Pearls are a timeless jewellery staple. They go with everything and add sophisticated glamour to your look.
We offer a selection of different pearl products on the website and it can be a little confusing to get to grips with which is which. This handy and simple guide will break down the types of pearls you will find on My Adornments.
Unlike other gemstones, pearls are a product of living creatures. They are grown naturally by shelled creatures called molluscs that live in seas and oceans or freshwater lakes and rivers.
There are many different types of pearls that grow from different molluscs, providing us with a huge variety of colours, shapes and qualities.
Freshwater Cultured Pearls
Natural freshwater pearls have been around for thousands of years, but it was only in the 1970s that freshwater cultured pearls hit the jewellery market. The first freshwater cultured pearls were small with poor lusture, but with time and patience, they are now larger, rounder and more lustrous – putting them on a par with traditional saltwater pearls.
Freshwater pearls grow in lakes, rivers, ponds and reservoirs. They come in white, peach, pink and purple colours and have a lovely soft lustre.
They are much easier to grow than saltwater pearls and are therefore far more affordable. This is because a freshwater mussel can grow up to forty pearls at one time, whereas you rarely find more than two pearls in one saltwater oyster.
For beautiful freshwater pearls, check out our 5mm and 3mm Pearl Stud Earrings, our Pearl Drop Pendant and Freshwater Pearl Earring Charms in Yellow Gold.
Keshi Pearls
Keshi pearls are known for their organic silhouettes and bright lustre. They make distinctive one-of-a-kind accessories.
Unlike most pearls, keshi pearls do not form around a nucleus and are made of pure nacre.
When a cultured pearl is developing inside a mollusc, the mollusc sometimes secretes more nacre than necessary. This deposits on the lip of the mollusc and grows over time as more layers are added. This is how keshi pearls are formed.
Without a nucleus, there is nothing inside to block the reflection of light so they have an incredibly bright glow.
To explore the beautiful world of keshi pearls, take a look at our Keshi Pearl Charm Necklace and Pearl Drop Earrings.
Baroque Pearls
We typically think of pearls as perfect spheres. However, they come in many different organic and asymmetrical shapes – we call these baroque pearls.
Baroque is an umbrella term for any pearl that is not traditionally shaped. Most baroque pearls are freshwater pearls. Keshi pearls can also be categorised as baroque pearls if they are not spherical. An example of this is our Baroque Pearl and Diamond Earrings which feature beautiful baroque keshi pearls.
Baroque pearls are a great choice if you love pearls but want something a little more unusual. They bring a unique flair to your look and definitely help you stand out from the crowd. Take a look at our Baroque Pearl Diamond Pavé Pendant, which matches the previously mentioned earrings.
