Pearls That Can Take Your Breath Away!

Nothing can match the breathtaking enigma of Pearls. They have the power to accentuate the beauty and grace of the wearers irrespective of their age. There are many varieties of pearls available in the market. Their price is determined by their quality. Pearls formed naturally are more expensive than those produced artificially. Among the various forms of pearls the most popular and cherished is mother of pearls and freshwater cultured pearls.

mother of pearl beads takes shape in the fresh water and salt water mollusks. It is formed from the lustrous lining of the mollusk shells. These pearls are very rare to find as their formation depends upon the number of mussels living under water. The primary resources of the mollusks that produce these pearls are the tropical sea areas of Asia, Europe, Japan and the United States. However, the most valuable form of mother of pearl beads comes from the shells of abalone. The mother of pearl has been a part of people’s jewelry wardrobes since the prehistoric days. If historians and jewelry enthusiasts are to be believed, before the beginning of the 19th century many cultures preferred these radiant oyster shells over real pearls.

Besides using mother of pearl beads as decorative accessory for jewelry and household objects it was also powdered and mixed in medicines to cure several health issues related to blood and heart. Till today these beads are considered to be one of the most precious and valued jewelry and decorative items in the world.

Three of the major producers of cultured freshwater pearls are China, Japan and the United States of America. The freshwater shells and mussels that produce these beads belong to the family of Unionidae. These pearls are usually found in various attractive color tones of white and pink. These colors are determined by the colors of the mollusks they belong to. White pearls are the most commonly found cultured freshwater pearls in the market. However some mussels such as Megalonaias nervosa produce pink colored pearls while Amblema plicata offer beautiful pearls in lavender and bluish green shades.

The most valuable and rare forms of cultured freshwater pearls are the Biwa pearls. These are produced in the Lake Biwa of Japan. These famous pearls are one of the favorite types of cultured freshwater pearls amongst the buyers. However, due to rising pollution in the water their production has been put to a halt by the Japanese government.

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