Freshwater cultured pearls tend to have more luster than natural pearls due to their thicker layer of nacre. ![]() From stimulation like this, these mollusks can bear cultured pearls much faster than pearls form naturally.Īmong the two, freshwater cultured pearls are more accessible to harvest than saltwater cultured pearls. It is also possible to inject tissue from pearl-bearing mollusks into non-pearl-bearing ones. ![]() Pearl farmers populate sites with pearl-bearing mollusks by transplanting them from other areas or buying them from other farmers. ![]() Pearl FarmsĬultured pearls come from pearl farms in various freshwater and saltwater locations worldwide. Black pearls, usually cultured because of their rare appearance, aren’t really black but rather green, purple, blue, and silver. Cultured freshwater pearls are sometimes dyed in tan as well as black. Calcium carbonate is extremely sensitive to acidity, which causes pearls to disintegrate when exposed to vinegar. Pearls are soft and range from 2.5 – 4.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. Freshwater cultured pearls remain the most affordable option. Whether natural or freshwater pearls, today, most of them are cultured. This streamlines the process and allows jewelers to offer pearl jewelry at an affordable price. The difference is that cultured pearls (not to be confused with imitation pearls) occur when humans stimulate the mollusks by injecting them with an irritant. Natural pearls and cultured pearls form through a very similar process. Freshwater pearls, which come from lakes and rivers, tend to be less naturally pigmented and made up of mostly nacre. Today, natural saltwater pearls are a rarity, and therefore the most expensive pearls. The mollusk secretes a fluid called nacre that coats the irritant, resulting in the pearl. Natural pearls form inside of mollusks (oysters, mussels, clams) when an irritant like sand enters its shell. Today, the popularity of cultured pearls has made buying and gifting pearl jewelry much more common. Due to mass harvesting in the past, natural pearls became extremely rare to find, which made them all the more sought after. Instead, the natural pearl develops organically in the water of all places. Natural pearls are set apart from other gemstones like diamonds and emeralds because natural pearls don’t form underground. According to astrology, the pearl birthstone is associated with the planet Venus and symbolizes love, beauty, and wealth. Saltwater pearls usually form in the shape of soft white orbs, and the ancient Greeks associated them with the moon and Greek lunar deities. Some legends say that the pearl represents the tears of angels in heaven, while others believe they are the tears of mermaids. The pearl has been a valued gemstone and source of many legends for millennia. The pearl is the traditional June birthstone. First June Birthstone: Pearl The Origins of Pearl Birthstone Each of these stones has a unique origin, symbolism, and dazzling quality. ![]() The three June birthstones are pearls, moonstones, and alexandrites. June marks the start of summer, is known to be peak wedding season, and is home to three birthstones, all gorgeous in their own right. June is a stellar month for many reasons. At the same time, jewelry with pearl birthstones may be an excellent option for those with an appreciation for traditional stones. Those desiring a modern look can sport the alexandrite, which is the modern June Birthstone. Those born in June are among the luckiest of all because they have multiple birthstones to choose from. Today, the custom has changed, and people proudly wear their birthstone all year round. Everyone would wear the October birthstones in October, the November birthstones in November, the December Birthstones in December, etc. Assigning gemstones to the different months of the year is a tradition that transcends cultures and dates all the way back to biblical times.įor centuries, it was common to own a different piece of birthstone jewelry for each of the twelve stones and sport each during its assigned month. Explore Our Selection of Loose Lab Grown Diamonds What Are Birthstones?Ī birthstone is a gemstone that is assigned to a specific month of birth or zodiac sign.
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