There are many methods to classify the different types of pearls, after reading this Types of Pearls article, you will learn about:
What do pearls symbolize?
How do pearls form?
What are the types of pearls?
Different types of pearls are classified by growing environment;
Different types of pearls are classified by the formation of cause;
Different types of pearls are classified by the mother-of-pearl shell;
Other types of pearls names
What do pearls symbolize?
Pearls symbolize health, purity, wealth, and happiness, since ancient times for people to love. Pearls and jadeite diamonds like jade also have the same kind of division, different kinds of pearl characters are not the same, and the value is not the same.
Different natural environments nurtured pearls, the luster is also different, and cultivated pearls are also different types.
How do pearls form?
Simply put, there is a foreign body in the pearl, by the nacreous package, more and more layers, the formation of pearls. And nowadays, artificially cultured pearls are also utilized to artificially implant foreign substances into the pearl.
The different kinds of pearls
To protect the outer membrane of its shell, the mussel secretes a special substance, which turns into a round ball when it becomes more and more, and that is the pearl.
There are many different varieties of pearls, depending on their origin, color, and natural conditions of growth. Classification of pearls, there is no uniform standard, the more practical is according to the cause and the waters of the environment and other comprehensive classifications.
The growth of the environment can be divided into freshwater pearls and saltwater pearls.
According to the cause of formation can be divided into wild and cultured.
In addition to these kinds of classifications, also according to the origin, mother of pearl, color, shape, size, and so on.
What are the types of pearls?
Here shows the different types of pearls with pictures.
Different types of pearls are classified by growing environment
Freshwater pearls
Where do freshwater pearls come from?
Freshwater pearls are freshwater mussel produce pearls, generally produced in various types of lakes, rivers, and streams, China is the main producer of freshwater pearls, accounting for 85% of the international freshwater pearls, followed by Japan and the United States and so on.
Saltwater pearls
Seawater pearls are pearls produced by seawater shellfish, according to its cause can be further divided into natural seawater pearls and artificially cultured seawater pearls two categories, the quality of seawater pearls is generally higher than freshwater pearls.
Different types of pearls are classified by the formation of cause
Natural pearls
How natural pearls are formed?
Natural pearls are formed in the natural environment of wild shellfish pearls. Natural pearls can also be formed in seawater, lakes, rivers, and other types of environments suitable for growth, this kind of pearl is very rare and expensive.
Cultured pearls
How are pearls cultured?
Artificial cultivation refers to the natural environment, artificially cultivated pearls and mussels after the artificial insertion of nuclei or foreign objects, and then after cultivation, the gradual formation of pearls.
Currently on the pearl market, the vast majority of pearls are artificially cultured pearls, and artificially cultured pearls according to the pearl nucleus and foreign matter and other characteristics can be further divided into nucleus-cultured pearls, nucleus-cultured pearls, regeneration pearls, shell pearls, and other types of pearls.
Different types of pearls are classified by the mother-of-pearl shell
Japanese Akoya pearls
Akoya pearls wiki
Akoya pearls, known as “Wabi-sabi”, are highly representative of Japanese pearls and are highly valued around the world. the reason for the good quality of Akoya pearls is that they are cultured in an environment that requires a high degree of environmental and water temperature requirements. Therefore, Akoya pearls are mostly produced in Japan.
Akoya pearls are cultivated in bays with calm waves where the water temperature is between 15-25°C. They have a high degree of natural beauty. The multiple layers of pearls are wrapped around each other, giving them a subtle color and a beautiful luster.
Akoya pearls are available in silver, golden, cream, pink, green, purple, and blue. The shape of Akoya pearls is round and the standard size is 6-8mm.
Mabe pearls
Among the types of pearls, if there is one scarce pearl, it must be the Mabe pearl, which is also known as the “dream pearl”.
The reason for its uniqueness is that it is a textured semi-circular pearl with a flat back, a diameter of 10-20mm, and more importantly, an iridescent luster.
Cultivation of Mabe pearls is done by manually inserting a semicircular nucleus into the inner part of the mother shell of the Mabe at the final stage of the life of the pearl shell, which is wrapped in layers of pearls and takes on a semicircular shape, which has become characteristic of the Mabe pearl.
This is a process in which a slight mistake is made and the perfect mabe pearls that are eventually used in jewelry are rare.
In addition to the rainbow colors, blue and brown are also popular. Various shapes of Mabe pearls can be created by changing the shape of the nucleus, such as heart-shaped or teardrop-shaped.
White South Sea Pearls
It is the largest white lip shell among pearl shells, with a size of 20-750px, and is only found in tropical waters with high water temperatures, such as Australia.
South Seas’ white pearl diameter is more than 10mm, Australia, and Indonesia, the two countries accounted for 90% of the total production.
The pearl layer is thick, the color is silver-white and pink, gold, and so on, the color is gorgeous and very luxurious.
Black South Sea pearls
Black pearls, South Pacific black pearls are also quite valuable. Black lip shells from subtropical to temperate zone widely habitats, the main origin is Micronesia, Polynesia, especially Tahiti accounting for most of the island.
The darker colors such as black, green, blue, and brown shades and shapes such as teardrop and baroque brew up its unique charm.
The dark green-black pearl, called peacock green and as beautiful as a peacock’s feather, has become an extremely high-class pearl because of its mysterious luster and rarity.
Baroque pearls
Baroque is the Portuguese language, is the Portuguese pearl traders called “deformed pearls” jargon. The irregular shapes of pearls other than spherical (round) and irregular shapes other than micro-rounds such as teardrop, egg, and button shapes are called baroque pearls.
Since they are categorized by their shape, baroque pearls are found in pearls of all shell species, including Japanese Akoya pearls.
Tahitian pearls
French Polynesia is located in the southern hemisphere, northeast of New Zealand and south of Hawaii. Tahiti is the largest of the 118 islands in the Polynesian Islands, with a total area of about 1,000 square kilometers, in the vast sea area of latitude 7~29 degrees south and longitude 13~156 degrees west.
The shape of the island resembles a tailed fish from a bird’s eye view, and the head and body of the fish are called Tahiti, also known as Tahiti Nui.
The Tahitian pearl is a kind of seawater pearl, 95% of Tahitian pearls are produced in French Polynesia, where the largest island is called Tahiti. Tahitian pearls are predominantly black and are crystals nurtured by a precious black butterfly mussel.
It comes in many color variations, including light gray, silver gray, peacock green, aubergine purple, and precious phantom colors. Because of its rarity and preciousness, the Tahitian pearl has always been loved by the royal nobles, so it is also known as “Queen’s Pearl” and “Queen of Pearls”.
Tahitian black pearls
Tahitian black pearls are the best natural pearls in the world.
Tahiti’s warm sea water is pregnant with beautiful black disc shells, this mother-of-pearl pearl quality is unique, and is a kind of secretion of black pearly black butterfly shell, in the pure and special reef sea, the black disc shell will be its unparalleled natural color to the pearl.
Tahitian black pearls are a kind of precious black pearl, due to the cultivation process is extremely difficult, and the finished product is very rare.
Tahitian black pearls are pure blood, lost alone king, aristocrat, mysterious, seductive, cold and proud, deep wisdom, unfathomable energy.
Tahitian pearls not only contain the mystery of the deep sea but also a light rainbow of illuminating light simultaneously.
Color is the most beautiful and unique Tahitian pearls, black and gray in the basic color through the rich purple, pink, aquamarine, and other illusory rainbow colors.
The most unique color is the brilliant and dazzling peacock green, these colors are completely natural knots, natural, and its strong golden luster will change with the rotation of the pearl, is not comparable to other colors of the pearl, so it is invaluable.
The annual production of high-quality black pearls is estimated to be no more than 150,000, 40% of which are sold through annual international auctions.
The majority of black pearls are concentrated between 9mm and 10mm in size, with over 60% of black pearls not exceeding 11mm in size.
Therefore, 11mm is generally regarded as the limit of black pearl rarity, while 15mm or more fine round black pearls are even rarer.
Penguin shell pearls
Penguin Shell Pearl is a kind of seawater pearl, suitable for cultivating nucleated pearls or large shell pearls, and the quality is also better, but the production is lower. It is more extensive and of better quality, but less abundant.
Penguin Shell Pearls are produced in a way that has penguin shells inside the body, which are also saltwater pearls. This type of pearl is suitable for cultivating nucleated pearls or large attached pearls and is a high-grade jewelry material.
Conch pearls
Conch pearl is a kind of large pink conch produced in the Caribbean Sea within the body of the pearl, beads are usually pink, white, or brown in the middle.
Conch pearls have unique flame-like surface traces the quality of the shape is usually oval, and symmetrical on both sides.
The mother-of-pearl shell of the conch pearl is the Queen Phoenix snail, produced in the Caribbean Sea, the surface of the conch pearl is like a jade-like texture, and the pink surface shows a unique flame pattern.
At present, conch pearls can not be artificially cultured, and are naturally wild, rarity is like the pink diamonds in the diamonds, the production is rare and worth treasuring.
Hyriopsis cumingii pearls
Hyriopsis cumingii pearls are the main species of freshwater cultured pearls, accounting for more than 95% of the market. It is produced in the body of the Hyriopsis cumingii mussel, which is a very precious pearl.
The pearls of the Hyriopsis cumingii pearl show unique luster and beautiful veins and are therefore highly appreciated by jewelry lovers. In addition to freshwater farming, it is now commercially grown and cultured.
The production of Hyriopsis cumingii pearls is very limited and therefore the price is relatively high, but its beauty and preciousness will make it a favorite among jewelry collectors.
Abalone pearls
Pearls produced in the Abalone body, are colorful, and the color of the Australian treasure, there are green, orchid, pink, yellow, and other color combinations, its form varies, very high-quality abalone pearl value is very high, and its origin is mainly in New Zealand, the United States of America, California, Mexico, Japan, and South Korea.
Osmena pearls
Osmena pearls also called Nautilus pearls.
Osmena pearl is produced in the nautilus body, belongs to the cephalopods in the phylum Mollusca, and is the same as the horse nose beads.
This pearl is filled with glass in the middle, the bottom of a layer. Australia’s Wenna pearl price is cheaper, and commonly used in earrings and pendants, and other jewelry.
Other types of pearls names
Different types of pearls colors names
According to the different types of pearls colors can be divided into white pearls, black pearls, pink pearls, golden pearls, purple pearls, yellow pearls, mixed-color pearls, and dyed pearls.
Different types of pearl shapes names
The different types of pearl shapes can be divided into round pearls, oval pearls, flat pearls, irregularly shaped pearls, etc.
Different types of pearl sizes names
The size of the pearl can be divided into different types of pearls.
Centipearls: Pearls with a diameter of less than 5mm.
Small pearls: pearls with a diameter of 5-5.5mm.
Medium pearls: pearls with a diameter of 5.5-7mm.
Large Pearls: Pearls with a diameter of 7-7.5mm.
Extra-large pearls: pearls with a diameter of 7.8-mm.
Extra Large Pearls: Pearls with a diameter greater than 8mm.
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