Types of pearls
Fine pearls could either be natural or cultured.
Natural pearls are those which are formed in the “wild” or naturally. However, the truth is that only a very small percentage of mollusks in the wild produce pearls. Of that small percentage, an even smaller fraction is actually harvested. That is why natural pearls are quite rare and are even more treasured. Pearls that are produced naturally are almost never perfectly round. In fact, natural pearls almost always have an irregular shape.
Culture pearls came about because of the rarity of natural pearls. If humans relied on natural pearls, perhaps only the richest people in the world would be able to afford them. As such, the development of cultured pearls was most welcome. This feat can be attributed to Japanese scientists, who were able to introduce an irritant into a mollusk’s shell and, by returning the creature into the sea, were able to develop cultured pearls. Cultured pearls can either be saltwater or freshwater, depending on where the mollusks are located while the pearl is being developed.