![]() ![]() Although these may also be legitimately referred to as "pearls" by gemological labs and also under U.S. However, almost all species of shelled mollusks are capable of producing pearls (technically "calcareous concretions") of lesser shine or less spherical shape. Whether wild or cultured, gem-quality pearls are almost always nacreous and iridescent, like the interior of the shell that produces them. They have also been crushed and used in cosmetics, medicines and paint formulations. Pearls have been harvested and cultivated primarily for use in jewelry, but in the past were also used to adorn clothing. Imitation pearls are also widely sold in inexpensive jewelry. Cultured or farmed pearls from pearl oysters and freshwater mussels make up the majority of those currently sold. These wild pearls are referred to as natural pearls. The most valuable pearls occur spontaneously in the wild, but are extremely rare. Because of this, pearl has become a metaphor for something rare, fine, admirable and valuable. The finest quality of natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes, known as baroque pearls, can occur. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is composed of calcium carbonate (mainly aragonite or a mixture of aragonite and calcite) in minute crystalline form, which has deposited in concentric layers. Black pearls: commonly pink to orange-red Ī pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids.Yellow and golden pearls: yellow-green, greenish brown to dark brown.White pearls: light blue to light yellow.White, pink, silver, cream, brown, green, blue, black, yellow, orange, red, gold, purple, iridescent ![]()
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