Pearls are one of the most beloved and stunning gems that have been prized for their beauty and rarity for thousands of years yet oftentimes misunderstood.

Pearls are known for their soft glow and are formed within oysters or mollusk when a foreign substance invades the shell. To reduce irritation, the mollusk coats it with layers of nacre.

Nacre and mother of pearl consist of the same substance which also makes up the interior of a mollusk's shell. After building layers around the irritant, a pearl is then formed.

Because natural pearls are so rare, Japanese researchers discovered a method of producing pearls artificially in the early 20th century which is called Cultured Pearls. 

Kokichi Mikimoto expanded the pearl industry and was the most commercially successful cultured pearl manufacturer. Mikomoto received a patent for his technique for artificially stimulating  and perfecting the development of round pearls.

The popularity of cultured pearls expanded in the US after World War II when soldiers would bring them home for their wives.

There are four types of cultured pearls
•    South Sea: established in 1950's and were mostly from Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The typically have a softer lustre with gold and silver in color.
•    Tahitian: Established in the 1960's  and are generally from French Polynesia and Cook Islands. They are lustrous, grey-black with purple, pink or blue-green tones.
•    Freshwater: Established in the 1970's are from mussels with the majority produced in China. Because of the high volumes of production, the prices of these pearls are relatively low and are available in variety of colors.
•    Akoya: Generally from Japan and are round, lustrous with a hint of pink, blue or green, and with uniform shapes and sizes.  

There are other types of pearls and pearl products:
•     Natural and cultured Blister Pearls which has been processed for centuries. They form the same way as other pearls but adhere to the shell as they form therefore giving it a lump or blister look.
•    Mabe Pearls: Filled in and backed with mother-of-pearl and tend to be flat of the bottom.
•    Abalone Pearls: Formed in a single shelled, colorful mollusk that have unusual colors and irregular shapes.
•    Keshi: Available in variety of colors and irregular shapes and are also the most affordable.
•    Seed Pearls: Small natural pearls that are usually 2mm in diameter.