Pearls look magnificent and are gorgeous gifts for any occasion. Mankind has a fascination for these beautiful gems since ages. Pearls don’t occur on land and are found in various water bodies. There are different types of pearls. Natural pearls occur in nature whereas cultured pearls are produced through human intervention. Women will be thrilled to receive pearl beads in the form of jewelry as wedding or birthday gifts. Pearls have always been popular and the demand for them is growing constantly. We take a look at freshwater pearls.
A pearl is the only gemstone created within a living, breathing creature. It is not mined unlike other gemstones. When there is an irritant in the tissue of an oyster or mussel a substance is secreted for self-defense. The substance is nacre and this spreads around the irritant in concentric layers, thus forming a beautiful pearl bead.
Pearls may be freshwater or saltwater. Freshwater pearls are found in mussels which grow in non-saline water bodies such as lakes and ponds. Luckily, for women they are less expensive as compared to saltwater pearls. You would be delighted to know that they come in a plethora of colors, sizes and shapes. The colors could be ivory white, pink, silver and every hue of the rainbow. They are relatively durable and resistant to erosion. Most Cultured Freshwater pearls originate from China. Their shapes range from round, button, baroque, semi-baroque and many more.