Pearls are classified based on where they are found and
how they are formed. Here are the major pearl varieties:
AKOYA
These cultured
saltwater pearls are usually found around the islands of Japan, and are
considered among the finest in the world.
SOUTH SEA OR
TAHITIAN
These large pearls are cultured in saltwater areas and can be
white, golden or black. The black variety are often called "Tahitian" pearls.
SOUTH SEA KESHI
These
irregularly shaped pearls actually grow alongside cultivated pearls. Composed
primarily of nacre, these pearls grow unexpectedly inside the mollusk.
FRESHWATER
These
irregularly shaped pearls are grown in mollusks found in freshwater lakes and
rivers.
MABÉ
(pronounced mah-BEE):
These pearls have a half-sphere shape that is formed by the pearl being cultured
against the inside of the oyster's shell.
IMITATION
There are also
imitation pearls, which are completely man-made (usually of glass or plastic
coated with lacquer or fish scales to make them iridescent) and are not
cultivated inside a mollusk or oyster. Majorca is a well-known center for the
production of imitation pearls. Although there are some good imitation pearls
available, few possess the luster and orient of natural cultured pearls. You may
have seen people rubbing pearls on their teeth to check if they're real. The
reason is real pearls feel gritty when rubbed against your teeth; imitation
pearls usually feel smooth.
