Why Do Oysters Make Pearls?

Pearls have stood the test of time because they are beautiful gemstones. They are passed on through generations. Once a rare commodity, today, these jewels are far easier to access. Over the years, even though the way pearls are produced may have been tweaked a little, the gemstones are still the same. However, you may wonder why oysters make these pearls in the first place. This article will discuss just that.

Oysters are slimy yet delicious invertebrates that also produce pearls. When you look at an oyster, you may think, "What made the first person want to eat that?" because of how unpalatable it seems. But, as you know, it is now a famous delicacy worldwide. Even though oysters are listed as endangered or threatened species, they are extremely sensitive to water quality and are susceptible to coastal pollution. In many places where oysters used to be abundant, their populations have diminished or disappeared altogether. Oysters also absorb and retain toxins from the ocean in their flesh, which technically makes them unhealthy for human consumption. And, yes, oysters also produce pearls. The production of pearls is a product of the natural defense mechanism of the oyster to protect its insides against any foreign particle or irritant that enters its shells.

The shells of oysters are either pear-shaped or oval. The shells vary in form, depending on what they are attached to. Usually, the outer shell is whitish-gray, while the inside shell is a porcelain white. Adductor muscles in their shells are extremely strong, which allows them to close them when threatened. The inside layer of the oyster shell is where pearls are usually produced. The jewels are also formed in the lining of the shell, and these are called Keshi freshwater pearls. These jewels are different from conventional pearls as they are tiny and irregularly shaped.

Oysters are broadly divided into three parts: 

1. Mantle: This is the fresh layer of delicate tissue that surrounds its body and enables the development of the shell. It also contributes to the production of a calcium carbonate layer or nacre lining the shell's inside. 
   
   
2. Hinge: This governs the oyster's opening, and the adductor muscle helps keep it shut. To open the shell of the oyster, the adductor muscle is required to be cut open. 
   
   
3. Gills: These are critical to helping oysters breathe and feed. Cilia in the gills generate water currents that transport food particles to the oyster for consumption. It feeds on plankton and tiny organisms transported via the currents.

Another thing to note is that oysters do not have a head. It is a sequential hermaphrodite, which means the oyster changes from male to female several times during its growth. 

Natural pearls are made when a tiny particle or irritant enters the shell of an oyster or any other mollusk and lodges itself there. The oysters then start to secrete layers of calcium carbonate or nacre around the particle, and this, as a whole, is what forms a pearl. The oyster secreting the calcium carbonate or nacre layer is part of its defense mechanism to protect itself from the irritant. And this, in turn, gives us the lovely jewels we wear today! Oyster pearl is a precious jewel; the ones naturally formed in seawater are the rarest.

When you think of pearls, they are broadly classified as freshwater pearls and seawater, saltwater pearls, or marine pearls. 

The pearls formed in marine waters are saltwater, while those formed in rivers, lakes, ponds, etc, are freshwater. 

The freshwater pearl variety has made the gemstone more accessible for the people and has many types, like baroque pearls, Keshi pearls, and coin pearls, to name a few. You will find all of these varieties in various colors and sizes on the Beads of Cambay website.

We have several renowned jewelry brands as customers who source from us. We are famous for being the best in the industry for the best quality jewels at the most attractive wholesale prices. And if you want to shop for pearls, why not shop from the best? 

Our entire pearl portfolio will leave you spoilt with choices. Also, the rates are the best in the market, which will only make your decision to shop with us easier. 

So we have all these pearls if you are looking for large-hole, baroque, Keshi, or coin pearls. 

The large hole variety is larger round pearls; these are the most conventional and sought-after pearls. Keshi pearls are tinier and irregularly shaped. These, too, come in various color shades. Coin freshwater pearls are flat like a button. These are more in line with boho jewelry, but you can style them as you please!

Natural pearls are so rare that they cannot cater to the current demand. That is where pearl farming comes in. It allows more pearls to be grown at a larger scale that can meet the demand for these jewels. 

The way cultured pearls are made is quite similar to the way natural ones are. The only difference is that while culturing pearls, a nucleus is surgically implanted into the shell of the oyster, and then the shell is closed and dropped back in the water to grow into a pearl. 

The oyster will secrete layers of calcium carbonate or nacre around the nucleus that has been surgically implanted in it, forming one pearl as a whole.

Pearl-making is oysters' natural defense mechanism against parasites or irritants that enter their shells. If the oyster senses that a parasite or another particle is inside its shell, it will begin to secrete the calcium carbonate layer, or nacre, around it. This is how pearls are created. The process is slow and time-consuming. The nacre layer is made from the same material as the outer shell of an oyster, but it is so smooth and soft that it protects the inside from further damage.

No, oysters do not alone produce pearls.  They are made from freshwater mussels or any other mollusk as well. However, the reason for making the pearls is the same – it is a product of its natural defense mechanism to protect itself from any foreign particle that enters its shell. The process requires time, patience, and much effort, which is why pearls are precious jewels. However, you can purchase these gemstones at great prices on the Beads of Cambay website. 

No, not necessarily. Usually, when pearls are extracted, some of the oysters are put through the same process of culturing pearls again. Some may be killed or consumed. However, many environmentalists and animal lovers have long protested against culturing pearls because they say it puts the oysters and mollusks through stress to produce the nacre layer to protect itself from the foreign particle that enters its shell. However, some people also argue that because oysters do not have a head, they do not have a nervous system and cannot feel the pain caused to them as they form pearls, which are extracted.

Pearls also have various properties that can help the wearer in different aspects of their lives: physical, mental, emotional, and psychological. 

Pearls come in various colors, and each color signifies something different. 

For example, white pearls signify calm, peace, humility, innocence, sincerity, beauty, and new beginnings. 

Blue freshwater pearls signify tranquility, trust, truth, and courage. Yellow represents optimism, creativity, happiness, and clarity, while gold symbolizes prosperity and wealth.

Pink pearls signify love, fame, romance, success, energy, and good fortune; green freshwater pearls signify nature, beauty, renewal, balance, and growth. Purple is the color for wisdom, nobility, passion, complexity, creativity, and artistry. 

Meanwhile, black pearls, though relatively rare, symbolize strength, independence, mystery, and riches.

Yes, it is absolutely possible to find a pearl in an oyster. However, this occurrence is extremely rare, and the pearls found in this manner are usually relatively tiny, yet very expensive, because of the rarity. Cultured pearls make these jewels more easily accessible and cater to the vast demand, not natural pearls. So the next time you eat an oyster, hoping to find a pearl, you will not come upon one. But if you do, consider yourself significantly because this occurrence is rare!

Oysters have existed for more than 15 million years. When an oyster turns one year old, it becomes an adult, and its life span is around two decades.

Oysters eat plankton in the sea as well as tiny organisms. The planktons include both phytoplanktons and zooplanktons. The gills of an oyster send out water currents that help bring the plankton and the tiny organisms to the oyster for it to feed on. 

Yes, clams can make pearls. The gemstones grow in oysters, mollusks, and clams.

The pearl-making process produces keshi pearls as a by-product. These leftovers are also quite attractive and have their own fanbase. Usually, people from the younger generations are fond of wearing such pearls. Keshi pearls are produced in the outer lining of the oyster. They are tiny and irregularly shaped and also come in various colors. These pearls are far cheaper than your classic large-hole pearls. You can shop for Keshi pearls from the Beads of Cambay website. 

We have a range of colors for you to pick from at very attractive rates. No Keshi pearl will look like the other, but that is the beauty of the pearl making process. It is so magical that even its by-product is a gemstone of its own!

Check out the Beads of Cambay website if you want to buy good-quality pearls in bulk at wholesale rates. We have a vast pearl portfolio across types, varieties, sizes, and colors for you to choose from. 

Whether you are looking for keshi pearls, which are tiny irregular-shaped pearls formed in the lining of the shell, or for flat coin pearls, large hole pearls, baroque ones, or any other type, we have all of them and more. And these come in so many colors for you to pick from – white, champagne, black, blue, red, green, pink, purple, silver, etc. It is not just the pearl's quality and price but also the shine of our pearls that you will find most attractive.

The luster of our pearls is unmatched! Our products are carefully picked to provide the best for you, our customer. We have quite a few renowned as well as upcoming jewelry brands and designers as our customers who trust us with our quality of products and services. 

Not just pearls, we are known to be the best in business to source any gemstone or crystal from.

Pearls are delicate gemstones and require adequate care and maintenance. These jewels, formed underwater, are not used to sweltering temperatures. They can crack in such heat. So ensure you keep your pearls in a relatively calm and moist environment. Even too much dryness can affect the pearls and cause them to crack open. Also, another essential thing to remember while storing your pearls with your other jewelry items is to ensure you keep your pearls in a separate cloth or pouch. 

This will ensure that your other jewelry does not leave scratches on the pearl's surface. But before you store your pearls, ensure you clean them with a damp microfiber cloth each time you wear them to remove any dust or dirt on their surface. Pearls can also be scratched if they are handled with a harsh material.