What is the difference between natural, cultured & faux pearls?
A natural pearl is usually formed when a microscopic foreign object finds its way into a mollusk. The mollusk secretes a calcium carbonate substance called nacre. The secretion process is repeated many times over, thus producing a pearl. Round natural pearls are extremely rare. Cultured pearls are formed when a round bead is inserted into the mollusk. The mollusk goes through the same secretion process as a natural pearl, but since the bead is usually much larger, it takes a shorter amount of time to create. Good cultured pearls are usually left in for at least 2 years, while lower quality pearls are left in for shorter time periods. The longer a pearl is left inside the mollusk, the longer the finish will last. Faux pearls are fake.
