Cultured Pearl vs Freshwater Pearl vs Saltwater Pearl: From A to Z
A pearl is a hard, shining object formed within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk such as an oyster or another animal, such as a mussel. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is composed of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. Both freshwater and saltwater mollusks produce pearls as a natural defense against an irritant, such as a parasite, bone, or even a grain of sand, entering their shell or causing harm to their sensitive bodies. The invasion of this irritant causes the oyster or mussel to slowly ...