Pearls

Information About Pearls:

This is an organic gemstone which "grows" inside bi-valve mollusks, usually oysters. Traditionally this process has occurred naturally when grains of sand or other foreign objects get inside the animal's shell and gradually become coated with layers of nacre. A common practice in modern times is to "culture" pearls by farming oysters and purposely introducing contaminants into their bodies.

Round pearls are considered the most desirable and valuable; the larger the better. But pearls can occur in all shapes. Rice and "stick" shapes are among the the more common cultured pearl shapes.

COMMON COLORS: WHITE, PINK, BLACK (Tahitian). Slightly iridescent.

HARDNESS ON MOH'S SCALE: 3.5 to 4.0

SHAPES FOR CUTTING: N/A