Natural or cultured pearls?
- Thread starter smartroh
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I doubt anyone in this forum has ever touched a natural pearl that isn't baroque (misshapen). Boutiques such as Yvel specialize in natural baroque pearls.
Natural pearls are exceedingly rare and priced accordingly. And they don't look different to the naked eye. Experts can only tell the difference by use of an x-ray machine. I doubt any pearl you'll see on the market is natural, so unless you are looking at a budget of tens of thousands, you'll only have access to cultured pearls.
You've brought up a good point. Does anyone in this forum own a strand of quality round natural pearls? If you do, please, photos!
Natural pearls are exceedingly rare and priced accordingly. And they don't look different to the naked eye. Experts can only tell the difference by use of an x-ray machine. I doubt any pearl you'll see on the market is natural, so unless you are looking at a budget of tens of thousands, you'll only have access to cultured pearls.
You've brought up a good point. Does anyone in this forum own a strand of quality round natural pearls? If you do, please, photos!
In general all pearls for sale nowadays are indeed cultured - meaning grown with the help of man - either freshwater, or cultured such as akoyas and South Sea pearls. Natural pearls mean grown without the help of man, grown by the oyster itself with an irritant such as a grain of sand or small organism. Natural pearls are no longer made, as man has taken over the cultivation of pearls in all fields. The only real, natural pearls are almost impossible to find and occasionally are for sale at auction with Sotheby or Christie and command high prices. They are always accompanied by GIA certificates. The only "natural" word that can be applied to pearls today is "natural color", meaning not color enhanced. All pearls are beautiful, baroque shapes and round, freshwater (even if less expensive) and South Sea or cultured. I have a passion for all 