What is the difference between cultured and natural pearl jewelry?

Both natural and cultured pearls are formed when an irritant infiltrates the shell of an oyster or mollusk, causing the animal to secrete a mineral substance made up of calcium carbonate crystals that solidify into the pearl as we know it. The main difference is that in a natural pearl, the irritant enters the mollusk naturally and randomly, while in the cultured pearl the irritant is planted inside the mollusk shell to intentionally induce the formation of the pearl. Before the invention of cultured pearls at the turn of the 20th century, natural pearl jewelry was exceedingly rare and was extremely highly valued. However, with the introduction of cultured pearls, whose external appearance is more or less identical to that of natural pearls, the value of pearls in general dropped significantly. Natural pearls are still considered more valuable and rare than cultured pearls, and so are priced higher. In appearance, natural pearls may be slightly less perfectly round than cultured pearls but otherwise look the same. Antique and vintage pearl jewelry is often made from natural pearls, if its dates back to before cultured pearls saturated the market.

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Natural pearls are created in the wild, without any artificial interference, while cultured pearls are cultivated and grown. Natural pearls occur when a foreign parasite penetrates into a mollusk's shell. As a result, the mollusk becomes irritated and secretes chemicals which eliminate the irritation. The chemicals secreted (conchiolin and calcium carbonate) over and over again produce the pearl. Cultured pearls are created by inserting a pre-formed bead into the clam's core. The mollusk then secretes the chemicals around the bead and the pearl is formed in the shape of the pre-formed bead. Consequentially, natural pearls are rarer than cultured pearls, thus they are thought to be more valuable and are highly sought after. Thus, the main difference between natural pearl and cultured pearl jewelry is in their respective prices, natural pearl jewelry will generally be more expensive than cultured pearl jewelry.

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These days the pearl jewelry industry has come to manufacture pearls, which are thus called cultured pearls. Although cultured pearls are formed very much like natural pearls, the main distinguishing factor is that with cultured pearls, a bit of shell is placed inside the oyster and over time nacre (mother of pearl) covers many layers until the actual pearl is formed. Cultured pearls were first harvested in the 1960s in Northern Australia. By the time the 1970s came around the cultured pearl industry was in full swing. Currently, Australia and Japan are the main countries producing cultured pearls. To tell the difference between cultured pearls and natural pearls vs. imitation pearls, you can simply rub the pearl in question against your tooth. Natural and cultured pearls will feel a bit rough, while imitation pearls will feel very smooth.

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