Most cultured freshwater pearls are composed entirely of nacre, just like their natural freshwater and natural saltwater counterparts. Throughout most of this century, the Japanese dominated the ...

Most pearls come from oysters, which thrive in both freshwater and saltwater environments. Oysters are bivalves that means their shell is composed of two valves connected by an elastic ligament.

Freshwater pearls, when embraced by brilliant-cut diamonds and set in silver, are lent an Art Deco edge made modern by an asymmetrical silhouette and offbeat design cues. Sandra Alexandra crafts her ...

South Sea pearls are the largest cultured-pearl variety ... whereas more common freshwater oysters can take as little as three months and create dozens of pearls. This long cultivation process ...

Pearls are made by marine oysters and freshwater mussels as a natural defence against an irritant such as a parasite ... which encases the irritant and protects the mollusc from it. When pearls are ...