Pearl Types, How Much Do You Know?

When it comes to pearl types, most people think of milky white freshwater pearls. Pearls can be divided into four categories, natural pearls, cultured pearls, freshwater pearls, and marine pearls.

Pearl Types: Natural pearl and cultured pearl

Natural pearl (Pearl Types)

Natural pearls are also known as “sea pearls”. They are pearls produced from sea shells in the natural environment. Natural pearls have a fine texture, uniform structure, thick nacre layer, and strong luster. In addition, there are great opportunities for formation. The production of natural pearls is limited, so under the same quality conditions, the price is higher than that of cultured natural pearls. Natural wild pearls are scarce. Common Aguya, South Sea, and Tahitian pearls are cultured pearls nucleated by seawater. There are also cultured pearls that do not have seawater nucleation and they are called “gram stones”.

Cultured pearl (Pearl Types)

Cultured pearls, as the name suggests, are artificially cultivated through methods. Pearl farmers will select pearl oysters with intact shells, whole shells, and no damage to health, and then implant small pieces of cells and pearl cores into the shells through operations. Then put pearl oysters in net cages and hang them in water for culture, generally, 1- Pearls can be cultured in 2 years. Pearl cultivation is not easy, and it is easily affected by the external environment. The water temperature is too high or too low, and diseases and insects will affect the growth of pearls.

Pearl Types: Seawater pearl and freshwater pearl

Seawater pearl (Pearl Types)

Marine cultured beads are produced in tropical or subtropical shallow waters, and nucleation culture is used. Because sea pearls have nuclei, the particles are generally relatively large, which is very suitable for accessories. The shape of seawater pearls is generally round, and the luster is better than that of freshwater pearls. Under short-wave ultraviolet radiation, there are light blue, light yellow, pink, etc., and the body color also has red and purple. The water droplets around the pearls are poured very thinly, so they look extra shiny.

Freshwater pearl (Pearl Types)

Freshwater pearls are thousands of years old. Freshwater pearls are non-nuclear cultured pearls composed entirely of pearls secreted by mollusks. Because it is non-nuclear reproduction, it is greatly disturbed by the outside world during the growth process, and it is generally oval and oblate. It comes in many colors, white, pink, purple, orange, etc. Because it grows naturally, it is relatively small, but shiny and irregular in shape. Freshwater pearls also vary in price. The Larger, brighter, rounder pearls tend to be more expensive.

Check out our freshwater pearls for men.