Classification of pearls

Pearls are very popular known as organic gems that are naturally cultured from special pearl oysters. The pearl in the beginning is just a piece of particle that passes into the shell of a fresh water mollusk. Oysters and clams the types of the freshwater mollusks. Due to the defense mechanisms taking place within them, layer after layer of substance is formed on this particle. This substance is known as the nacre, when it finally thickens after a period of time and a pearl is formed.

Pearls are classified according to their origin and shapes. According to their origin there are:

Natural pearls- The formation of natural pearls is accidental when the foreign body enters the shell of the mollusk and forms the layers of nacre. All natural pearls are very expensive and rare.

Cultured pearls- They are formed by human intervention. Here the shell of the mollusk is opened and then an object is inserted into it. By period of time this object gets coated with nacre layers and eventually forms the pearls.

Saltwater pearls- They are formed in the mollusk living in salty waters. They can be natural or cultured.

Freshwater pearls- These pearls develop in the mollusk residing in fresh waters like that of a river or a lake.

According to the shape, the pearls are classified as”:

Symmetrical pearls- They are not exactly round but pear shaped pearls. Its shape is such that they are symmetrical from both the sides.

Spherical pearls- They are round in shape, as the name suggests. The more round the pearl is, the more does it value rises. Rounder the shape the expensive is its price tag.

Baroque- these are irregularly shaped pearl. They are unique and beautiful pearls that are least expensive as compared to the other pearls.

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