Freshwater Pearl (Baroque Pearl)

Item Description

There are a few organic materials that are part of the gem world, predominantly pearls, coral and amber, but others are seen in the gem and jewelry industry all over the world. A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The finest quality natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries, and because of this, the word pearl has become a metaphor for something very rare, fine, admirable, and valuable. Freshwater pearls are cultured from freshwater mussels, alsmot exclusively in China. Chinese freshwater pearls are longer-lasting and come in a wider variety of colors than saltwater pearls. Freshwater pearls have a very thick nacre layer, which gives them a beautiful luster and shine. The other advantage of freshwater pearls is that one can harvest as many as 30 pearls out of a single mussel and continue to reuse the mussel as long as the waters are kept clean and healthy. Here we have a beautiful freshwater pearl with natural (unaltered) form and a beautiful soft rainbow iridescence on the surface. The style/shape of this piece would certainly classify it as a baroque pearl. The piece is undrilled and the unique three-dimensional form would allow it to be set into a completely one-of-a-kind piece of jewerly. Don't miss out on this good sized beautiul pearl for your collection.