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A pearl is the only organic gem that is a birthstone. Pearls are made by either pearl oysters or pearl mussels. Pearl mussels are freshwater, but the difficluty of finding mussels with pearls is considered non-profitable. Pearl hunters generally only search for saltwater oysters. Pearls are formed when a grain of sand, or some other foriegn object, penectates the oyster shell. If the animal inside cannot push it out, it begins to form layers of shell around the grain of sand. After 100's of layers a pearl begins to form.
Pearls are usually white, but can be yellowish or black. Yellow pearls come from Australia and black pearls come from the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California. The water where the oysters live, the species of the oyster, and teh location of the pearl in the oyster cause the colors to vary.
As long ago as 500 years, people have cultured pearls. Today, most pearls are cultured. A forign object is introduced into the oyster, in the hopes it will for a pearl. In China, small Budda's have been used as the object. |
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