Ocean Pearl

Pearls have been highly valued as gemstones since antiquity, and their allure and beauty has always been magnified by the difficulty of obtaining them in early times. Unlike most other gemstones which are minerals, Pearls are organic and are formed by living organisms. They are generally formed within the soft tissue layer of mollusks such as oysters and mussels. Pearls are composed of calcium carbonate (in the form of Aragonite) and organic conchiolin that build up as concentric layers as they are secreted by their host.






Color: White, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Brown, Pink, Purple, Gray, Black, Multicolored

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Though Pearls occur naturally in the wild, their occurrence is very sporadic and limited. Almost all Pearls currently available on the gemstone market are cultured. Cultured Pearls are produced by inserting a foreign substance known as a nucleus within the body of an oyster or mussel, which in turn causes the organism to grow a pearl around the nucleus. Oysters are cultivated and harvested in mass numbers for the purpose of growing Pearls within them.

Pearls come in many different colors, and these are often broken down by variety. One of the most popular forms of Pearls is the Akoya Pearl, which originates from Japan and China. Akoya Pearls occur naturally in white, and are sometimes treated to look black or a very dark blue. A consistent round shape and a mirror- like, almost metallic luster distinguishes Akoya Pearls. Akoya Pearls are bead-nucleated, which accounts for their round shape and sharp luster. In today’s pearl market, smaller sized Akoya Pearls are typically farmed in China, whereas larger sized Akoya Pearls are farmed in Japan. Most people associate Akoya Pearls with Japan. Akoya Pearls are the most popular saltwater pearls.

Exotic Pearls include White South Sea Pearls and Golden South Sea Pearls. White South Sea Pearls usually originate from the western coast of Australia. Golden South Sea pearls originate from the Philippines and Indonesia. South Sea Pearls are noted for their large size and scarcity. Another very popular kind of saltwater Pearl is the Tahitian Pearl, also known as “Black Pearl.” Tahitian Pearls come from the island of Tahiti in the Pacific Ocean and other islands in French Polynesia. They range in color from green to blue, red, gold and black. Introduced to the market in mid-1900, these Pearls continue growing in popularity and prestige.

The most abundant form of Pearl are Freshwater Pearls. Freshwater Pearls come from mussels, and each mussel can produces up to 50 Pearls. (All other pearl varieties come from saltwater oysters which produce only one to three Pearls per oyster). Freshwater Pearls are less desirable than their saltwater counterparts, especially because of their habit of forming in irregular “potato” like shapes. However, with advances in Pearl culturing, Freshwater Pearls have gained a more prominent position amongst higher quality Pearls. In general, no Freshwater Pearl will be perfectly round. This is because they are nucleated with small pieces of tissue, as opposed to round beads. Freshwater Pearls are most distinct because they naturally occur in a variety of colors such as white, peach, pink, purple, and even sometimes a periwinkle blue. Like Akoya Pearls, Freshwater pearls are commonly dyed black, which creates an iridescent effect similar to oil on pavement; i.e. a rainbow of color coats a dark background.

Natural Pearls are rare to come across and seldom used in jewelry. Unless explicitly called “Natural Pearl,” buyers should assume that a Pearl is cultured. When used in jewelry, natural Pearls are almost always used in single-Pearl jewelry pieces. Natural Pearls are expensive due to their rare occurrence and limited availability. Antique Pearl jewelry can also be very valuable because of its authentic designation and historical significance as being natural.

Pearls are typically most valuable when in a perfect round shape. Other significant value factors include luster, color, surface quality, size, and nacre thickness. If the Pearls are strung on a strand, they need to be expertly matched so that the Pearls look consistent. This takes the trained eye of a Pearl professional and can also affect the value of a strand of Pearls. Although Pearls are typically round, they can also be dropped shaped, baroque, semi-round, or free-form. Many of the more freely shaped Pearls are used for pendants or rings that accentuate the unique shape.

There is is no standard grading system for Pearls. This makes purchasing Pearls somewhat of a challenge for a novice. Most companies follow the AAA grading system, or a variation of this system. A buyer should be aware of the description behind whatever grade a Pearl is given. The percentage of blemishing is a good indicator of the quality. Highest quality Pearls should be 95-99% blemish free. There is virtually no such thing as a “perfect” Pearl and buyers should not expect to find one.

Although Pearls are characterized by body color, they also have an “overtone.” Overtone is the word used to describe the glint of a Pearl in various lighting. Overtones are most apparent in saltwater pearls. Although Freshwater pearls have an overtone, it is not as prominent or exact as those found in saltwater pearls. White Akoya Pearls will have overtones in rose, cream and silver. Tahitian Pearls can have an overtone of almost every color. Golden South Sea Pearls will have gold body color with silver, green or rose overtones. White South Sea pearls, like Akoya pearls, have overtones in silver, rose and ivory. Generally a combination of rose and silver is the most sought after overtone for white Pearls.

The Gemstone Pearl

Pearls have been highly valued as gemstones since antiquity, and their allure and beauty has always been magnified by the difficulty of obtaining them in early times. Unlike most other gemstones which are minerals, Pearls are organic and are formed by living organisms. They are generally formed within the soft tissue layer of mollusks such as oysters and mussels. Pearls are composed of calcium carbonate (in the form of Aragonite) and organic conchiolin that build up as concentric layers as they are secreted by their host. - See more at: http://www.minerals.net/gemstone/pearl_gemstone.aspx#sthash.Eso9yPe6.dpuf