How do freshwater pearls get their interesting shapes?
The shape of the freshwater pearl is determined by the nucleation bead. When the bead is round, the produced pearls are round, while allowing for shape irregularity from uneven nacring. Nucleating beads can be any shape at all. The mollusk does its best to nacre it over, but incomplete nacring and imperfections result when the shaped bead is too big or intricate. Lorraine is a chemist by training, jewelry designer by trade, and amateur gemologist by sheer desire! Consult Lorraine’s informative article on gemstones and jewelry on Examiner.
