Understanding white pearl jewelry
White pearl has been used for centuries in women's jewelry, as well as men's, but the white pearl has been around for longer than that. The white pearl is a solid sphere that is created deep in the sea by mollusks and oysters. When a white pearl is first dredged up from the ocean, it doesn't look much like the pearl earrings, necklaces and finger rings that they will become.
White pearl is actually a gemstone, though it looks vastly different from other gemstones that are found on Earth. White pearl will have a unique luster unlike any other gemstone, which will vary from each stone. White pearl reflects and refracts light differently depending on the number and thinness of the translucent layers found in the pearl. There are also different types of white pearl that are found in different kinds of water.
They are all beautiful choices for pearl earrings and finger rings, though the long string of pearls used for necklaces is probably the most popular choice. White pearls will either fit into the freshwater or saltwater category. Freshwater white pearl is formed in freshwater mussels that live in lakes, rivers, ponds and other bodies of fresh water. Most freshwater cultured white pearl that is sold today comes from China. By contrast, saltwater white pearl grows in oysters that live in the ocean, usually in protected lagoons. Akoya, South Sea and Tahitian are the three main types of saltwater white pearl.
There is also cultured white pearl, which is manmade. Cultured white pearl and imitation pearl earrings or finger rings can be distinguished from natural pearls by X-ray examination. Cultured white pearl is often preformed, as it tends to follow the shape of the implanted shell bead nucleus. Once the preformed white pearl beads are inserted into the oyster, it secretes a few layers of nacre around the outside surface of the implant before it is removed after six months or more.
When a nucleated cultured white pearl is X-rayed it will reveal a different structure than a natural white pearl. Cultured white pearl has a solid center with no concentric growth rings, compared to a solid center with growth rings. A natural white pearl is solid nacre, or 100 percent pearl. It is thought that natural white pearl forms under a set of accidental conditions when a microscopic intruder or grain of sand enters an oyster or other mollusk, and settles inside the shell. The oyster, being irritated by the intruder, secretes the white pearl substance called nacre to cover the irritant.
This process is repeated for many years, thus producing a beautiful and natural white pearl that can be used for pearl earrings or finger rings. White pearl takes a long time to be created naturally in the body of the oyster, but it will last considerably longer. Purchasing pearl earrings, necklaces and finger rings is a good investment as well as a thoughtful gift. White pearl is one of the most classic types of jewelry, and pearl earrings, necklaces or finger rings can be passed down from generation to generation.
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