Types of Pearls

There are Natural Pearls and Cultured Pearls.    Natural pearls or oriental pearls are produced without any influence of man, but cultured pearls are comletely or partially produced with the influece of man. Natural pearls have no economical, but only historical significance, because they are too seldom.   Cultured pearls are divided into sea-water and fresh-water-pearls with or without a nucleus.

   

Sea-Water Pearls are mainly cultured in Japan and China today.    Akoya-Pearls have sizes from 1 - 9 mm , their colour is white, bronze, grey or rose.   South-Sea Pearls are much larger, their sizes are 25 mm or more, their colour is white, grey, black and bronze. Due to their size they are more prizing.

Mabe-Pearls are produced by implanting hemispherical nucleus betwenn the mantle and the nacreous inner surface of the shell. This nucleus is then covered with layers of nacre.    Fresh-Water Pearls are produced with a nucleus (round) or without a nucleus (baroque).