Just like diamonds, pearls are now fast becoming as girls’ another best friend as they can also effectively put a significant glow on every woman in the form of a jewelry. From dazzling earrings to elegantly gorgeous necklaces, pearls have proven to be one of the greatest wonders of nature.
Pearls are categorized into two basic types which are the fresh water pearls and the sea pearl. Obviously, freshwater pearls are grown in lakes, ponds, and rivers while a sea pearl on the other hand are harvested from lagoons, ocean waters, and volcanic atolls. The freshwater type is harvested inside a freshwater mollusk that has the capability of producing 50 pearls at a time.
These pearls are started by simply inserting tiny pieces of mantle tissue into the mollusk. They are generally referred as pearl starters that are then eventually coated by nacre all throughout the growing process until it is harvested. In most cases, 4 to 6 years are needed for a freshwater pearl to become fully grown. On the contrary, sea pearls are limited in production with only a single pearl per oyster. Sea pearls have three types which are the Tahitian, South Sea, and the Akoya pearls. Of the three, South Sea pearls take the longest period in nurturing a pearl that lasts up to 6 years. Smaller types of South Sea pearls on the other hand can be harvested after a two year cycle.
When it comes to longevity, sea pearls are given the gift of preservation making them last their beauty for generations. Unfortunately, freshwater pearls can only showcase their beauty in a relatively short time. Furthermore, the luster of freshwater pearls fades fast until it becomes chalky or milky. This succeedingly paved way for the freshwater pearl’s name as “the pearls to enjoy now.” Because sea pearls are proven to have higher quality and much better appearance, they usually come with a much higher price. One strand of sea pearls can have a price of $3,000 to $100,000 while freshwater pearls have a price of $300 to $1,500 per strand.
When it comes to their appearance, South Sea pearls are more unified in color compared to freshwater ones. The nacre of the South Sea pearls appears with a very prominent halo and greater depth of iridescence.
Akoya pearls are white with no strong overtones of other colors like silver, pink, and rainbow. In some cases, an orient pearl is produced out of saltwater pearls through the perfect combination of nacre thickness and quality.
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