Pretty Pearls

Pearls are the only gemstone made by a living creature. Unlike other gems, they don't need to be cut or polished. They are naturally perfect!

Pearls are formed when an irritant enters an oyster, mussel, or clam sparking a defence mechanism releasing a fluid, which coats the irritant. Over time, layer upon layer of this coating called ‘nacre’ builds up developing into a pearl.

  Natural pearls occur when the irritant, usually a parasite or small piece of grit, works its way into the mollusc starting the process of pearl creation without any intervention. Natural pearls are extremely rare with only one in ten thousand oysters creating a pearl of its own.

  Cultured pearls are not artificial and come from the very same source as natural pearls. The only difference is humans have intervened by inserting the irritant into the mollusc and leaving it to work its magic. The pearls you see on shelves of jewellery stores around the world are most likely cultured pearls.