Moon Drops

I didn't know that much about Pearls until Fiance bought one for me. So I went and researched it.

According to my GIA certificate, my ring is a cultured pearl and diamond ring. The pearl is approximately 8.5-9.0mm. The pearl is surround by 28 round brilliant cut diamonds with a total diamond weight of 0.17 cts. The diamond clarity is VS-2 or better and the diamond color is I or better.

The beautiful pearl is the birthstone for June babies. It is also usually given as a gift during the 30th wedding anniversary. A pearl is made up of calcium carbonate produced by a living shelled mollusk. There are two different kinds of pearl, natural or cultured. Natural pearls are rare and therefore very expensive. The majority of pearls seen nowadays are cultured/farmed pearls.

Creation of a pearl - The Calcified Parasite:
Natural - A pearl basically originates from a parasite or organism that enters a mollusk. As a way for the mollusk to protect itself, it will secrete calcium carbonate over and over again, thus producing a pearl. The pearl can be any shape, and a perfectly round one is extremely rare.
Cultured - These are made similar to the above process except without the parasite. Instead, a pre-formed bead is inserted into an oyster and allowed to calcify for 6 months or more, developing into a pearl. An X-Ray can be used to differentiate between natural and cultured pearl - the cultured pearl will show the bead in the middle, whereas the natural pearl will just have concentric layers all the way through. There are different kinds of pearl. Some of the different pearls include the Akoya (Japanese), South Sea (Australia, Indonesia, Phillipines), Black South Sea (Tahiti and Okinawa), Freshwater (China), and Conch pearls (Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico).

(Image from Blue Nile)

Pearl Grading System - The factors used in grading a pearl are: quality, luster, surface perfection, color, shape, and size. The Mikimoto Grading System is often used for this.

Luster - more shiny = more expensive.

(Image from Costellos)

Surface Perfection - minimal blemish = more expensive.

(Image from Costellos)

Color - cream, gray, green, blue , black and pink. Evenly distributed = better.

(Image from Blue Nile)

Shape - perfectly round = rare and super expensive. Button, tear drop, baroque are other shapes.

(Image from Blue Nile)

Size - Size is measured diameter in mm. Bigger = more expensive. Also, larger pearls tend to shine more. Akoya pearls range from 3.5-10mm and South Sea pearls range from 8-18mm.

(Image from Blue Nile)

Pearl Maintenance: Wear your pearl as often as possible! Your body's natural oils give the pearl more luster. You also want to avoid chemicals, anything acidic and soap. A soft cloth can be used to wipe pearls. I love the folklore story taken from this website: "It was said in some early cultures that the pearl was born when a single drop of rain fell from the heavens and became the heart of the oyster. Pearls have been called the 'teardrops of the moon'. Some believe that pearls were formed by the passage of angels through the clouds of heaven. Over time, the pearl has become the symbol of purity and innocence and it is often sewn into bridal gowns, or worn as jewelry by the bride."

Pearl Sources:
Wiki
BlueNile
Mikimoto
Costellos

Do you have a Pearl? What kind of Pearl do you have?