What is the difference between real, cultured and simulated Pearls?
Real pearls are those found naturally occurring in oysters and certain other bivalves. A piece of grit or some foreign body has entered the organism and this triggers the process of covering the alien body with microscopic layers of nacre. Real pearls are rare and prices will be dramatically higher. Cultured pearls are those produced after an oyster has a nucleus, usually a mother of pearl bead, artificially inserted. The first cultured pearl was produced in Japan in 1905. Oysters used in this process are farmed and are suspended in large tethered cages in the sea. The majority of pearls are produced in Japan, but China is also becoming a major production centre. Cultured freshwater pearls are produced by freshwater mussels in much larger quantities. These can be produced in many different colours and shades and provide a less expensive source of pearls. Imitation pearls are entirely manmade. A bead is dipped into a mixture based on crushed fish scales known as “essence d’orient”. This
