The English name of pearl is Pearl, which is derived from the Latin word Pernulo.
Another name of pearl is Margarite, which is derived from ancient Persian Sanskrit and means “son of the sea”.
Pearl Origin
Certain types of shellfish, known as mollusks, produce pearls.
Saltwater oysters and freshwater mussels play the most important roles in pearl formation.
These creatures belong to a group of mollusks called bivalves, which have two shell halves joined together.
Some gastropods, like the rare queen conch, can also form pearls — though much less commonly.
Purity and elegance
Pearl formation takes a long and difficult journey, which is why pearls have become a symbol of purity and elegance.
Just like us in life — we grow through hardship, and only after weathering challenges can we truly shine.
Pearls remind us to keep our hearts pure, cultivate grace, and face life’s trials with courage.
Main characteristics of pearl identification
- Luster and color
Real pearls shine with a soft, warm glow and display a unique iridescence — their colors shift subtly as you view them from different angles.
Fake pearls, by contrast, often look overly bright and unnaturally glossy, lacking the depth and elegance of the real thing.
- Texture and texture
The surface of real pearls will have tiny bumps and bumps, which are naturally formed during the growth process;
The surface of fake pearls is relatively smooth and lacks these natural textures.
- Friction feeling
Gently rub two pearls together — real pearls feel gritty, while fake ones feel smooth.
Check the inside of the drill hole.
Genuine pearls often show traces of nacre inside, with the same luster and layered texture as the surface.
In contrast, fake pearls usually have a smooth, plastic-like interior that lacks this natural look.
You can also try the tooth test.
When you gently bite a real pearl, it feels gritty or sandy. Fake pearls, on the other hand, feel slick and smooth.
Main characteristics of pearl identification
The formation of pearls is, in fact, a process born of pain.
When a shellfish accidentally lets in a grain of sand, a parasite, or another foreign object, it can’t simply expel it. Just like how a speck of dust irritates the human eye, this intrusion causes discomfort and irritation inside the shell.
To ease the pain, the shellfish begins to secrete layer upon layer of nacre, wrapping the intruder in a protective coat. This nacre forms a pearl sac, and as time passes, the layers thicken. Eventually, a luminous pearl takes shape — the result of constant struggle and self-protection.
So, every pearl carries the story of a wound healed over time. Its beauty is born from the shellfish’s natural rejection response and its instinct to protect itself.