Judging quality
Nacre quality is judged by orient — the soft interference glow beneath the surface — not just by shine. Real pearls feel gritty tooth-tested; imitations are glassy smooth.
Organic
Pearl
Concentric nacre laid down by a mollusc around an irritant. Almost all pearls on the market are cultured; natural pearls are rare enough to be an auction category of their own.
Care
Last on, first off. Perfume, hairspray and sweat all etch nacre. Wipe after wearing.
History & lore
Pearls were the most valuable gem of the ancient Mediterranean, and Roman sumptuary law tried repeatedly and unsuccessfully to restrict who could wear them.
Cultural history, recorded as tradition rather than as medical or scientific claim.
Common questions about Pearl
- What is Pearl?
- Concentric nacre laid down by a mollusc around an irritant. Almost all pearls on the market are cultured; natural pearls are rare enough to be an auction category of their own.
- How hard is Pearl and what is it made of?
- Pearl is a Organic-family mineral with the composition CaCO3 (nacre). It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and rates 2.5-4 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs in white, cream, peach, grey.
- Where does Pearl come from?
- Notable localities for Pearl include Japan (akoya), China (freshwater), Tahiti, Australia.
- How do you tell good Pearl from filler?
- Nacre quality is judged by orient — the soft interference glow beneath the surface — not just by shine. Real pearls feel gritty tooth-tested; imitations are glassy smooth.
- How do you care for Pearl?
- Last on, first off. Perfume, hairspray and sweat all etch nacre. Wipe after wearing.
See it in person
Photographs only go so far
Both rooms are open six days a week, and there is always someone happy to pull pieces out of the case so you can compare them under the light.