◂ BACK TO GEM ENCYCLOPEDIA
Pearl
Perfect shining spheres. Lustrous baroque forms. Seductive strands, warm to the touch. Pearls are simply and purely organic.

See Gem As
Tools
Research
The Color Durability of “Chocolate Pearls” by Ballerina Pearl Co.
Seven Chocolate Pearls supplied by Ballerina Pearl Co. and 12 untreated Tahitian cultured pearls (for comparison) were exposed to conditions of consumer care and wear.
Identification of “Chocolate Pearls” Treated by Ballerina Pearl Co.
Treated cultured pearls with a “chocolate” coloration have entered the market from several sources.
Cultured Pearls from the Gulf of California, Mexico
This article provides an overview of the history of natural and cultured pearls from Mexico, describes pearl culturing at the Guaymas farm, and focuses on the properties of bead-nucleated cultured pearls from P. sterna.
Identification of Yellow Cultured Pearls from the Black-Lipped Oyster Pinctada Margaritifera
Although the Pinctada margaritifera oyster usually is associated with the black pearls cultured in French Polynesia, it also can produce attractive large yellow cultured pearls, among other colors.
The Current Status of Chinese Freshwater Cultured Pearls
Chinese freshwater cultured pearls (FWCPs) are assuming a growing role at major gem and jewelry fairs, and in the market at large.
Characteristics of Nuclei in Chinese Freshwater Cultured Pearls
There has been considerable debate in the gem trade concerning the nucleation procedures being used to grow large round Chinese freshwater cultured pearls.
Cultured Abalone Blister Pearls from New Zealand
The successful culturing of abalone pearls has been known since French scientist Louis Boutan’s experimentation in the late 1890s, but commercial production has been achieved only in recent decades.
Pearl Fashion Through the Ages
A history of pearls in jewelry and fashions through the ages.
Majorica Imitation Pearls
This article discusses the history of the Majorica imitation pearl, the manufacturing and marketing processes, and the separation of the Majorica product from its cultured counterparts.
The History and Gemology of Queen Conch "Pearls"
This article reviews the history of the conch "pearl," discusses S. gigas and its fisheries, and examines the gemological properties and other characteristics of this attractive material.
Freshwater Pearls of North America
The American freshwater pearl industry and its new entry, the freshwater cultured pearl.









