What is a Pearl Gemstone?

Originally, it took the gathering and killing of hundreds of pearl oysters before a single pearl could be found, which explains why they were deemed so valuable, and so incredibly rare. Farming pearls, both cultured saltwater, and freshwater have seen huge advancements in quality, and affordability, bringing the pearl to more mainstream access.
Pearls, be they wild or cultured, will almost always be strong, resilient and iridescent, mimicking the interiors of the shell which created them. Natural pearls can range in colors (white to golden, to pink to black), though they can also be dyed various colors.
Thanks to their biological origins, pearls can also come in a variety of shapes, including round, semi-round, button, drop, pear, oval, baroque, circled and double-bouldered.
To determine if a pearl is real or imitation, cultured or wild, they can be x-rayed. Pearls with a nucleus are normally saltwater pearls, whereas if there is no nucleus, and there are irregular, small dark spots, the pearl is likely freshwater. Natural pearls oftentimes show larger cavities than their cultured counterparts, showing where the original organic matter had decomposed.
- Birthstone month: June
- Zodiac sign: Gemini
Pearls share their June birthstone designation with Alexandrite.