General Information
Gemstones
Seawater Pearl
Pearl_in_shell
Crystal Form
Orthorhombic
Moh's Scale Hardness
2.50–4.50
Specific Gravity
Natural pearls 2.68–2.74
Cultured pearls 2.72–2.78
Refractive Index
1.53–1.68
Sources

Akoya Pearl
Japan, China

South Sea Pearl
Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar and Thailand.

Tahitian Pearl
French Polynesia

Sea Pearls are grown in oysters that live in the ocean. Sea mollusks habitat in warmer regions newar the equator and have a life span of approximately 13 years. These mollusks live along the coast, approximately 50 to 65 feet under water. These oysters are ranging from about 2-1/2" to 12" in size.

There are four main types of sea pearls: Akoya, Tahitian, South Sea and
Keshi pearls.

Akoya Pearls

Akoya pearls are produced from akoya oysters and are typically round in shape. These pearls are primarily grown in Japan and China. Akoya pearls size are ranging from 2 mm to 10 mm in diameter and the average size is
6 mm to 7mm. The variety of colour includes silverish-white, cream, rose,
gold and greyish-blue.

South Sea Pearls

South sea pearls are grown in the large Pinctada maxima mussel. They are primarily grown in Australia, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar and Thailand. South Sea pearls are ranging from 9 mm to 20 mm in size and the average size is 13mm. The variety of colour includes silver, silverish-pink, white,
whitish-pink, whitish-gold and gold.

Tahitian Pearls

Tahitian pearl is also known as Black pearls. Tahitian pearls are grown in Black lipped oyster. These oyster habitat in French Polynesia. Tahitian pearl is highly valued because of its rarity. Tahitian pearls are usually ranging between 8 mm to 18 mm in size and their average size is about 9 mm to 10 mm. Tahitian pearls colour variety includes peacock, black, blackish-grey,
silverish-grey, black/rose, black/blue, black/green, black/purple.

Keshi Pearls

Keshi pearls are "natural" pearls, these pearls are tiny and baroque (irregular) in shape. Keshi grow without a nucleus, they have the same colouring as akoya pearls.

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