What is the difference between natural and cultured pearls?
Pearls are formed when a debris such as sand become embedded in a oyster shell. In a self proctant manner, the oyster deposits semi-translucent crystalline material around the debris, where it builds up in layers. This process of building up takes many years, resulting in the formation of a pearl. In nature, pearls take many years to develop and often have a slight roundish shapes, which makes them very rare and expensive. Cultured pearls are formed in pearl farms, where a round beaded object is embedded into the oyster’s body.
A pearl is formed when an irritant, such as sand or a parasite, becomes lodged in the shell of an oyster. The oyster deposits layers of a semi-translucent crystalline material called “nacre” around the intruder, where it builds up in layers like the rings of a tree. This process of building up can continue for years, resulting in a pearl. In nature, pearls take many years to develop and often have irregular shapes. In any shape, natural pearls are rare and very costly. Cultured pearls are formed when an artificial irritant, like a round bead, is introduced into an oyster’s body. All of Zales’ pearls are cultured freshwater. For more information about cultured pearls, visit our Jewelry 101 section on Cultured Pearls.
Natural pearls are formed when an irritant, such as a grain of sand, finds its way into an oyster (or mussel) without any human intervention. When you come across these mollusks in the “wild” you will rarely find a pearl of commercial value inside their shell. Cultured freshwater pearls are formed in much the same way. On a cultured pearl farm, a specialist will inoculate the oyster with a modified syringe, which injects tiny seeds of glass, sand or mother-of-pearl into the interior of the oyster. To protect itself, the oyster begins to cover the irritant with a protective surface, called nacre. This nacre has a unique natural luster, and varying colors. As the oyster lives, it continues to cover the irritant, gaining in size and creating a larger pearl. Not just one pearl comes out of each oyster. Many freshwater pearls grow in one oyster. Oysters on pearl farms are meticulously cared for. The inoculated oysters are put into small mesh baskets in clean ponds. They are strung on lines,
Natural pearls form without human assistance — when a foreign object, such as a parasite or piece of shell, accidentally lodges itself in an oyster’s soft inner body where it cannot be expelled. This happens so rarely that, today, nearly all natural pearls one sees are in estate jewelry collections.
A pearl is formed when an irritant, such as sand or a parasite, becomes lodged in the shell of an oyster. The oyster deposits layers of a semi-translucent crystalline material called “nacre” around the intruder, where it builds up in layers like the rings of a tree. This process of building up can continue for years, resulting in a pearl. In nature, pearls take many years to develop and often have irregular shapes. In any shape, natural pearls are rare and very costly. Cultured pearls are formed when an artificial irritant, like a round bead, is introduced into an oyster’s body. All of Gordon’s Jewelers’ pearls are cultured freshwater. For more information about cultured pearls, visit our Product Knowledge section on Cultured Pearls.
