A
pearl is the product of an oyster’s defense
mechanism. When a foreign irritant is introduced
naturally or by man (cultured), the oyster
immediately surrounds it with layers of a substance
called nacre. This forms the exquisite gemstone
known as pearl. Pearls come in a wide range
of colors from delicate rose white to black.
They should be relatively free from skin blemishes.
The more perfectly round the shape the better.
The higher the luster or “orient,” the
more valuable the specimen. Besides the popular
round shape, there are stylish mabe (large
hemispherical cultured pearls), fresh water
(elongated in interesting shapes and colors),
and South Sea (large cultured pearls 10 mm
and up from Australian and Indonesian waters),
to name a few.
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