Silver gold plated necklace with Pearls- ΚΟ021ΚΟ00044.4.GR

Pearl: A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids.

Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is composed of calcium carbonate (mainly aragonite or a mixture of aragonite and calcite) in minute crystalline form, which has deposited in concentric layers.

The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes, known as baroque pearls, can occur.

The finest quality of natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries.

Because of this, pearl has become a metaphor for something rare, fine, admirable and valuable.

The most valuable pearls occur spontaneously in the wild, but are extremely rare.

These wild pearls are referred to as natural pearls.

Cultured or farmed pearls from pearl oysters and freshwater mussels make up the majority of those currently sold.

Imitation pearls are also widely sold in inexpensive jewelry, but the quality of their iridescence is usually very poor and is easily distinguished from that of genuine pearls.

Pearls have been harvested and cultivated primarily for use in jewelry, but in the past were also used to adorn clothing.

They have also been crushed and used in cosmetics, medicines and paint formulations.