All You Need to Know about Pearls

Are Tahitian Pearls all black? What is the difference between a natural and a cultured Pearl? Are saltwater pearls superior to freshwater pearls? Are all south sea pearls golden?
With the different types and colors of pearls available in the market, it can sometimes be difficult to distinguishing between each type. However, for those planning to buy a pearl or for people who just want to learn more about this gem, below are answers to commonly asked questions about pearls?
Are Tahitian Pearls all black?
Tahitian cultured pears are not all black in color, they come in other colors like green, blue, gray and brown but are only called black because of their darkish, exotic colors. Tahitian pears are not grown in Tahiti but are grown in the lagoons of Small Island in areas like the French Polynesia. Tahiti is popularly known as the center of commerce because it is the largest island on the axis but does not grow pearls. It takes two years to cultivate Tahitian pearls in pinctada margaritifera, which is a huge mollusk native to French Polynesia. One outstanding feature that distinguishes this unique oyster from other known species is its dark exotic interiors, edge, lips and color. The dark beautiful colored shells give this oyster its descriptive name.
Tahitian pearls are highly sought after but the most sought after of all cultured pearls are the ones with dark blue -gray, purple, blue or green-grayish overtones. Several factors determine the colors of every pearl, and these factors include; host oyster variations, implanted donor mussel tissue color variation, variation in the environment where they grow (e.g. water and weather) and the thickness and volume of the nacre layers. Although Tahitian cultured pearls have, many other colors but the most popularly seen cultured pearls come in colors like green, gray, black and blue.
What Is The Difference Between A Natural And A Cultured Pearl?
Natural pearls are created when irritants like parasites gets into pearl producing animals like a mollusk or an oyster. For protection, the animal coats the parasite or other irritants in nacre (a combination of substance that makes up a large pearl). After a period of time, the nacre will form around the intruder and later form the organic gem now known as the pearl.
Although cultured pearls are formed the same way as natural pearls, but the difference is that cultured pearls are deliberately created unlike natural pearls that get their start by chance. For cultured pearls, humans intervene with nature. To produce a cultured pear, a nucleator (who is a skilled technician) interrupts the pearls growing process by surgically inserting an irritant into a mollusk and then places it back into the water for monitoring until it is ready to be harvested.
Are Saltwater Pearls Superior To Freshwater Pearls?
Many pearl experts from research believe that freshwater cultured pearls can compete favorably with the beauty of saltwater pearls. This is so because fresh water farmers have improved tremendously in there culturing techniques. Freshwater pearl farmers now produce exotic looking, round, lustrous pearls unlike the wrinkled, rice shaped gems that they used to produce in the past.
Freshwater pearls are produced in china and are 100% nacre, which creates a beautiful luster and an exotic surface. However, the downside to this is that because they are bead nucleated and are harvest too early, they tend to peel or flake after a while because they only have a tin coat of nacre. Freshwater pearls are more in number and are more affordable than any other type of pearls.
Are All South Sea Pearls Golden?
Yes, all south sea pearls are golden. This is so because these pearls have thick coating of nacre on them that gives them that beautiful glow. In addition, the low pollution of the south sea, the abundance of food and the warmness of the water also help oysters produce beautiful gold looking cultured pearls.