If you want to know how moissanite rings pearls are made, read on! Pearls are a fascinating treasure of nature, a true hidden gem. For centuries, people have cherished them and nurtured the Marine creatures that produce them. Pearls have a vital significance in many cultural traditions, especially those related to the sea.
Their popularity has continued into modern times as an attractive decoration and a symbol of rarity, fragility, and wonder of the natural world. But what exactly is a pearl? Many continue to question their origins, including how they came into being, where they came from, and even whether they come from a moral source.
What is a pearl?
Although not technically stones, moissanite rings, and pearls are considered the "queen of gems" - a rugged, insidiously colored, often spherical object that forms inside mollusks such as oysters and clams. They are derived from mollusks such as oysters and clams and are a natural by-product of these animals.
They can come in many different shapes and sizes. Cultured pearls are pearls extracted from farmed and harvested mollusks and can be dyed to produce a variety of colors. There are also imitation pearls, which are not real pearls but are made from the iridescent shells of other animals.
These pearls are less expensive, but not as shiny or long-lasting as the real thing, so potential buyers or collectors should be aware of the difference.
How are pearls formed?
The manufacture of moissanite ring pearls begins with the secretion of Mother of Pearl, also known as "Mother of Pearl". Mother of pearl is a calcium carbonate secreted by mollusks to protect themselves from irritation. When an irritant, such as a broken shell, gets stuck in an animal's shell, mollusks secrete a layer of nacre around the irritant to protect themselves.
Over time, this nacre - the milky white and iridescent color that gives the pearl its luster - builds up, becoming evenly smooth, usually with the action of water, and hardening into spheres. In addition to spheres, pearls can also be irregularly shaped and are known as "Baroque pearls".
How long does it take for a pearl to form?
While moissanite ring pearls can begin to form after six months, it takes about two years for a gem-quality pearl to form, and pearls can take up to four years before they are ready to be harvested. The longer an oyster lives, the bigger its pearl will grow.
Cultured pearls can wait to develop before being harvested until the desired pearl size is reached. During this time, pearl farmers regularly check mollusks for barnacles and parasites and keep them in fast-moving, nutrient-rich waters such as tidal bays.
How are pearls harvested?
After the moissanite ring pearls are fully formed and become large enough to harvest, the next step is to remove them from the mollusk's shell. For centuries, this meant simply prying open the mollusk's shell and removing the pearl, but today it is possible to remove the pearl without harming the host animal, although great care must be taken.
In many cases, this means removing the mollusks and transporting them to special harvesting facilities. Their shells are gently pried open by experts, and their pearls are extracted with specialized tools. This prevents not only damage to mollusks but also potential damage to pearls.
Many farmers will return the mollusk to the water to plant more natural pearls. Still, others can artificially induce pearl formation by transplanting a small particle (usually a small sphere of a shell and a bit of mantle tissue from another mollusk) into a harvested animal shell. Up to 25 of these grafts can be introduced into a single animal, and each shell can produce 25 pearls!
Mussel moissanite rings pearls vs. oyster pearls.
Mussels and oysters are the two most common mollusks found in both natural and cultured pearls. Although these two distant relatives produce pearls in the same way, their farming methods and even the quality of the pearls may differ. However, with a little practice, it is possible to tell the two apart.
Mussel pearl
Mussel pearls, or "freshwater pearls," are usually smaller and less shiny than oyster pearls. Freshwater pearls can come in a variety of colors; Japanese Akoya pearls can be white, black, pink, blue, gold, grey, and cream.
As their nickname suggests, freshwater moissanite ring pearls are grown in freshwater lakes, rivers, and ponds, and are the most common type of cultured pearl. Because these farms can be located in warm or cold water, and because farmers can artificially induce multiple pearls to grow in each oyster, oyster pearls are easier to mass produce and saturate the pearl market.