| Pearls are oldest gems known and are still popular for | | | | mollusk by an act of nature. This irritant can be |
| the meaning they convey and the history and facts | | | | anything small like sand, snails, worms, or any other |
| behind them. A pearl's formation contains CaCO3 | | | | small living creatures. But it is believed that this irritant is |
| calcium carbonate and a little water. | | | | sand. |
| Pearls are mainly classified into two types. They are: | | | | Natural pearls are very rare these days because of |
| 1. Natural | | | | the increase in water and air pollution. As pearls are |
| 2. Cultured | | | | very much sensitive to the natural weather conditions, |
| More than 95% of the these stones produced and | | | | the production of these pearls has fallen drastically. |
| available today in the market are cultured. It is very | | | | Cultured Pearls |
| rarely to find and buy a natural pearl these days. So | | | | Similar to the natural ones, these are also divided to |
| they are very expensive too. | | | | salt water and fresh water pearls. Today, the |
| Natural Pearls | | | | production of these pearls has rose to more than 95% |
| These can be further classified down to | | | | of the total World's pearl production. |
| 1. Salt water - Found in Gulfs, coasts, oceans and bay | | | | Saltwater gems are round in shape and cost higher |
| areas | | | | than the freshwater pearls. But the fresh water pearls |
| 2. Fresh water - Found in rivers and lakes. | | | | are available in more colors and shapes. In the cultured |
| These are produced by a living creature under the | | | | pearls, man injects an irritant substance into the |
| natural environmental conditions. The mollusk secretes | | | | mollusk. The formation of a complete pearl takes up to |
| layers of nacre around an irritant (this becomes the | | | | 5 years of time and all during this time the pearl farms |
| nucleus later) to protect itself. This irritant enters the | | | | have be taken care with extra caution from pollution. |