For The June Birthdays: Pearl

For The June Birthdays: Pearl
Found in oceans, lakes and rivers around the world, Pearl is a timeless wardrobe staple and the birthstone for the month of June.
Organic gems that grow inside the tissue of a living saltwater or freshwater mollusk, either in an oyster or mussel, natural pearls form when the mollusk secretes a substance call nacre around an irritant such as a piece of sand or a parasite that has invaded its shell, whereas cultured pearls are a product of human intervention.
During this process, technicians implant a piece of mantle tissue alone (common for freshwater cultured pearls) or with a mother-of-pearl shell bead (all saltwater) into a host mollusk. The mollusk then covers the irritant with nacre, just like during the creation of a natural pearl.
Cultured pearls are also raised in pearl farms - saltwater or freshwater operations where the mollusks are cleaned, protected from predators and eventually harvested, as for thousands of years, pearl fishing has decimated the natural pearl beds.
Where Are Pearls Found?
With pearl-bearing mollusks failing to thrive in polluted waters, pearl farms are usually located in breathtaking settings located far from civilisation, with saltwater cultured pearls being grown in many areas around the world including: Japan & China (Akoya pearls); Northern Coast of Australia through Indonesia to the Southern Coast of South East Asia (South Sea pearls) and The Gambier Islands and the Tuamotu Archipelago - both part of French Polynesia (Tahitian pearls). China is also a dominant source of freshwater cultured pearls.
Whilst natural pearls have been found over the years in the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea, Mexico, Central America and Venezuela. However, only small quantities of pearls are found in these areas today.
Specifications
- Mineral: Calcium Carbonate
- Chemistry: CaCO3
- Color: White, black, gray, yellow, orange, pink, lavender, green, blue
- Refractive Index: 1.52 - 1.69
- Specific Gravity: 2.60 - 2.85
- Mohs Hardness: 2.5 - 3.0
Also often given as a gift to a bride on her wedding day, at W.Bruford we hold in stock a beautiful selection of pearl jewellery, perfect for those June birthdays.
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Information Taken From The GIA (Gemological Institute of America)