There are essentially three types of pearls: natural, cultured and imitation. Pearls come in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes and come from either salt or freshwater sources. Typically, saltwater pearls tend to be higher in quality, although there are several types of freshwater pearls today that are considered high in quality as well. Freshwater pearls tend to be very irregular in shape, with a “puffed rice” appearance the most prevalent. Nevertheless, it is each individual pearls merits that determines value more than the source of the pearl.
Natural Pearls
Natural Pearls are pearls accidentally formed in the interior of a mollusk without human intervention. Almost any mollusk can produce a natural pearl. A natural pearl develops when an irritant, such as a piece of sand, works its way into a particular species of oyster, mussel or clam. As a defense mechanism, the mollusk secretes a fluid to coat the irritant. Layer upon layer of this coating is deposited on the irritant until a lustrous pearl is formed.
Cultured Pearls
A cultured pearl undergoes the same process. The only difference is that the irritant is a surgically implanted bead or piece of shell called Mother of Pearl. Often, these shells are ground oyster shells that are worth significant amounts of money in their own right as irritant-catalysts for quality pearls. The resulting core is, therefore, much larger than in a natural pearl. Yet, as long as there are enough layers of nacre (the secret fluid covering the irritant) to result in a beautiful, gem-quality pearl, the size of the nucleus is of no consequence to beauty and durability.
In 1893, Kokichi Mikimoto succeeded in producing the world’s first cultured pearl. Since that day, MIikimoto continues to make history, creating its own distinctive style. Mikimoto has developed the highest standards of quality and consistency by devoting more than a century to understanding the sea and researching the oyster. Only the top 5% of the pearl harvest meets the strict quality standards of Mikimoto.
A proprietary pearl grading system measures the quality of each Mikimoto pearl. This unique grading system provides the standard of excellence that distinguishes Mikimoto pearls from all others. To learn more about the Mikimoto Grading System, click here.
Imitation Pearls
Imitation pearls are a different story altogether. Imitation pearls are artificial, man-made products produced to simulate the appearance of natural or cultured pearls but do not posses the same chemical composition or physical properties of natural or cultured pearls. In most cases, a glass bead is dipped into a solution made from fish scales. This coating is thin and may eventually wear off. Imitation pearls have no real value as a gemstone and are not formed in mollusks.
Types of Pearls
There are essentially three types of pearls: natural, cultured and imitation. Pearls come in a variety of colors, shapes, sizes and come from either salt or freshwater sources. Typically, saltwater pearls tend to be higher in quality, although there are several types of freshwater pearls today that are considered high in quality as well. Freshwater pearls tend to be very irregular in shape, with a “puffed rice” appearance the most prevalent. Nevertheless, it is each individual pearls merits that determines value more than the source of the pearl.
Natural Pearls
Natural Pearls are pearls accidentally formed in the interior of a mollusk without human intervention. Almost any mollusk can produce a natural pearl. A natural pearl develops when an irritant, such as a piece of sand, works its way into a particular species of oyster, mussel or clam. As a defense mechanism, the mollusk secretes a fluid to coat the irritant. Layer upon layer of this coating is deposited on the irritant until a lustrous pearl is formed.
Cultured Pearls
A cultured pearl undergoes the same process. The only difference is that the irritant is a surgically implanted bead or piece of shell called Mother of Pearl. Often, these shells are ground oyster shells that are worth significant amounts of money in their own right as irritant-catalysts for quality pearls. The resulting core is, therefore, much larger than in a natural pearl. Yet, as long as there are enough layers of nacre (the secret fluid covering the irritant) to result in a beautiful, gem-quality pearl, the size of the nucleus is of no consequence to beauty and durability.
In 1893, Kokichi Mikimoto succeeded in producing the world’s first cultured pearl. Since that day, MIikimoto continues to make history, creating its own distinctive style. Mikimoto has developed the highest standards of quality and consistency by devoting more than a century to understanding the sea and researching the oyster. Only the top 5% of the pearl harvest meets the strict quality standards of Mikimoto.
A proprietary pearl grading system measures the quality of each Mikimoto pearl. This unique grading system provides the standard of excellence that distinguishes Mikimoto pearls from all others. To learn more about the Mikimoto Grading System, click here.
Imitation Pearls
Imitation pearls are a different story altogether. Imitation pearls are artificial, man-made products produced to simulate the appearance of natural or cultured pearls but do not posses the same chemical composition or physical properties of natural or cultured pearls. In most cases, a glass bead is dipped into a solution made from fish scales. This coating is thin and may eventually wear off. Imitation pearls have no real value as a gemstone and are not formed in mollusks.