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Pearl

Pearls have been highly prized items for centuries. Their rarity in nature, as well as their visual appeal, have made them expensive and have given them an air of luxury. Pearl jewelry is often handed down as a family heirloom.

Pearls are formed through the build up of layers of deposited calcium carbonate within the mantle of a mollusk. They can appear in a number of different shapes, but the most valued are those that are perfectly round and smooth. In addition, saltwater pearls tend to be more highly prized than are those from fresh water mollusks.

The unique visual aspects of pearls are created through the reactions of light against the translucent layers of calcium. The more layers, and the thinner the layers, the more visual appeal the pearl is likely to have. The size, shape and luster of a pearl have a significant impact on its perceived value.

 

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