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Uniqueness of Pearls
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Pearls have been prized for their beauty and rarity for more than four
thousand years. Ancient cultures like China, India, Eygpt, Imperial Rome
and even Arabs and native American tribes have valued these unique,
biologically based gemstones. Infact, cultures from around the world and
through out recorded history have valued pearls much longer than any
other gems. |
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What makes Pearls unique compared to other gemstone is that it is the
only gemstone which is grown inside of a living organism. A foregin
substance ( most often a parasite - not a grain of sand ) invades the
shell of the mollusk, entering the soft mantle tissue, and picking up
epithelial cells. In response to the irritation, the epithelial cells
form into a sac ( known as pearl sac ) which secretes a crystalline
substance called nacre. This is the same substance which makes up the
interior of the oyster's shell, and which builds up in layers around the
irritant, thus forming the pearl.
Do you know that there are approximately 8,000 different species of two
shelled ( bi-valve ) mollusks, and only 20 types are capable of
consistently producing pearls?
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