Pearls: Differences Between and Essential Care Tips

See the bottom of the page for important tips on caring for your pearls.

How pearls are created

Pearls are considered organic gems. Organic gems are formed through the biological processes of living organisms. See other species of organic gems here.

Pearls are created when an irritant, such as a grain of sand, enters the mollusk's shell, and the mollusk secretes nacre as a defensive mechanism—a substance made up of calcium carbonate and conchiolin—around the irritant. Over time, additional layers of nacre are added, and the irritant is gradually coated until a pearl is formed.

What are "Natural" and "Cultured" pearls?

In terms of genuine pearls, there are natural and cultured. Natural pearls are formed without any human intervention at all. They were once much more common around the world; however, that has changed due to pollution, overfishing, and economic factors.

Cultured pearls, on the other hand, are much more common, and they're what you'll see used in modern jewelry. These require human intervention. An irritant, usually a shell bead or piece of flesh from another mollusk, is placed in the mollusk, and the nacre secretion process begins. Technicians care for the mollusks while the process completes, which takes about 18 months, sometimes up to three years.

One other important difference between natural and cultured pearls is that in cultured pearls, the bead nucleus accounts for most of the volume and weight of the pearl.

Types of Cultured Pearls

Akoya - Typical size 6-8mm, but can be as small as 2mm or as large as 11mm. White to cream body color. Can also occur in colors yellow, gray, and blue without the use of dye. These saltwater pearls are produced by both Japan and China.

South Sea - Usually larger in size, commonly between 8-18mm. The most common body colors are white, cream, and golden (dark brownish yellow). However, these saltwater pearls can be found in other colors as well. The main producers of South Sea cultured pearls are Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Thailand.

Tahitian - These range from white to black; however, they're commonly dark with a metallic sheen that's either greenish or purplish. They're cultivated off the coast of the French Polynesian islands, most familiar is Tahiti. These saltwater pearls also tend to be on the larger side, ranging from 8-17mm. They can be found larger, though uncommon.

Freshwater - Cultured in rivers, streams, and lakes. They come in a wide range of colors, sizes, etc. The U.S. and China are the main producers.

Pearl Care

Pearls are unstable when it comes to chemicals. They are easily attacked and damaged by many common chemicals, including hairspray, perfume, cologne, cosmetics, and even potentially sweat.

Always put your pearls on last, after applying all cosmetics and sprays. Each time you wear them, wipe the pearls off with a very soft, clean cloth afterwards.