Lustrous Pearls

Natural pearls have been coveted as symbols of wealth and status for thousands of years. The first written mention of pearls was by a Chinese writer in about 2206 BC.

Pearls form naturally when an irritant, such as a tiny stone, gets in mollusk's shell. A lustrous substance called nacre is secreted around the irritant to protect the soft inside of the mollusk (oysters or mussels). As layer upon layer of nacre coats the irritant a pearl is formed. This can take years. The way light is reflected from these layers of nacre creates the iridescent luster of the pearl. When nacre forms on the inside of the shell, it is known as mother of pearl.

Nature couldn't keep up with the demand for pearls, so man devised a way to culture pearls by placing an irritant, often a piece of rounded shell from a freshwater mussel, into a mollusk. The majority of pearls on the market have been cultured and many of the shells used as an irritant are from freshwater river mussels harvested in the midwestern states. The few natural pearls available command high prices.

Pearls, both natural and cultured, can be divided into two main categories: saltwater and freshwater. Saltwater pearls, including the Akoya, Tahitian and South Seas, are found in the coastal waters of Japan, China, Australia and Polynesia. Freshwater pearls are found in the rivers, ponds and lakes of China, Japan, the United States and Europe. Of the two types, saltwater pearls are the more expensive.

Pearls are a natural substance and are porous. They can absorb cologne, hair spray and lotions. So, make your pearls the last thing you put on and the first think you take off. Keep them looking their best by gently wiping them with a damp cloth.

​Pearls are always in style; wear yours today.

Tinted Cultured Freshwater Pearls