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THE SILVERLADY II
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About Pearls
About Pearls
The Silverlady II Cincinnati, Ohio (513) 793-8119 2008 Copyright
Are cultured pearls artificially manufactured?
Absolutely not. Cultured pearls, like natural pearls, are grown within live oysters.Each begins when
a skilled technician surgically implants a host oyster with a shell bead and piece of mantle tissue. To
protect itself, the oyster secretes a crystalline substance, called "nacre," over the irritant. Over time,
the nacre layers build on one another, creating a surface that glows with a luster unique to true
pearls. Artificial, or imitation, pearls, on the other hand, do not involve oysters in any way, but are
manufactured from various chemicals and compounds. Even so, be aware that some imitation pearls
are sold as "organic." One popular technique for producing artificial pearls involves dipping a glass
bead many times into a fish-scale-and-lacquer substance. While the shine of most artificial pearls is
primarily surface reflection, a cultured pearl emanates a deep three-dimensional glow that appears to
come from within the pearl itself
What is the difference between natural and cultured pearls?
Natural pearls form without human assistance -- when a foreign object, such as a parasite or piece
of shell, accidentally lodges itself in an oyster's soft inner body where it cannot be expelled. This
happens so rarely that, today, nearly all natural pearls one sees are in estate jewelry collections.
Absolutely not. Cultured pearls, like natural pearls, are grown within live oysters.Each begins when
a skilled technician surgically implants a host oyster with a shell bead and piece of mantle tissue. To
protect itself, the oyster secretes a crystalline substance, called "nacre," over the irritant. Over time,
the nacre layers build on one another, creating a surface that glows with a luster unique to true
pearls. Artificial, or imitation, pearls, on the other hand, do not involve oysters in any way, but are
manufactured from various chemicals and compounds. Even so, be aware that some imitation pearls
are sold as "organic." One popular technique for producing artificial pearls involves dipping a glass
bead many times into a fish-scale-and-lacquer substance. While the shine of most artificial pearls is
primarily surface reflection, a cultured pearl emanates a deep three-dimensional glow that appears to
come from within the pearl itself
What is the difference between natural and cultured pearls?
Natural pearls form without human assistance -- when a foreign object, such as a parasite or piece
of shell, accidentally lodges itself in an oyster's soft inner body where it cannot be expelled. This
happens so rarely that, today, nearly all natural pearls one sees are in estate jewelry collections.