9-10MM GENUINE CHINESE FRESHWATER CULTURED PEARLS - 38 IN SOUTH AFRICA

                PICTURES ARE ENLARGED  PLEASE BE ADVISED, COLOUR MAY VARY SLIGHTLY DUE TO DIFFERENCES IN MONITORS. Pearl—natural or cultured—is a the birthstone for June, together with alexandrite and moonstone. Natural pearls form in the bodies, or mantle tissue, of certain mollusks, usually around a microscopic irritant, and always without human help of any kind. The growth of cultured pearls requires human intervention and care. Today, most of the mollusks used in the culturing process are raised specifically for that purpose, although some wild mollusks are still collected and used. There are four major types of cultured whole pearls:   Akoya—This type is most familiar to many jewelry customers. Japan and China both produce saltwater akoya cultured pearls. South Sea—Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines are leading sources of these saltwater cultured pearls. Tahitian—Cultivated primarily around the islands of French Polynesia (the most familiar of these is Tahiti), these saltwater cultured pearls usually range from white to black. Freshwater—These are usually cultured in freshwater lakes and ponds. They’re produced in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors. China and the US are the leading sources.   CHINESE FRESHWATER CULTURED PEARLS SIZE 9-10mm     SHAPE ROUND 85% BUTTON 10% SEMI-BAROQUE 5% MODIFIER CIRCLE COLOUR BODY - WHITE HUE - YELLOW OVERTONE LUSTRE EXCELLENT/GOOD     SURFACE CLEAN     NACRE QUALITY ACCEPTABLE