Pearls and their coveted holographic reflections are a trend that never goes out of style. At MUMIT, we have reinvented the pearl and its use in jewelry, taking it to new extremes. The Mabi Blet collection, where the pearl takes center stage, is inspired by its minimalist beauty reinterpreted for today's woman: natural, elegant, and modern.
If you are considering acquiring a wonderful pearl jewel, in the following lines we delve into the fabulous (and unknown) world of pearls.
What types of pearls exist?
There are two types of pearls: natural origin and non-natural origin. All MUMIT pearls are of natural origin.
Natural Pearls
Natural pearls are obtained directly from a living organism, basically oysters. When a foreign body enters the mollusk, as a defense mechanism, it reacts by slowly covering the particle and creating layers of nacre, a crystalline and smooth substance. Due to their entirely natural origin, each pearl is unique and unrepeatable.
Within natural pearls, there are two varieties: those obtained directly from a living organism without human intervention, and those where human hands intervene in their creation, also known as cultured pearls. The process of creating cultured pearls is the same; humans introduce a foreign body into the mollusk, and it defends itself. They usually take between 6 months and nine years to form.
Natural pearls are considered gemstones; unlike other gems, pearls do not need to be polished for use in jewelry.
Non-Natural Pearls
Artificial or non-natural pearls are not used in fine jewelry as they are manufactured in laboratories and lack value. These types of pearls are mainly used in costume jewelry.
The Value of a Pearl
Each pearl is unique and unrepeatable; finding two identical pearls is almost impossible. This factor is responsible for the limitations when generally classifying the value of a pearl. Natural pearls are the most valued; it is said that to find a natural pearl, one must open between 15,000 and 20,000 oysters, so some of them can be priceless.
If a pearl is examined carefully, certain common characteristics can be determined, such as the type of pearl, its size, color, shape, luster, and surface. These nuances help classify a pearl but do not determine its quality, as it is the combination of these that determines its beauty and consequently its value.
In addition to the set of aesthetic nuances, the pearl's origin and its long-lasting nature also influence its value. Regarding its origin, one can find Australian pearls, freshwater pearls, and Tahitian pearls, among others.
We will delve deeper into all these factors in a future post, as their combination is crucial for calculating a pearl's value.
Now that you know more about the world of pearls, we invite you to experience the reinvention of the pearl in jewelry with MUMIT.
