Cultured pearls?

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cutiepie21

O.G.
May 15, 2006
2,257
2
#1
I'm thinking about getting a pearl bracelet/necklace/earring set... don't know much about it though. I've looked at a few sets online and in the description of some of them it says "cultured pearls". Does this mean the pearls are fake?? Also, does anyone have suggestions on what to look for when buying pearls?

TIA!! :tup:
 
#2
Hi Cutiepie21! Pearls are a great choice, they are a true classic and I wear mine all the time. Cultured pearls are not fake, they are genuine pearls. The thing about pearls is that they are formed when an irritant (like a grain of sand) makes its way into an oyster, which then covers it with nacre (the pearly stuff that gives pearls their sheen and lustre). For cultured pearls, the irritant is manually inserted into the oyster- they are basically guaranteed to form a pearl that way. Non cultured pearls are much more expensive than cultured pearls because there are fewer oysters producing pearls.
If you want to learn more about pearls, try looking at Iridesse.com. They have a lot of information about pearl types, grades, and quality that will help you know what to look for, and they also have a good selection of necklaces at various price points. Pearlsonly.com also has a wide selection.
 
#6
Mikimoto cannot be beat for pearls! They can be costly, so if you are just dipping your toes in the pearl pond, you might want to check out Honora. They have tons of different styles and are not very expensive.
 
#7
Mikimoto has the most gorgeous gorgeous pearls... like OMG I die kind haha. I hope to someday own a strand from them. I've purchased a few from various vendors, but have yet to see the luster that M has.
 
#8
This is an old thread but I thought I'd add links to some articles I've written about Pearls for those that would love to learn some history and definitions.

*What is a Cultured Pearl? Cultured vs. Natural Pearls

*What is the difference between Freshwater vs. Saltwater Pearls?The main differences between Freshwater and Saltwater pearls are cost, size, rarity and longevity.

*What is a Tahitian Pearl? Information on Pearl Farming & how it has saved oysters from extinction, Auctions, Government Regulations & Quality Control and the definition of "Pistachio Pearl"

*What is a South Sea Pearl?
 
#9
cutiepie21 said:
I'mI've looked at a few sets online and in the description of some of them it says "cultured pearls". Does this mean the pearls are fake??
Click to expand...

During the 1800-early 1900's Divers would go out on boats called Pearl Schooners and dive deep for oysters for the naturally formed pearls. Unfortunately this nearly killed off the oyster population in many areas. So thankfully man intervened by creating a "culturing technique" that involves nucleating an oyster with a small irritant.

98% or more of the pearls on the market are cultured. The Aussie South Sea & Tahitian Farms are regulated by the local governments and are very strict to protect the life and health of the oyster/ mollusk population. There is only 1 pearl per oyster and the oysters are very gently observed and cared for to ensure that they survive the nucleation process.
 
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