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Natural pearls
Contrary to popular belief, a natural pearls is not formed by a grain of sand. This story is an urban legend.
A natural pearl forms inside a bivalve mollusk when the shell has been invaded by a parasite or damaged. The most common reason a natural pearl will develop is due to parasitic invasion.
The parasite wil burrow through the periostracum layer (outer layer) of a mollusk shell and into the mother-of-pearl beneath. When the parasite penetrates the mother of pearl in comes in contact with the mollusk's mantle muscle. This muscle contains cells known as epithelial cells. These cells produce a substance called nacre which coats the inside of the shell (mother-of-pearl) and is the substance of which a pearl is composed.
The parasite becomes lodged in this mantle muscle and dies. The mollusk's definsive reaction is to grow a sac around the intruder. This sac is called the pearl sac. Once the sac encases the intruder the cells begin to deposit nacre- which is composed of aragonite and calcite (a calcium carbonate compound) platelets.
Cultured Pearls
Cultured (marine) pearls are grown by inserting a rounded bead of mother-of-pearl and a piece of mantle tissue containing epithelial cells from a donor mollusk into the gonad, or reproductive organ, of a host mollusk. The donor tissue grows into a pearl sac around the bead. As in natural pearl production, this sac then deposits nacre.
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What country do akoya pearls come from?
Akoya pearls are cultivated mainly in Japan and China. Vietnam, Thailand, and Australia are beginning to cultivate Akoya pearls. Originally the first person to cultivate these pearls was Kokichi Mikimoto from Japan.
What are shelly pearls?
Imitation pearls made from sea shells; very popular on Okinawa.
What gem is made by oysters and how?
Pearls
What gem is made by oysters?
pearls
What are the gates of heaven made of?
Heavens gates are made of pearls
What mineral do pearls hold?
They are made of calcite.
What are bridal tiaras made of?
Bridal tiaras can be made of Pearl Tiaras (faux pearls, Freshwater Pearls, Keshi Pearls and Mother of Pearl), Crystal Tiaras (Swarovski Crystals,Austrian Crystals and Rhinestones) and any combination of this.
Are pearls in milkshakes made of plastic?
Actually, tapioca pearls are usually used in drinks, including some milkshakes.
Are the pearls in milkshakes made of plastic?
Actually, tapioca pearls are usually used in drinks, including some milkshakes.
What are crafted pearls?
"Crafted pearls" really refer to hand crafted pearls which generally connote pearls of quality and high grade. Machine made pearls on the other hand, are cheap in quality, often made of plastic and are used in low quality fashion jewelry and toys. For an excellent resource on pearls and hand crafted pearls, the history of pearls and pearl buying check out this pearl quality guide. It's one on a number of topics related to pearl jewelry http://www.uniquepearl.com/pearl-education/pearl-quality-guide.html
How do you know if the freshwater pearls you buy are real?
If a pearl is deemed Freshwater pearl, chances are, it is real. Freshwater pearls are the most affordable pearls available. If the pearls are described as faux, shell pearls, imitation, or anything other than cultured Freshwaters, then they are fake. More and more vendors are popping up selling shell pearls. Pearls that are described as "shell pearls" are not real. They are made from a compound of ground up shell and are faux pearls.
what is the difference between pearls made by nature of those made by humans?
So, the main difference between natural and cultured pearls is the way the secretion process begins. With natural pearls, the process takes place in the ocean, without any human intervention. On the other side, cultured pearls require the assistance of pearl farmers to begin the nacre-forming process.
