White Freshwater Pearls, irregular "potato" shape, 4mm on 16-inch strands
Most gems are stones, but a few like Pearl, Amber, Jet, and Coral, are classified as Organic gems.
Pearls are formed inside mollusks or other bivalves (similar to oysters), which coat 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 developed into an industry by the Japanese in the 1890s who inserted mother-of-pearl beads as the basis of their cultured Pearls.
Pearls were greatly valued in ancient China and India, Greece and in Rome only people or high rank were allowed to wear them. They remain popular worldwide.
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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