Learn About Pearls

Learn About Pearls

All About Pearls

Pearls are the only precious gemstone formed by a living creature. Oysters create pearls by secreting layers of nacre, a shiny substance, around an irritant. Over time, the nacre collects into a shimmering pearl.

Pearls used to be extraordinarily rare: Only 1 in 10,000 wild oysters contains a pearl. Divers could search their entire lives without ever finding one of these precious treasures! However, in the early 20th century, the invention of oyster farming revolutionized the jewelry industry. Nowadays, oyster farms are home to millions of pearl-producing oysters. Pearls are not abundant, affordable, and just as beautiful as ever.

Pearl strands and pearl earrings are some of the most timeless and refined pieces of jewelry on the market. They are a popular first jewelry gift for girls, and they’re also often used as wedding jewelry. Pearls are softer than other gemstones and should be handled with care, but as long as they are properly maintained, they can last a lifetime.

There are four main types of pearls to choose from.

Akoya Pearls
Freshwater Pearls
South Sea Pearls
Tahitian Pearls

Akoya pearls are cultured (farmed) in Japan, the birthplace of oyster farming. They are known for being larger and rounder than other types of pearls, and for their white, cream, or pinkish coloration. They’re also more lustrous than other types of pearls. Combined, these factors make Akoya pearls more expensive than freshwater pearls.

Lustrous and available in a wide array of colors and sizes, freshwater pearls are cultured in the United States, China, and Japan. Natural shades include white, cream and peach, as well as a range of pink and purple hues. These are the most affordable pearls on the market.

South Sea pearls may be cultured or found in the wild. They’re found in the waters around the Philippines, Australia, Myanmar and Indonesia. They are made by a particular species of oyster called pinctada maxima oysters. These oysters are very large, and the pearls they produce are also notably bigger than those produced by other species. They come in unique shades of gold and silver, as well as white.

Found in or cultured around the waters of Polynesia, Tahitian pearls are formed by pinctada margaritifera oysters, also called black-lipped oysters. These oysters produce pearls in darker shades like gray, peacock blue, green, brown, and black. They are some of the rarest and most expensive pearls on Earth.

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Learn About Pearls

All About Pearls