FRESHWATER PEARLS IN HANDCRAFTED JEWELRY
Wikpedia defines a pearl as "a hard, roundish object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk." The mantle tissue of certain species of freshwater mollusks creates a freshwater pearl by the same process it creates the pearly inner layer of its own shell -- laying down multiple minute layers of mother of pearl or "nacre" (composed of calcium carbonate). Marine oysters use this process to create "sea" pearls.
Most freshwater pearls used in handcrafted jewelry are "cultured". This means a bead or small object is inserted into the mollusk shell as an irritant. As the mollusk lays down layers and layers of nacre over the inserted bead (irritant), creating a beautiful coating of irridescence. This irridescent quality or "lustre" of pearls has been prized for thousands of years. When the pearls are fully coated with nacre, pearl farmers harvest the finished pearls and sell them to the jewelry market.
While sea pearls are usually valued for their roundish shape, freshwater pearls come in a variety of shapes and colors that make them unique. Interesting names are given to these various shapes including "potato", "coin", "nugget", "rice" and "stick", among others. Next time you see freshwater pearls, try to give a name to their unusual shape.
Many colors and hues of dye can be applied to the exterior of the pearls and baked onto their surface. The true beauty of freshwater pearls lies in their wide variety of colors, and also their unique shape and lustre. These unique shapes and colors enhance the handcrafted jewelry pieces the freshwater pearls are a part of.
Wikpedia defines a pearl as "a hard, roundish object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk." The mantle tissue of certain species of freshwater mollusks creates a freshwater pearl by the same process it creates the pearly inner layer of its own shell -- laying down multiple minute layers of mother of pearl or "nacre" (composed of calcium carbonate). Marine oysters use this process to create "sea" pearls.
Most freshwater pearls used in handcrafted jewelry are "cultured". This means a bead or small object is inserted into the mollusk shell as an irritant. As the mollusk lays down layers and layers of nacre over the inserted bead (irritant), creating a beautiful coating of irridescence. This irridescent quality or "lustre" of pearls has been prized for thousands of years. When the pearls are fully coated with nacre, pearl farmers harvest the finished pearls and sell them to the jewelry market.
While sea pearls are usually valued for their roundish shape, freshwater pearls come in a variety of shapes and colors that make them unique. Interesting names are given to these various shapes including "potato", "coin", "nugget", "rice" and "stick", among others. Next time you see freshwater pearls, try to give a name to their unusual shape.
Many colors and hues of dye can be applied to the exterior of the pearls and baked onto their surface. The true beauty of freshwater pearls lies in their wide variety of colors, and also their unique shape and lustre. These unique shapes and colors enhance the handcrafted jewelry pieces the freshwater pearls are a part of.
