Pearls have a longer history than gold or semi precious stones

The pearls are mentioned as early as 5000 BC in Egypt, and 3000 years back in the Vedic hymns in India. The exquisite beauty of a pearl was appreciated right from the pre-historic times. With time the shaping and creating pearl jewellery evolved in to a fine art form much appreciated by the royalty and treasured by the ladies in the royal families and the rich and famous of the world till today. The worlds of dazzling pearls are not limited to round pearls as a layperson might imagine. They come in a variety of shapes from the tiny rice to large round pearls the size of 14-15mm. The shapes are baroque, rice, button flat, oval, drops, flat buttons and in many colors. Though the natural colors are mostly white, black, off pink and cream, the modern science has now been able to color them in as required. A Pearl is produced when a substance called nacre is produced when an oyster encounters an irritant within its shell. When the nacre settles around the foreign substance which has been irritating an oyster it forms into a shiny smooth pearl. The nacre is composed of calcium carbonate and the thickness and iridescence decides the value of a pearl. Pearl and Coral are the only two precious substances produced organically. All other gems are inorganic products of nature. Natural colors in pearls are more valued than the artificially colored varieties. The price of a pearl is determined by the diameter, color and shape. It is also determined by its luster and shine or iridescence. Based on these factors the pearl price can vary from a few dollars to hundred of thousands of dollars. Whatever be the background of the pearls, it is treasured as the most fashionable jewellery by all irrespective of geographic location or income category and valued for it elegance and simplicity and beauty.