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How are synthetic pearls made?
Synthetic is not a term used to describe imitation pearls. Synthetic, in the case of gemstones, is completely manmade, and it has to have the same structure, constituents, and chemistry as its natural counterpart. No cultured pearl is completely manmade. There is always human intervention, but the mollusk grows the cultured pearl. Of cultured pearls, only tissue-nucleated and keshis have the same structure, constituents, and chemistry as their natural counterparts, but they result from human intervention. So when the two criteria that determine a synthetic gem are applied, there is no cultured pearl or imitation that meets both. Therefore, no cultured pearl or imitation is a synthetic.
Are fresh water pearls better than cultured?
This is a common question and often consumers are misguided because Freshwater pearls are cultured pearls. Pearls either fall in the natural category or the cultured category. 99% of pearls today are cultured, meaning the mollusk natural pearl making process has been guided along by man. Cultured pearls consist of Freshwater, Akoya, Tahitian, and South Sea pearls among others. When shopping in a jewelry store or any retail environment (with the exception of estate jewelers), the pearls are going to be cultured.
How do i tell if a pearl is real?
naturally forming or cultured, such pearls are formed in the oyster or mussel and are not fakes. The real difference in the totally natural pearl and the cultured pearls is what makes the pearl start to grow and the thickness of the nacre. Nacre is the pearly layers that make a pearl so lovely. The natural pearl will have very thick nacre, generally forming in concentric rings around some starting source or irritation to the mollusk. A large natural pearl is very, very rare. Cultured pearls generally use a "core" of mother-of-pearl, the shell of the mollusk. The bead core goes into the mollusk and nacre is formed around the core. The core determines the overall shape of the pearl. How long the oyster is allowed to let the pearl grow determines the thickness of the nacre. Thicker nacre is better. Best of all is thick nacre and a smooth, almost blemish free surface. Pearls grown inside the mussel or oyster do have a gritty feel to the tooth. Fake pearls are made by coating a core of some sort (mother-of-pearl, plastic, etc.) with a plastic, a kind of paint containing ground fish scales or other stuff that look pearly to the eye. Generally, the fakes do NOT have a gritty feel to the tooth. Try rubbing or tapping your pearl (cultured or natural) against your tooth it will feel gritty indicating its real and if the pearl feels smooth it is fake but this requires some practice. Sometimes customers interested in buying pearls are concerned that they won't know the real thing from the imitation. Here are some tests to help you determine if you are looking at well-done 'fakes' or genuine pearls. Touch Test An old wives' tale says that if you hold real pearls in your hand, they will be cool to the touch for several seconds before warming up. Genuine pearls tend to warm with contact to the skin much faster than glass pearls. Resin or plastic pearls tend to feel somewhat warm upon first contact. This however is not a sure-fire method for checking authenticity. The Tooth TestRub the pearls lightly along the biting edge of your upper front teeth. If they feel slightly rough, sandy or gritty, it's likely they are cultured or natural pearls because of the layers of nacre that have formed over time. If they feel smooth or glassy, they are probably imitations. That's because the imitations are made by dipping a plastic or glass bead into some sort of paint, sometimes including iridescent fish scales. You will also get the same result (rough, sandy, or gritty) if two pearls are rubbing together.
How are pearls harvested?
Natural Pearls In the past, natural pearls were collected by pearl divers primarily in areas around the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea. Pearl divers would travel on a pearling vessel for weeks at a time, collecting shells from pearl beds. The shells were opened on board and the proceeds of the discovered pearls were split between the crew - not evenly, however. Today, natural pearls are primarily found as a byproduct of the fishing industry and to a smaller extent, local, intentional collection - especially in Central America. Cultured Pearls There are two varieties of cultured pearls; saltwater and freshwater. Their harvesting methods vary slightly. 1. SaltwaterSaltwater pearls are bead-nucleated pearls grown in the reproductive organ of saltwater mollusks. This is an organ in the body of the mollusk known as the gonad. When a pearl is harvested, the shell is opened slightly, an incision is made to the gonad and the pearl removed. In the case of Tahitian and South Sea pearl culture, a new nucleus is often inserted and another pearl is grown. In the case of akoya pearl production the mollusk is not renucleated. 2. FreshwaterFreshwater pearls are tissue-nucleated pearls grown in the mantle tissue organ of freshwater mussels. This is the large muscle that attaches to either side of the mussel's shell. Because this muscle is large, it may accept many implants, up to 16 on either side of the valve. When freshwater pearls are harvested, small incisions are made on the mantle and the pearls removed. Often the mussel is returned to the water to grow a second, bead-less regenerated pearl, or a CBSB beaded freshwater pearl.
What is the difference between satin nickel and pearl nickel?
Satin nickel has a matte finish with a slight sheen, while pearl nickel has a softer, more lustrous appearance with subtle pink undertones. Satin nickel is more modern and versatile, while pearl nickel has a warmer and more elegant feel.
Is there a difference in the value of a cultured pearl and a natural pearl?
Generally a natural pearl is more valuable than a cultured pearl of similar size because they are much rarer. These days nearly all pearl jewellery is made from cultured pearls from pearl farms in places like Darwin, Australia.
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.
What is hardness a pearl?
Answer A natural of cultured pearl's hardness ranges from 3.5 to 4.5 on Mohs' scale.
Where can one obtain cultured pearls?
Cultured pearls are pearls which are created by a pearl farmer. If you are looking for cultured pearl jewelry, which is much cheaper then natural pearl jewelry, you can find them at most jewelers, or even professionally appraised strands or earrings at your local Costco's jewelry department.
How do oysters form pearls?
­The formation of a natural pearl begins when a foreign substance slips into the oyster between the mantle and the shell, which irritate­s the mantle. The man­tle covers the irritant with layers of the same nacre substance that is used to create the shell. This eventually forms a pearl. So a pearl is a foreign substance covered with layers of nacre. Cultured pearls are created by the same process as natural pearls, with a slight nudge by pearl harvesters. To create a cultured pearl, the harvester opens the oyster shell and cuts a small slit in the mantle tissue. Cutting the mantle is enough to induce the nacre secretion that produces a pearl -- an irritant doesn't have to be inserted. While cultured and natural pearls are considered to be of equal quality, cultured pearls
How much is a cultured pearl worth compared to a natural one?
To calculate the value of a cultured pearl you must use the equation 2.52x(.24x+.004) x is the estimated value of the pearl. If you have any problems you can contact me at steven.hawking@genus.com
What specifically is a pearl's hardness?
Answer A natural of cultured pearl's hardness ranges from 3.5 to 4.5 on Mohs' scale.
Is a freshwater pearl necklace the same as a cultured pearl necklace?
No, they are different. Freshwater pearl refers to where the pearl came from originally and cultured pearl refers to an artistic technique that is done to the pearl in production.
What is a pearls lustre?
Answer The luster or "lustre" (British English) of a pearl is the quantity and quality of light that reflects from the surface or from just under the surface of a natural or cultured pearl.
How rare are pearls?
Natural pearls are very rare. They are, in fact, much more rare than diamonds. There is no scientific study available that definitively shows how rare a natural pearl is, but many experts believe it takes approximately 10,000 mollusks to find one fine natural pearl. However, in areas of Central America, there are places where natural pearls are much more prevalent. It is believe this is due to a higher parasitic concentration. Cultured pearls are not nearly as rare. In fact, all the pearls we see today in jewelry stores are cultured pearls. The natural pearl industry all but died nearly 100 years ago. Cultured pearls are pearls grown on farms where pearl mollusks are nucleated and then tended for a period of time, eventually producing a pearl.
How are synthetic pearls made?
Synthetic is not a term used to describe imitation pearls. Synthetic, in the case of gemstones, is completely manmade, and it has to have the same structure, constituents, and chemistry as its natural counterpart. No cultured pearl is completely manmade. There is always human intervention, but the mollusk grows the cultured pearl. Of cultured pearls, only tissue-nucleated and keshis have the same structure, constituents, and chemistry as their natural counterparts, but they result from human intervention. So when the two criteria that determine a synthetic gem are applied, there is no cultured pearl or imitation that meets both. Therefore, no cultured pearl or imitation is a synthetic.
Is a cultured pearl technically a gemstone?
yes
