Pearls
Pearls are formed when a particle or irritant such as a grain of sand finds its way into a mollusk's shell. In an attempt to quell the irritation, the mollusk coats the particle with luminescent calcium-carbonate-based substance that ultimately makes up the lustrous nacre, or body of the pearl.
In the past, pearls were considered prohibitively expensive for their rarity, especially in any kind of consistent size. Thanks to advances in cultured pearl techniques, however, most pearls today are cultured to ensure a uniform and beautiful size, color and shape. While naturally occurring pearls are almost never found, some of today's cultured pearls are considered extremely valuable and difficult to find, given their long gestation periods and the frequency of red tides and storms that threaten the more valuable cultured pearl crops.
Bailey, Banks & Biddle offers only the highest quality cultured pearls in our Mabe, Biwa, Freshwater and Tahitian pearl lines that represent a beautiful gift for ladies of all ages.
Pearls are formed when a particle or irritant such as a grain of sand finds its way into a mollusk's shell. In an attempt to quell the irritation, the mollusk coats the particle with luminescent calcium-carbonate-based substance that ultimately makes up the lustrous nacre, or body of the pearl.
In the past, pearls were considered prohibitively expensive for their rarity, especially in any kind of consistent size. Thanks to advances in cultured pearl techniques, however, most pearls today are cultured to ensure a uniform and beautiful size, color and shape. While naturally occurring pearls are almost never found, some of today's cultured pearls are considered extremely valuable and difficult to find, given their long gestation periods and the frequency of red tides and storms that threaten the more valuable cultured pearl crops.
Bailey, Banks & Biddle offers only the highest quality cultured pearls in our Mabe, Biwa, Freshwater and Tahitian pearl lines that represent a beautiful gift for ladies of all ages.
