Where Do Pearls Come From
Pearls are produced by the different mother mussels. These mussels live in oceans and some of them live in the freshwater like lakes and rivers. Thus we can divide the pearls into two main types, freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls. The natural pearls are the artworks of mother nature, they are produced by accident. And the process of the pearl form is magical.
If you want to learn more about freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls, please clic below links
Bonus link: Freshwater pearl vs Saltwater pearl
How do oysters make pearls?
Thousand years ago, one day the mother oyster opened her shell, and a piece of sand took the opportunity to slip in. When the sand entered into the space between the shell of the mother oyster and the mantel. The stimulation made the mantel feel unconfortable and began to secrete nacre and slowly wrap the sand. In this way, the pearl sac was formed. Years after years, layers of nacre wrapped around the sand and the pearl was formed gradually. When the clam was discovered by humans who came to forage, they found this beautiful bead and used it for decoration.
We can descirbe the pearl formation process as the result of a fascinating defense mechanism employed by these mollusks in response to irritants within their environment.
Are cultured pearls valuable?
Of course the cultured pearls are valuable and they are real pearls. The natural pearls are produced by accident, it makes the pearl quantity is limited. And the excessive pearl fishing by human beings has driven the mother clam almost to extinction. As early as the Song Dynasty in China, people began to study pearl cultivation skill to meet the human demand. Nowdays, most of the pearls you see in the market, no matter freshwater pearls or saltwater pearls, they are all cultured pearls.
How cultured pearls are made?
After years of research, people began to cultivate pearls by imitating the way natural pearls form. They insert beads or tissue mantel into the mother oyster, which makes the mussel secret the nacre to around the beads and tissue mantel. In this way the a cultured pearl is formed.
Bonus link: What is cultured freshwater pearl?
Are cultured pearls worth anything?
Cultured pearls are not the machine-produced products. Although there is artificial intervention in the environment in which they grow, the entire pearl formation process is still natural. Therefore, cultured pearls also have their unique commercial value. Different from the 4C standards of most gemstones, pearls quality is identified from 7 aspects:
Pearl Luster:
The luster of pearls refers to their shine, brilliance, and reflective quality, which are key factors in determining their beauty and value. High luster is a desirable characteristic in pearls, as it indicates a smooth and reflective surface that enhances their overall appearance.
Pearl Surface：
A piece of authentic pearl is more or less with the natural blemishes. Of course the blemish grade is as less as better.
Pearl Color:
The color of pearls also varies depending on the type of mother-of-pearl. The color of pearls includes two aspects - body color and overtone.
Body color refers to the color of the nacre itself, which is the color produced by the selective absorption of white light and does not change when the pearl is turned around
Overtone is the color produced on the pearl surface due to optical effects such as reflection and interference of the nacre layer. The secondary color is equivalent to a layer of translucent color floating on the body color of the pearl, and will rotate the pearl accordingly. When it comes 2 overtones on one pearl, it is called as orient.
Pearl Size:
The size of pearls is expressed by diameter, and different types of pearls have different diameters. For example, the freshwater pearl size range is 2-16mm （include the edison pearls), southsea gold pearl size range is 9-15mm. When we compare the peal size, it should be based on same pearl type, the larger the valuer is higer. 
Pearl Shape：
Pearls are with many different shapes. For round pearls, the rounder the better the quality. Other shapes of pearls are based on symmetry. The higher the degree of symmetry, the better the quality.
Pearl Nacre:
For different types of pearls, the thickness of the pearl nacre is different, and the laboratory's standards and requirements for them are also different.
Akoya pearls has a short growth cycle, so the pearl nacre is thinner than other type of pearls, usually 0.2-0.5mm. Generally speaking, Akoya pearls with bead layer thickness greater than 0.4mm are of better quality.
South Sea pearls, Tahitian pearls and Edison pearls are all nucleated cultured pearls, which have a long culture period and a thicker pearl nacre, usually 0.8-3mm.
Pearl Matching:
As we all know pearls are unique, you can not find 2 pearls are 100% same. So when you make the pearl necklace or pearl earring, the pearls need to be matched. No matter the pearl size, pearl shape, pearl luster, and pearl color should be matched.
Can pearl get wet?
Pearls are cultivated in waters, so it's okay if you get the pearl wet accidently. However, for the pearl jewelries like pearl necklace, pearl earring and etc. We don't suggest you to use the water to clean them. For more tips about the pear jewelry clean, please click below links.
how to care for pearl jewelry
The formation of pearls is a complicated process. Feliz pearl is specialized in freshwater pearl farming, freshwater pearl wholesale. If you are interested in learn more about pearls, please contact us freely.