Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a natural pearl and a cultured pearl?

Quick answer: nature forms the first one by accident; people help with the second. A natural pearl is the result of a mollusc’s response to an irritant (usually a microscopic parasite) that finds its way into the mollusc’s body. To protect itself from irritation and infection, the mollusc’s mantle tissue secretes a substance called nacre (NAY-ker). Nacre is deposited in concentric layers around the irritant, and that eventually forms a pearl.

A cultured pearl is created when people play a role in the pearl-formation process.  A nucleus is inserted into the mollusc to induce the production of nacre, and thereby produce a pearl. The nucleus may be a mother-of-pearl bead with a small piece of mantle tissue, or just a piece of mantle tissue on its own.

Nacre, mantle tissue and pearl culturing will be discussed in greater depth on our blog. Stay tuned.

Is a freshwater pearl a cultured pearl?

Yes, it is. It’s a common misconception that freshwater pearls are a separate category apart from cultured pearls. Cultured simply means the pearl was created with human assistance. There are freshwater cultured pearls and saltwater cultured pearls.

Why do pearl necklaces have knots between the pearls?

There are practical and aesthetic reasons for knots between pearls.

Practical: if the necklace breaks, only one or two pearls might be lost. When an unknotted necklace breaks, every single pearl escapes! Knots also prolong the life of pearls: pearls are soft gems, so knots protect them from damage resulting from rubbing against each other.

Aesthetic: a knotted necklace feels more fluid and drapes more gracefully. Knots and thread colour may be an integral part of the design.