Well, they will not all be gem quality pearls. Some of the pearls will be downright awful looking! I went to go see one of these factories when I was in China and at the last minute was barred from going in.
Again, I know these are fun experiences and a neat thing to do. And I do think they are actually selling real pearls instead of fake ones, which is a plus! But, they may not be entirely forthcoming about the true origin of their pearls. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email.
Return to Blog. When you ask how pearls get their color, know it is all in the shell! Next post: Can cultured pearls be naturally colored? India Rows. Hi Kate! I hope this helps clear things up for you! Best, India. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Here are some easy ways to test the color of your pearls:.
This is one of the easiest giveaways. If the price is too good to be true, it probably is. Check the drill holes of the pearl and observe how the color looks around there. Natural pearls are rarely perfect, and there can be some unevenness in color. Those pearls typically grow to large sizes, averaging over Freshwater and Akoya pearls are typically at or under the 8.
Sometimes, you can tell just by looking at the color of the pearl. These include neons, bright colors like hot pink and overly metallic lusters and shine on the surface of the pearl. Always ask the vendor about the origin of the pearls and if applicable, check for a certificate of authenticity.
Call Us! Previous Next. The Substance That Holds the Layers of a Pearl Together Can Impact Color The layers of nacre that form during the creation of a pearl are held together by a substance known as conchiolin, which acts as a sort of organic glue. Overtones Come from Aragonite Platelets Microscopically thin, semi-transparent crystals known as aragonite platelets are also present in the layers that make up pearls.
Some Pearls Are Dyed While pearls form in all sorts of beautiful colors and shades all on their own, certain colors can only be achieved through a dyeing process. Conclusion Adding colorful freshwater pearls to your collection of jewelry-making supplies is an excellent way to allow yourself to design unique and beautiful creations. About the Author: admin. Related Posts. March 29th, 0 Comments. December 10th, 0 Comments. November 20th, 0 Comments. September 10th, 0 Comments.
July 10th, 0 Comments. Man inserts a round mother-of-pearl bead or nucleus into the oyster. A small piece of mantle tissue is also inserted along with the bead. This tissue contains the necessary cells to induce nacre production.
Natural and cultured pearls have been produced in both Saltwater and Freshwater. Different species of mollusks produce pearls in different environments. The cultured pearl introduced into the world by Mikimoto is known as the Akoya. This type of pearl is produced in both China and Japan, in what are known as pearl farms. Typically, it takes 8 to 24 months to cultivate an akoya cultured pearl.
The akoya cultured pearl is usually white, cream, or gray not black in color and ranges in size from 2mm to 10mm. Another saltwater cultured pearl is produced in the tropical waters of the South Pacific.
The mollusk that produces this kind of pearl is much larger than the mollusk that grows the akoya; therefore the South Sea is a much larger pearl. The South Sea mollusk is collect in the wild and is not grown in a controlled environment like the akoya.
There are very strict quotas for culturing, making the South Sea cultured pearl rarer than the akoya cultured pearl. This lengthy period of time allows the pearl to obtain a thicker nacre coating than that of the akoya. South Sea cultured pearls are usually white, cream, or yellow also referred to as golden in color and range in size from 10 mm to 15 mm. Some pearls as large as 20 mm have been found! In the waters of Okinawa, the Cook Islands, and French Polynesia, a cultured pearl is produced known as the Tahitian black cultured pearl , even though they are not cultured in Tahiti and are not always black.
These pearls are more gray or dark gray in color, but can also glow with luscious greens, cool blues, and passionate purples. The oysters that produce these pearls are prohibited from being collected in the wild, so they are raised for the culturing process, much like the akoya mollusk.
The typical culturing time is 18 to 26 months, which provides thick nacre with beautiful luster. The Tahitian cultured pearl ranges in size from 8 mm to 14 mm; some have been found as large as 18 mm.
Freshwater pearls are found in rivers, streams, and lakes throughout the world — most notably in China, the United States, and Japan. Several types of mussels are used to produce white or pastel-colored cultured pearls. Their sizes generally range from 4 mm to 10 mm; however, larger pearls have been produced. Many of these pearls are cultured with only the mantle tissue inserted — there is no bead nucleus — and the product is an all-nacre cultured pearl.
The freshwater mussel is capable of producing more than one pearl at a time. Depending on the size of the mussel and the desired size of the cultured pearl, twenty or more can be grown on each side of the shell. Cultivation time is from 2 to 6 years and multiple harvests are possible. The freshwater pearl can come in a variety of interesting shapes including rice, potato oval , button, bar, coin and round.
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