What is the difference between “mother of pearl” and “freshwater pearls”?
Pearls are organic gems grown within oysters and other mollusks. Pearls are formed when a foreign particle causes the oyster to secrete nacre to cover it. The mollusk and oyster shells are formed by nacre. A pearl may be coated with thousands of layers of nacre. This occurs naturally. “Cultured” pearls are created the same way but the particle is implanted and farmed. Nearly all pearls are cultured. Freshwater pearls are formed in freshwater as opposed to saltwater pearls. Mother-of-pearl beads are cut from the shells of the mollusks and oysters that create the pearls. Both gemstones are made up of nacre and are one of the softest gemstones. Pearls are porous and often bleached or dyed to achieve the desired color.
