What is the difference between a cultured pearl and a natural pearl?
Both pearls are created by various mollusks. Mollusks are a group of invertebrate animals, which are characterized by the presence of a calcious shell – which is a kind of exoskeleton. They are defined by the presence of two laterally-compressed shells, hinged together by an elastic ligament. Well-developed adductor muscles close the shells. They each produce pearls when a very small intruder gets into the mollusk and irritates it. It is layer after layer of Nacre (na-cre), or mother of pearl, that creates the pearl and gives it their luster or shine. In the cultured pearl, the irritant is placed causing the creation of the pearl. The original irritant naturally dissolves, leaving only the pearl. So you see, a Cultured Pearl is a real pearl, only using a semi-controlled environment and human intervention to initiate the process.
