The word
Pearl comes from the Latin pirla-a reference to the tear-shaped
form of some pearls. A natural pearl is the only organic gemstone
to be classed alongside precious gems. In fact, when they were first
introduced into Europe from the Middle East, their value was determined
to be greater than diamonds. As a natural pearl is formed when an
irritant or foreign body is present inside an oyster shell, so someone
manually inserting an irritant into a shell can create a cultured
pearl. Pearls that do not form a sphere are known as baroque (from
the Portuguese barroco meaning irregular) pearls. During the Renaissance,
natural pearls came from the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the China
Sea. In the 16th century, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and other
regions nearby were also sources of pearls. These days, natural pearls
are relatively rare, not only for environmental reasons, but also
because cultured pearls are so common. Cultured pearls have been produced
in Japan at a commercial level since the end of the 19th century.
Today, there are important pearl farms in Japan, Australia, China,
Vietnam and the South Pacific Islands. The two main criteria to consider
when valuing pearls are color and luster. The most common pearls are
white, while the most highly prized are pinkish rose pearls with a
"fine orient" or luster. All good quality pearls are a perfect
sphere and have a smooth, unblemished surface.
