Type of Pearl

Natural Pearls, are formed by nature without instigation from human being. Natural pearl are formed  around an irritant, such as a grain of sand, a piece of coral or seashell. Today, true natural pearls are the most rare, consequently considered the most valuable pearls, or already become part of antique jewelry.

Japanese Cultured Pearls, are originally associated with The Japanese Cultured Pearl Industry (like Akoya pearl, Mikimoto Pearl). Colors include white, cream, gold, rose. The sizes are generally smaller than south sea pearls. Large sized pearls are rare.

Freshwater Cultured Pearls, are farmed in freshwater and grown in mussels. The irritants and the oysters used in making freshwater pearls are smaller than saltwater pearls. Freshwater pearls cultivating technique usually produce twenty or more pearls in one oyster, and it only takes one and a half years to two years to harvest.

Keshi Pearls, are very small pearl by product of the pearl culturing process. If debris enters an oyster while it's open during the harvesting process, the oyster covers the debris with nacre, thus creating Keshi pearls.

Mabe Pearls, are created when human attaches a plastic dome to the inside shell of an oyster, which reacts by covering the dome with nacre. When harvested the Mabe is cut off from the shell, and the inside filled with plastic or other material, to give more weight, and the mother pearl are placed on the back of the Mabe pearls.

Mother of The Pearl, is not actual pearl, it is the shiny coating that can be seen on the inside of an oyster. All shell that have ability to create a pearl will have mother of the pearl coating present.