What is the difference between a natural pearl and a cultured pearl?

A natural pearl forms in a pearl-bearing mollusk with no human intervention or assistance. Some kind of small irritant gets into the mollusk's shell and irritates the soft tissue. The mollusk will try to reduce the effects of the irritant by coating it with layers of smooth nacre (the outer 'skin' of a pearl). The process is the same for both natural and cultured pearls, except that in cultured pearls, the irritant is purposefully placed inside the mollusk by humans to begin the nacre process. There are very few natural pearls on the market today, due to many factors dating back to the early 1900's. Almost all the pearls on the market today are cultured.

I've heard of Tahitian and South Sea pearls, are these cultured?

Yes. There are four types of cultured pearls; Akoya, South Sea, Tahitian, and Freshwater. The first three are produced on saltwater pearl farms in oysters. Akoya pearls are farmed in Japan and China. South Sea pearls are farmed in Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Tahitian pearls are farmed in French Polynesia, Cook Islands and other surrounding areas. The Freshwater pearls are produced as their name indicates, on freshwater farms in mussels. Freshwater pearls are farmed in China, Japan and the US. Each of these types of pearls have different features and benefits. Please visit us for more information!

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