Pearl is a gemstone that is formed within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk, such as an oyster or mussel. It is composed of calcium carbonate in the form of aragonite or a mixture of aragonite and calcite. Pearls are renowned for their lustrous appearance and have been highly valued as gemstones for centuries.
Natural pearls are formed when an irritant, such as a grain of sand or a parasite, enters the mollusk’s body. In response, the mollusk secretes layers of nacre, a combination of calcium carbonate and conchiolin, to coat the irritant and form a pearl. This process can take several years.
