Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
Diamond & Jewelry News, Advice and Prices for Consumers
March 6, 2010
I really have my heart set on a natural pearl strand. I was wondering, why natural pearl strands are so hard to come by, and why are they so expensive to purchase? What makes natural pearl jewelry rarer than jewelry set with cultured pearls?
April 11, 2010
Most pearl jewelry on sale is made from cultured pearls, as natural pearls are very rare unfortunately. I don't believe you can find or afford natural pearls, but you could be encouraged by the fact that an unaided eye cannot determine between a natural and a cultured pearl. The only way to determine the difference between a natural pearl and a cultured pearl is through X-ray testing that examines the inner layers hidden beneath the pearl's surface.
March 19, 2010
Natural pearl jewelry is extremely rare on the market. Natural pearls are formed by accident and at random, when certain irritants get lodged inside a mollusk's shell. The mollusk secretes nacre, a calcium carbonate secretion, which coats the foreign irritant in order to protect itself. After several years the nacre secretions build up to form the precious gemstone known as a pearl. Natural pearls are extremely hard to find because first off you have to dive for the mollusk shells, and then crack open thousands before you find a pearl – plus, many of the pearls aren't even of any commercial value because they're crooked. Cultured pearls are made the exact same way as natural pearls, except that the pearl farmer injects the irritant into the mollusk shell to increase the chances that the sea creature will form a pearl. Natural pearl jewelry is significantly pricier than cultured pearl jewelry. If you're looking to buy natural pearl jewelry, you'll have to search a bit harder than just going to your neighborhood jewelry store. Virtually every pearl dealer on the market relies on cultured pearls, and just a handful of pearl dealers specialize in natural pearls and you should contact them directly. Vintage pearls (over 80-100 years old especially) are generally natural, so you may want to check out fancy antique stores or auction houses. Otherwise I would recommend hitting up an online pearl forum, where pearl experts may be able to hook you up with a natural pearl dealer near you.
