How Do Natural Pearls Form?
Natural pearls form when mollusks such as oysters secrete layers of a hard, shell-like insulation around a foreign body. Over time these layers accumulate and form a pearl. Natural pearls form in freshwater or saltwater mollusks, and express a spectrum of colors from violet or black to pink or white. Variables such as weather, mollusk diet, and type of foreign body give every natural pearl its unique look, shape and luster. Pearls that form in the wild are rare and therefore pricier than farmed or cultured pearls.
