As Christmas nears, people across the country are flocking toward jewelry shops to purchase valuables for their loved ones; just like the commercials tell us, right? Many people covet these ocean treasures, but how many stop to think where the precious gems come from? Pearls are so ubiquitous that people often forget that they come from creatures as cryptic and unassuming as bivalves! From slow growth to harvest, there is still a lot that we can learn about pearls and the creatures that make them. Just as the trained eye can easily distinguish between the fake imitation and the real deal, we can all remember to appreciate and value natural products over manufactured ones. However, just as for pearls, sometimes that line gets fuzzy.
Pearls come from both saltwater oysters and freshwater mussels and they begin forming when the animal wants to seal off its shell to ward off infections and parasites. What an interesting immune system byproduct! If only humans could do such tricky things when flu season comes around. However, this process is actually very rare in nature (and thus valuable). As with most valuable things, humans have devised ways to hasten the process. Farming pearls involves transplanting donor tissues into host shells to cause the desired immune response. The imitation pearls are created through the stimulated build-up of calcium carbonate and can only be distinguished from their natural counterparts through X-rays.
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| Pearl farm operations of the world |
Pearls have undeniably had a large role in beautifying society's elite for hundreds of years, a pattern likely to continue into the future. As oceans warm and acidification levels rise, it will be interesting to see if and how pearl farmers have to adapt their strategies. Either way, as with most products we purchase, it is good to think about where it came from and how it got into our hands. If you're in the market for some jewelry this holiday season, think about options such as these
sustainable pearls that you can trace from the source.
As Christmas nears, people across the country are flocking toward jewelry shops to purchase valuables for their loved ones; just like the commercials tell us, right? Many people covet these ocean treasures, but how many stop to think where the precious gems come from? Pearls are so ubiquitous that people often forget that they come from creatures as cryptic and unassuming as bivalves! From slow growth to harvest, there is still a lot that we can learn about pearls and the creatures that make them. Just as the trained eye can easily distinguish between the fake imitation and the real deal, we can all remember to appreciate and value natural products over manufactured ones. However, just as for pearls, sometimes that line gets fuzzy.
Pearls come from both saltwater oysters and freshwater mussels and they begin forming when the animal wants to seal off its shell to ward off infections and parasites. What an interesting immune system byproduct! If only humans could do such tricky things when flu season comes around. However, this process is actually very rare in nature (and thus valuable). As with most valuable things, humans have devised ways to hasten the process. Farming pearls involves transplanting donor tissues into host shells to cause the desired immune response. The imitation pearls are created through the stimulated build-up of calcium carbonate and can only be distinguished from their natural counterparts through X-rays. 
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