Pearl

What is a pearl? (and where does it come from)
Pearls are nature-made gemstones that are very beautiful. They are made by mollusks such as oysters and clams. Formation starts when a tiny bit of sand or a small stones gets into a mollusk's shell. To protect itself from scratches (as mollusks have very soft insides), the mollusk leaks a substance called nacre out of it's shell, and as the layers of nacre form, so does the pearl. The building of a pearl can take up to 7 or 8 years. (Pearls are also the official birthstone of those born in June.)

The most valuable pearls are perfectly spherical, are large, and have a special iridescent shine to them. The best pearls come from the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Chinese pearls come from ponds and rivers, while Japanese pearls come from the saltwater shores of the sea. There are many different types of pearls:

Natural Pearls- Made without human interference
Cultured Pearls- When an object is intentionally shoved inside of a mollusk, forming a pearl. This technique was first tried in 1893.
Baroque Pearls- Pearls with irregular shapes
Biwa Pearls- They are irregularly shaped pearls that are found in Lake Biwa, Japan.
Blister Pearls- Pearls that grow attached to the inside of the mollusk.
Black Pearls- Pearls in gray to black colors.
Seed Pearls- The small, cultured pearls that are used in Victorian jewelry and are sewn onto clothing.

A pearl can be from pink to black. Coloring depends on what type of mollusk it is from and where the mollusk lived. Since the nacre that coats the pearls is organic, pearls are very heat sensitive and care should be taken when storing them. They are also very soft, only a 3.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, and should not be worn often to prevent damage.