A pearl is a hard shelled object found in mollusks
• They are composed of calcium carbonate in crystalline form

How natural Pearls are made

• Natural pearls occur in the wild and are very rare
• Natural pearls are made when a parasite or grain of sand enters a mollusk and the mollusk secretes calcium carbonate to cover it. The calcium carbonate builds up over time and creates a pearl.
• These very specific conditions make natural pearls very rare.

Cultured Pearls

• There are a number of ways that cultured pearls are made.
• A common way is to put a small bead in the mantle or gonad of the oyster.
• The oyster releases a few layers of nacre over the bead.
• Cultured pearls only take 6 months to harvest

How much pearls cost

• Because natural pearls are very rare they cost a lot more than cultured pearls
• Natural Pearls can range from $400 to $33,000 or more depending on size.
• Cultivated pearls can be from $35 to $10,000. They are appraised by how shiny they are.