Pearls guide

A nacreous, organic gem formed in the body of a mollusk

What is the different between "natural pearl" and "cultured pearl"?

Natural pearl: A pearl that forms without human assistance.	Cultured Pearl: A pearl formed as the result of human intervention in the formation process.

ARAGONITE: A crystallized form of calcium carbonate in the nacre.

BEAD NUCLEUS: A mother of pearl shell

CONCHIOLIN: The organic "glue” in nacre that holds aragonite platelets together.

NACRE: The natural substance produced by mollusks to make pearls

Base on the definition, 99.99% of pearls in the market today are cultured pearl !!!

The detection between natural and cultured pearl is using the x-ray or look at the drill-hole, if you can see the bead nucleus it is cultured pearl. If you cannot see the bead maybe natural or cultured? you cannot tell.

THE 4 MAJOR TYPES OF CULTURED PEARLS:

AKOYA:

Common color - white, cream, light yellow, light grey

The classic akoya (finest quality) is white color with rosé (pink) overtone and excellent luster

Akoya pearls are produced mainly in Japan and China

Typically size range from 2 mm to 10 mm, with an average size of 6 mm to 7 mm.

Akoya pearls are the highest percentage of spherical (round) shape, about 70% of all products

SOUTH SEA:

Common color - golden, silver, white, cream, light yellow, light grey

South Sea pearls typically have a soft, satiny luster.

South Sea pearls are produced principally in Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Australian South Sea pearls typically range from 8 mm to 18 mm, with most falling between 10 mm  and 15 mm.

Indonesian and Philippine South Sea pearls are typically about 2 mm smaller.

TAHITIAN:

Common color - black, and all of dark colors

Tahitian pearls are produced mainly in French Polynesian lagoons and the Cook Islands.

Tahitian pearls typically range from 8 mm to 14 mm, with an average size of 9.5 mm.

In the trade, the colors have names like: Peacock - dark green gray to blue gray bodycolor and rosé to purple overtones Aubergine - dark grayish purple bodycolor Pistachio - yellowish green to greenish yellow bodycolor

FRESH WATER:

Common color - white, cream, yellow, orange, and purple.

Chinese freshwater pearls typically range from 4 mm to 11 mm.

China produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s freshwater pearls, with small crops also produced in Japan and the US

By the late 1990s, the quality of Chinese fresh water pearls had been steadily improving. High-quality round and near-round with very attractive colors had appeared on the market.

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