Freshwater Pearls, irregular "potato" shape with one flat side
4 mm beads on 16-inch strands
Most gems are stones, but a few, like Pearl, Amber, Jet, and Coral are classified as Organic gems because the come from plants or animals
Pearls are formed inside mollusks or other bivalves (similar to oysters), when it coats any foreign substance that gets inside its shell with a smooth layer of nacre to reduce the irritation.
Cultured pearls were created by the Chinese in the 12th or 13th century, and the Japanese developed it into an industry in the 1890s by inserting mother-of-pearl beads as the basis for their cultured Pearls
Pearls were greatly valued in ancient China and India. The were so special in ancient Rome, that only people of high rank were allowed to wear them.
Dryness and excess humidity are both detrimental to Pearls, which are also sensitive to abrasion, detergents, acids, heat, perspiration, cosmetics and hair spray. Do not steam clean Pearls.
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