06/03/2026
We usually think of gems as rocks dug out of the ground, but pearls are the only gemstones in the world created by a living creature!
Only about 1 in every 10,000 wild oysters will ever produce a pearl, and most of those aren't perfectly round.
Today, over 99% of pearls on the market are cultured pearls. While natural pearls remain valuable due to their rarity, cultured pearls have allowed more people to experience the elegance of these gemstones while ensuring sustainability.
In many cultured pearl operations, skilled farmers can extract the mature pearl and insert a new bead nucleus, allowing the mollusk to grow another pearl. Cultured pearls can take anywhere from six months to several years to reach a harvestable size. 💟