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Chandelier Freshwater Pearl
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Sea Freshwater Pearl Necklace,
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Rice Freshwater Pearl Set, Rice
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Chandelier Freshwater Pearl
Earring body accessory, antiques,
asian pearl body accessory, asian
pearls, Baby south sea, Baby South
Sea Freshwater Pearl Bracelet, baby
south sea freshwater pearl earring,
Baby South Sea Freshwater Pearl
Necklace, Baby South Sea
Freshwater Pearl Set, black pearl,
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Dangling, dangling freshwater pearl
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Sea Freshwater Pearl Necklace,
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Necklaces, oblong pearl, online
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About Pearls
Hard, rounded secretion formed inside the shell of certain mollusks, used
as a gem. It is secreted by the epithelial cells of the mantle, a curtain of
tissue between the shell and body mass, and is deposited in successive
layers around an irritating object—usually a parasite in the case of natural
pearls—that gets caught in the soft tissue of the mollusk. The pearl is built
up of layers of aragonite or calcite (crystalline forms of calcium carbonate)
held together by conchiolin (a horny organic substance); its composition is
identical to that of the mother-of-pearl , or nacre, that forms the interior layer
of the mollusk shell. Pearls may be rice-shaped, round, pear-shaped,
button-shaped, or irregular (baroque) and are valued in that order. Pearls
found attached to the inner surface of the shell are known as blister pearls.
The best pearls are usually white, sometimes with a creamy or pinkish
tinge, but may be tinted with yellow, green, blue, brown, or black. Black
pearls, because of their rarity, are often highly valued. The unique luster, or
orient, of pearls depends upon the reflection and refraction of light from the
translucent layers and is finer in proportion as the layers are thinner and
more numerous. The iridescence which some pearls display is caused by
the overlapping of successive layers, which breaks up light falling on the
surface. Pearls are not cut or polished like other gems. They are very soft
and are injured by acids and heat; as organic products, they are subject to
decay.
Commercially valuable pearls are obtained from pearl oysters (especially of
the genus Pinctata ) and from freshwater pearl mussels (especially of the
genus Hyriopsis ). The largest natural pearl center is the Persian Gulf,
which is said to produce the finest saltwater pearls. Other important
sources are the coasts of India, China, Japan, Australia, the Sulu
Archipelago, various Pacific islands, Venezuela, and Central America, and
the rivers of Europe and North America. In ancient times the Red Sea was
an important source.
Nearly all of the world's supply of cultured saltwater pearls is produced by
the Japanese, who have perfected the techniques of saltwater pearl
cultivation. These pearls are commonly produced by placing a small mother-
of-pearl bead enclosed in a piece of mantle tissue in the body of the oyster.
The oysters are then placed in cages that are suspended into sheltered
bays for the period of time (up to 4 years) required for pearl formation.
Freshwater pearl cultivation is dominated by the Chinese. To produce
freshwater pearls, a small piece of mantle tissue from one mussel is
placed into a second mussel; shell beads and small seed pearls are also
used. The quantity of freshwater pearls produced far exceeds that of
saltwater pearls, and freshwater pearls are also significantly cheaper.
Although many freshwater pearls are irregular oblong “rice pearls,” round
and near-round pearls are also produced. Inferior Chinese pearls are
crushed and used in cosmetics and medicines.
as a gem. It is secreted by the epithelial cells of the mantle, a curtain of
tissue between the shell and body mass, and is deposited in successive
layers around an irritating object—usually a parasite in the case of natural
pearls—that gets caught in the soft tissue of the mollusk. The pearl is built
up of layers of aragonite or calcite (crystalline forms of calcium carbonate)
held together by conchiolin (a horny organic substance); its composition is
identical to that of the mother-of-pearl , or nacre, that forms the interior layer
of the mollusk shell. Pearls may be rice-shaped, round, pear-shaped,
button-shaped, or irregular (baroque) and are valued in that order. Pearls
found attached to the inner surface of the shell are known as blister pearls.
The best pearls are usually white, sometimes with a creamy or pinkish
tinge, but may be tinted with yellow, green, blue, brown, or black. Black
pearls, because of their rarity, are often highly valued. The unique luster, or
orient, of pearls depends upon the reflection and refraction of light from the
translucent layers and is finer in proportion as the layers are thinner and
more numerous. The iridescence which some pearls display is caused by
the overlapping of successive layers, which breaks up light falling on the
surface. Pearls are not cut or polished like other gems. They are very soft
and are injured by acids and heat; as organic products, they are subject to
decay.
Commercially valuable pearls are obtained from pearl oysters (especially of
the genus Pinctata ) and from freshwater pearl mussels (especially of the
genus Hyriopsis ). The largest natural pearl center is the Persian Gulf,
which is said to produce the finest saltwater pearls. Other important
sources are the coasts of India, China, Japan, Australia, the Sulu
Archipelago, various Pacific islands, Venezuela, and Central America, and
the rivers of Europe and North America. In ancient times the Red Sea was
an important source.
Nearly all of the world's supply of cultured saltwater pearls is produced by
the Japanese, who have perfected the techniques of saltwater pearl
cultivation. These pearls are commonly produced by placing a small mother-
of-pearl bead enclosed in a piece of mantle tissue in the body of the oyster.
The oysters are then placed in cages that are suspended into sheltered
bays for the period of time (up to 4 years) required for pearl formation.
Freshwater pearl cultivation is dominated by the Chinese. To produce
freshwater pearls, a small piece of mantle tissue from one mussel is
placed into a second mussel; shell beads and small seed pearls are also
used. The quantity of freshwater pearls produced far exceeds that of
saltwater pearls, and freshwater pearls are also significantly cheaper.
Although many freshwater pearls are irregular oblong “rice pearls,” round
and near-round pearls are also produced. Inferior Chinese pearls are
crushed and used in cosmetics and medicines.
pearls,pearl
jewelry,the pearls
jewelry,the pearls
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