Understanding Pearls
Pearl is an organic compound (gem) that comes from living organisms - species of oysters, mussels or
clams - all from the family of sea creatures called mollusks.
A minute intruder such as a sea parasite lodges itself inside the shell of the mollusk. The mollusk
tries to rid itself of the trespasser. If it cannot eradicate the parasite, the mollusk begins to
secrete a brownish fluid (called conchiolin - pronounced kon-KY-oh-lin) to coat the "irritant".
Over this layer, many additional layers of a whitish substance, called nacre (pronounced NAY-ker)
are secreted and bind with the conchiolin. Nacre is composed of tiny calcium carbonate crystals
fashioned by the mantle, the outer membrane of the mollusk, just inside the shell and covering
the soft tissue. Pearl mollusks also coat the inside of their own shells with nacre, so some
shells picked up on the shore are shiny and iridescent inside. The final lustrous pearl is the
result of this continuous coating process. The pearl's orient (the iridescent effect due to
overlapping nacreous plates) is what gives the pearl its unique beauty. The thicker the nacre,
the more prized the pearl.
Compared with diamond, the hardest natural substance, natural pearls are not very resilient.
The pearl growing process involves a fine balance between size and beauty. The longer the pearl
is inside the mollusk, the greater its resultant size; but it also runs the risk of having a
marred surface. Pearls produced in the wild are extremely rare. It is for this reason that
unless you're buying an extremely rare piece of pearl estate jewelry, you will probably be
buying a cultured pearl.
A cultured pearl undergoes the same growth process as a natural pearl produced in the wild.
The only difference is that the irritant is surgically-implanted - a very delicate operation
that can only be performed by highly skilled technicians. The irritant consists of mother-of-pearl
in the form of a bead or a piece of shell. The resulting core is therefore much larger than in a
natural wild pearl.
Not all implants will result in pearls, and not all pearls will have a smooth surface, iridescent
sheen and perfect color. The larger the pearl, the greater the chance that it will have surface
imperfections, shape defects and variable coloring. A fine pearl requires a cultivation period
of at least two to three years to acquire a thick nacre coating that will provide lasting beauty.
At Gem Nation, you will only find the highest quality cultured pearls with thick and durable nacre.
Lastly, there are imitation pearls. In most cases, they are formed when a glass bead is dipped into
a solution of fish scales, giving it the appearance of the prized luster found in real pearls. The
coating is thin, however, and may eventually wear off. Gem Nation does not sell imitation pearls.