As a defense mechanism, the mollusk secretes a fluid to coat the irritant. Layer upon layer of this coating is deposited on the irritant until a lustrous pearl is formed. A cultured pearl undergoes the same process. Regardless of the method used to acquire a pearl, the process usually takes several years.

The Tooth Test: Simply rub the pearl against your tooth, softly. If the pearl is natural or cultured, you will feel the surface as gritty. If the pearl is a faux gem, then the surface will feel smooth. FACT: While observing pearls under a magnifier, specialists can easily tell whether they are a fake or a real gem.

Culturing involves surgically opening each oyster shell and inserting an irritant in the oyster. Freshwater pearls are cultured by inserting another oyster’s mantle tissue. Saltwater pearls have beads and another oyster’s mollusk tissue inserted. Fewer than half of the oysters may survive this process.

Almost all akoya pearls from Japan and freshwater cultured pearls from China are bleached. All goes well unless the technician leaves the pearls in the solution for too long. Long-term peroxide bleaching techniques can eat away the surface of the pearls and make them look chalky.

The Tooth Test: To find out if a pearl is real, lightly rub it against the front of your tooth — not against the edge, which can scratch the pearl. If natural or cultured, rather than simulated, the pearl should feel gritty.

For example, Tahitian pearls can be quite costly but dyed freshwater or Akoya pearls with dark body tones are affordable and beautiful. Dyed pearls allow you to try out different pearl looks without a big upfront cost. They’re excellent for costume jewelry options.

To protect itself, the mollusk secretes the substances aragonite (a mineral) and conchiolin (a protein), which are the same substances it secretes to form its shell. The composite of these two substances is called nacre, or mother-of-pearl. The layers are deposited around the irritant and it grows over time, forming the pearl.

Real pearls feel gritty against the teeth due to the layers of nacre, while imitation ones are smooth. Pearls are not always round. Freshwater pearls are often shaped more like puffed rice. Unusual shapes can also be prized for jewelry, especially for large pearls. Which Mollusks Make Pearls?

That said, both refined and unrefined coconut oil have the same moisturizing power so, again, if you don’t like the smell of unrefined coconut oil, it’s perfectly fine to opt for the refined variety instead. Both unrefined and refined coconut oil are excellent for cooking so which one you choose really depends on what type of dish you’re cooking.

Smooth pearls in the shape of orbs and ovals are usually created by bivalves, like mussels, in pearl farms. As with all gems, the less blemishes they have, the more valuable they are. (Chip Clark, Smithsonian)