You might find the terms of shell pearl and glass pearl on the article or jewelry catalog that you read, and you wonder what the differences of them and pearl. The same also happened to me some times ago when I bought pearl for the raw materials of my jewelry. Then I did a search. Here I share you some knowledge I got.
PEARL
This is precious gemstone made naturally by living creature named oyster/mollusk. When a foreign tiny substance (usually is parasite) enters the soft mantle tissue inside of an oyster or a mollusk, a crystalline substance named nacre is secreted from the epithelial cell to layer and wrap the invader. This process is a kind of natural healing of the oyster/mollusk to recover. The longer the layering process, the thicker the layer will be, and continues to build up around the invader within the shell. As the time passed, the process forms a 3-D shape stone that we call it as pearl.
There are some species of oyster/mollusk to produce pearl. Some of them live in seawater and the others live in freshwater. Accordingly, there are two classification of natural pearl, i.e. seawater pearl and freshwater one. Either natural seawater pearl or freshwater one is relatively expensive. People have to spend effort and time to get them costly.
Due to high value of pearl, people make them cultured. They insert a tiny particle into the oyster/mollusk to produce pearl. Compared to one that produced naturally, the price of cultured pearl is less expensive. The type/origin of the pearl is not the only factor to determine the price. The size and shape also contribute. The bigger and/or prettier its shape, the more expensive will be rather than a smaller and/or an irregular one.
SHELL PEARL
The beauty of natural pearl makes people imitate it for economic reason. They drip small piece of shell bead into a solution that contains mixed of crushed mother of pearl (this is the term to describe crystalline layer on the surface of the pearl) and chemical which acts as a binder. In order to have shiny and smooth surface, polishing process is to follow. Dripping-polishing is done repeatedly until the bead resembles natural pearl in natural-like appearance and desired size. The result is what we called shell pearl.
Compared to natural pearl, shell pearl is heavier due to multiple layers applied during production process, and less expensive, surely. As the process involves chemical, often dyeing is applied to make the shell pearl looks natural, or even more colorful. You may find shell pearl not only in white/peach/pink color like natural one, but also in red or blue.
GLASS PEARL
Glass pearl is a glass bead that is coated -often by spraying- with a chemical pigment that resembles crystalline layer of pearl (nacre). With the time passes or harsh treatment such as friction, the coating can peel off from the surface of the glass pearl, leaving the dull appearance. Compared to pearl and shell pearl, glass pearl is the cheapest.
Well, I believe you come out to the same conclusion now that both shell pearl and glass pearl are NOT pearl, no matter how they’re look. Either you’re a jeweler, seller or a buyer who likes pearly jewelry, you should know the differences among them. As a reputable and trusty seller or jeweler, you’d better not confuse your buyer with the quality of ‘pearl’ that you offer. While as a buyer, it’s better for not easily being tricked by seller who charges you a fantastic price for a fake pearl. ***
Linaufvi 