What are cultured pearls, why are these types of pearls not as rare as natural pearls?
A.In response to the rarity of pearls found in their natural habitat, the Japanese began artificially producing pearls in the early 20th century. Cultured pearls are also created in mollusks, but they are formed by mollusks in captivity and have had irritants manually inserted. This process allows for more production of pearls and over time, has allowed them to become much more affordable. Cultured Pearls are grown with the influence of human intervention, in which a nucleus material is inserted into an oyster or mussel, and the Pearl forms over this material. Most of the pearls you see today are cultured pearls. Natural pearls which do not come from a pearl farm are extremely rare nowadays and will not be sold by an average jewellery store or pearl dealer for that matter.On the other hand, cultured pearls are not “true” pearls, they are sometimes referred to artificial pearls because these types of pearls are not created naturally.
A.In response to the rarity of pearls found in their natural habitat, the Japanese began artificially producing pearls in the early 20th century. Cultured pearls are also created in mollusks, but they are formed by mollusks in captivity and have had irritants manually inserted. This process allows for more production of pearls and over time, has allowed them to become much more affordable. Cultured Pearls are grown with the influence of human intervention, in which a nucleus material is inserted into an oyster or mussel, and the Pearl forms over this material. Most of the pearls you see today are cultured pearls. Natural pearls which do not come from a pearl farm are extremely rare nowadays and will not be sold by an average jewellery store or pearl dealer for that matter.On the other hand, cultured pearls are not “true” pearls, they are sometimes referred to artificial pearls because these types of pearls are not created naturally.
- Natural pearls and cultured pearls are created in different ways. Natural pearls occur in the wild, without any human assistance. They are hunted and are quite rare. When found, the pearls are harvested, cleaned and made into jewelry. Cultured pearls, on the other hand, are grown under tightly controlled conditions by pearl farmers. Farmers plant a core made up of mussel shell into an oyster or mussel; then the oyster or mussel forms a pearl around this irritant, just as they do when forming natural pearls. Pearl farmers design cultured pearls from start to finish, ensuring they are perfectly shaped and luminous. Once harvested, the pearls are cleaned, and some are treated and bleached before being made into jewelry. Both natural and cultured pearls can be freshwater or saltwater pearls. Freshwater pearls are created or occur in mussels, while saltwater pearls are created or occur in oysters.
Natural pearls and cultured pearls have different features. Natural pearls vary in size and luminosity, though most have a stunning iridescent quality. They are also found in a variety of shapes and sizes simply because they are wild. Cultured pearls have some of the same qualities, but they will most often be uniformly shaped and sized, and they can also be dyed or bleached to achieve different colors and luster.
Natural pearls and cultured pearls have different price ranges. Because natural pearls are rare and difficult to find, they are typically quite expensive. Perfect strands of natural pearls are even more uncommon and can be among the most expensive pieces of jewelry. Cultured pearls can also be expensive, depending on their luster, shape and size, but are available in a range of prices. Both natural and cultured pearls of all varieties can be a valuable jewelry investment, so shop for and purchase your pearl jewelry carefully.