Your Pearl Wardrobe - Pick Pearls that Match Your Taste and Budget

Akoya Pearls
Akoyas, or saltwater pearls grow from implantation in Akoya oysters. Their size typically varies from seven to 9 millimeter. Akoyas larger than 9mm, because they are so are, are quite expensive.

South Sea Pearls
South Seas Pearls are grown from implantation in yellow and white-lipped oysters. They are grown in the waters of Australia, Indonesia, and the Phillippines. South Seas vary in size form eight to 16-millimeter. South Sea Pearls of 20mm are very rarely seen.

Tahitian Pearls
These pearls come from implantation in black-tipped oysters. They vary in sizes from eight to 16-millimeter. It is their gray to black iridescence color that makes them so desirable.

Freshwater Pearls
These peals can be grown in several species of mollusks that live in fresh water. When the mollusk is implanted with small pieces of the mantle tissue of the host mollusk, it stimulates the growth of nacre, the material of which the pearl is made. The pearls follow the curves of the piece implanted in them. That creates the irregular shape typical of freshwater pearls. Most cultured freshwater pearls are made completely of nacre, just like natural freshwater and natural saltwater counterparts.

Blister Pearls
Implantation to create blister pearls differs in the shape of the implement, as well as its placement in the shell. The implantation is a half or three-quarter shaped nucleus which is placed against the inside shell of the mollusk, as apposed to within its body. Th pearl that forms stays attached to the shell of the mollusk and keep the integrity of the original form. That classifies them as cultured pearls.

Mabe Pears
The Mabe gets a bit more intervention by the pearl grower. The process starts with a blister pearl. The Mobe is cut away from the shell in which the blister is implanted. The nacre is carefully separated from the nucleus and any substances that might impact its color are removed. The bead is removed and replaced by a polyester resin and a new backing made from mother-of-pearl. The purpose of the backing is to increase the strength of the pearl.

Today, the industry has become so refined that there are very few irregularities in the shape of the pearl and often is difficult to tell the freshwater from one that is not. This makes freshwater pearls work in most jewelry budgets.

Not long ago, the Chinese began implanting mussels with tissue-cultured freshwater pearls, which they had grown. From this technique, grew pearls made completely from nacre and are very round. Because the rounder is the better in pearls and what sells best, the Chinese reshape freshwater pearls that are substandard into spheres and implant them into the mussels. The processes result in a freshwater pearl that is virtually indistinguishable from a saltwater one. What this means is that beautiful round pearls are affordable in almost any woman’s budget.

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