Gift PearlsGift Pearls - Fresh water and cultured pearls vary in quality and luster. A pearl is produced within the soft body of a living shelled mollusk. The more desirable pearls are smooth and perfectly round. However, in nature there are many shapes of pearls. The finest pearls are considered gemstones and are rare and beautiful. True iridescent pearls are produced by clams and these are the most desirable pearls. They live in the sea (pearl oysters) and rivers (river mussels). Gem-quality pearls sometimes occur naturally, but the majority are formed with the help of pearl farmers. These are called cultured pearls.
For 1000's of years, most pearls were brought up from the sea floor by divers. About 2000 years ago the Chinese hunted pearls in the South China Sea. New World pearls were discovered by the Spanish conquers near Venezuela. These pearls are known for the unique pale yellow color. Pearl hunting was a very dangerous job because of the undersea depth and because of the rarity of pearls. For each ton of oysters opened only one or two pearls would be found of gem quality. Cultured pearls are man induced but oyster made. An Australian discovered how to make a cultured pearl by placing a grain of sand withing the live oyster's shell.
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