Types of Pearls

Ah, pearls. Is there really a more timeless or elegant piece of jewelry that exists in the world? If so, we honestly can’t think of one other than diamonds! Pearls have been worn throughout the world by countless people, including royal families, ancient rulers, movie stars, the rich, the famous, and even you and I.

But what makes a pearl, a pearl?

First of all, pearls don’t only come from oysters, contrary to popular belief. In fact, pearls are made within the shells of specific kinds of mollusks. Oddly enough, pearls are made from the same compounds as clam shells, minute crystalline forms of composed calcium carbonate and come in a wide variety of colors such as white, purple, yellow, silver, pink, green, black, and even blue.

There are also different kinds of pearls, including fresh and salt water pearls. Salt water pearls only grow inside the shells of pearl oysters that live in oceans. You don’t need to travel to the depths of the sea to find them, however, seeing as they are most commonly cultivated in volcanic atolls and lagoons. Fresh water pearls, on the other hand, can only be found in areas with fresh, salt free water. They are commonly found residing in the shells of fresh water mussels living in lakes, ponds, rivers, etc. Two of the most popular places where fresh water pearls come from are Scotland, where pearl cultivating mussels are protected by law, and China.

There is an additional category of pearls, called natural pearls, which are comprised of 100% calcium carbonate and conchiolin. Unlike cultured pearls, natural pearls are much, much more expensive and rare. In fact, they are so rare that they are usually sold one at a time at high-end auctions to collectors.

Even in the history of the United States throughout the 1950’s the difference in price between cultured and natural pearls remained the same, with cultured pearls becoming increasingly popular amongst the middle and upper classes, while natural pearls were only owned by a niche, ultra-wealthy elite.

We hope that you’ve enjoyed learning more about the beauty and difference of pearls!