To set or adorn with pearls, or with mother-of-pearl. Used also figuratively.
To cause to resemble pearls; to make into small round grains; as, to pearl barley.
usually refers to a natural pearl when no qualifying adjective, such as cultured or imitation, precedes it. According to CIBJO regulations, pearls are "natural formations secreted accidentally and without the aid of any human agency". However, this regulation may not always be adhered to since natural pearls make up such a tiny proportion of the trade.
Smooth, lustrous, variously colored round gemstone originally formed as a deposit around a grain of sand in the shells of certain shellfish. Pearls may be formed naturally or "cultured" through an artificial implanting process.
A dense, variously colored, and usually lustrous concretion formed of concentric layers of nacre (nacre is 82-86% orthorhombic calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in a cryptocrystalline (microcrystalline) aggregate, 10-14% organic material, and 2% water). Pearls occur as abnormal growths around sand grains or other irritants within the shell of some molluscs. They are used as gems.
a hard, rounded mineraloid produced by certain mollusks, primarily oysters; as a response to an irritating object inside its shell, the mollusk will deposit layers of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the form of the minerals aragonite or calcite (both crystalline forms of calcium carbonate) held together by an organic horn-like compound called conchiolin; valued as a gemstone. Pearls are usually white, sometimes with a creamy or pinkish tinge, but may be tinted with yellow, green, blue, brown, or black (often highly valued because of their rarity). mineraloid geography : physical
A pearl is created by a mollusk's defense against a foreign object in its shell, such as a grain of sand or an implanted nucleus, which forms a cultured pearl. As a defense, the oyster secretes a milky liquid, nacre, which coats the intrusive object, forming solid layers that eventually create a pearl. Pearls grow in both saltwater and freshwater mollusks and come in a variety of hues from white to blue, green, aubergine, pink, gold, gray and black. Pearl is the birthstone for June.
1. a concretion formed around a grain of sand, etc.; 2. a small tough mass of material, e.g., a keratin pearl, an enamel pearl, a pearl of mucus in sputum.
Natural or real pearls are made naturally by oysters and other mollusks.
A smooth, lustrous, variously colored deposit, chiefly calcium carbonate, formed around a grain of sand or other foreign matter in the shells of certain mollusks and valued as a gem.
a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
a shape that is small and round; "he studied the shapes of low-viscosity drops"; "beads of sweat on his forehead"
gather pearls, from oysters in the ocean
a beautiful and valuable item that starts out as an IRRITATION to the clam
a beautiful object found inside an ugly oyster, and at the same time contains a hard kernel of sand within it
a beautiful picture of the church
a hard and round gem, which is used mainly for jewelry
a hard, rounded object produced by certain animals, primarily mollusk s such as oyster s
a hard, rounded object produced by certain mollusks , primarily oysters , and which is cultivated or harvested for jewellery
a hard, rounded object produced by certain mollusks The mollusks or molluscs are the large and diverse phylum Mollusca, which includes a variety of familiar creatures well-known for their decorative shells or as seafood
a hard, rounded secretion formed inside the shell of certain bivalve mollusks
a lustrous, organic gem produced by saltwater oysters, freshwater mussels and occasionally by some shellfish
an abnormal growth that results when a foreign object, such as a grain of sand, invades the soft inner tissues of a mollusk's body
a naturally occurring miracle
a natural object and is not designed to be in contact with most manufactured chemicals such as perfume, make-up, skin care products, hair spray or similar compounds
an organic "gem" that comes from a living thing
an organic precious stone that is formed around
an oyster's reaction to any tiny foreign object the becomes lodged between its mantle and shell
a rare and beautiful gem, costly to own
a small thing, and yet it is as precious as any jewel
a stone-like creation that forms inside certain mollusks, primarily oysters
a temple built by pain around a grain of sand
a tidbit of valuable information
a very special and exclusive gift of nature considered universally as the oldest known gem
a very unique, valuable gem
a wondrous and special gem
is an organic gem created when an oyster covers a foreign object in layers of beautiful nacre. Cultured pearls are produced by man placing a shell bead inside the oyster to cover in nacre and later harvested. These are mainly produced in Japan. Freshwater pearls are cultured largely in China using freshwater mussels. Pearl is the birthstone of those born in June. Mother of Pearl possesses that iridescent "pearly" lustre and is the lining of a shell where a pearl is formed.
An organic gem grown within oysters and other mollusks when they produce nacre as a reaction to an irritant. A good sized pearl can take between five to eight years to form, which is usually the entire life of the oyster or mollusk. Pearls are most valuable when they are perfectly round. Fine natural pearls are much more expensive and rare to find than cultured pearls. Never dip jewelry with pearls into a jewelry cleaning solution unless it specifically says that it is safe for pearls. If the solution is not intended for pearls, it will dull the luster on the pearl and cause them to look cloudy. Pearl is the birthstone for June. See also awabi pearl, cultured pearl, oriental pearl, freshwater pearl, blister pearl, mabe', nacre, and baroque.
A natural formation of concentric layers of nacre, secreted by an oyster, clam or mussel when stimulated by the intrusion of a foreign element.
Pearls are organic gems grown within oysters and other mollusks, which are most valued and sought after when they are perfectly round and are lustrous. Pearls form as a result of an irritant or foreign body has made its way into the oyster or mollusk shell. The living oyster or mollusk's natural reaction is to secrete "nacre", the luminous substance that forms around the irritant. This process can take between five to eight years, usually the entire life of an oyster or mollusk. With the marvels of science, this process has been reproduced using human intervention to create "cultured" pearls. Natural Pearls are made with no human intervention.
a round tumor from the inside of a shellfish.
Lustrous pearls, birthstone of June, have their origin in the sea. Pearls form when an irritant, either natural or artificial, is implanted inside an oyster. The oyster deposits layers of a substance called nacre around the irritant, eventually forming a pearl. Most pearls today are cultured, coming into being after a pearl worker inserts a tiny bead inside an oyster and lets the mollusk do the rest. Pearls may be any shade of white; others are pink, and still others are a dramatic black. See also Akoya, baroque, cultured pearl, and mabe.
1 Biwa - Fresh water pearl grown in Lake Biwa, Japan 2 Blister - Thin nacre pearl form which grows against the oyster shell 3 Cultured - Oyster grown, nacre around a foreign substance placed in the oyster by man. 4 Natural - Pearly completely formed by nature and an oyster. 5 Majorcan - Synthetic pearly made on the island of Majorca.
The Chinese thought this to be the hidden soul of the oyster and believed the wearer would be protected from fire and dragons. In European culture it has long been the most valuable gemstone. Romans called them the ‘tears of the Gods'.
A natural pearl by definition, whereas cultured pearls should be referred to as 'cultured pearl' However, as cultured pearls now make up over 95% of world pearl production, it has become common to use the term 'pearl' to refer to cultured pearls.
Pearl, like amber, jet, and mother of pearl, is the product of a living creature. The power is receptive and attracts love, money, protection and luck. Since the oyster must be killed to obtain the pearl, the use of pearls in magic may carry a heavy debt. Pearls have long inspired religious and magical lore. The Romans imported pearls from Egypt were they were worn to grant favours from Isis. The early Chinese thought pearls fell from the sky when dragons fought amongst the clouds. They are connected with the moon, so that they should only be worn at night for magic. Pearls come in many different colours and have many specific magical uses.
(14th century) Pearls are valued as gemstones although they are not actually minerals, but organic gems. They are the result of a minute particle of foreign matter, such as a fine grain of sand, entering the shell of a mollusc and being coated with the same material that covers the inside of the shell (called nacre, or mother-of-pearl). Eventually, the grain of sand is transformed into a pearl. There is a wide colour range including white, black, grey, pinkish-white, and yellow-white.
a natural gemstone formed when a oyster is irritated by a substance that gets into its shell. If the irritation is a naturally occurring grain of sand, it is an Oriental pearl. If it is produced by purposefully inserting a mother-of-pearl bead, a cultured pearl is formed. Baroque – an irregularly shaped pearl, can be natural or cultured. Blister – pearl taken from the shell where an irritant has lodged and been covered with layers of nacre, usually hollow. Cultured – artificially produced pearl made by placing an irritant inside the oyster where it is covered with layers of nacre. First available in the 1920's. Freshwater – pearls produced in freshwater mussels. Mabe – (pronounced mah-bay) a cultured pearl usually of teardrop shape, flat on one side. Natural – pearls that have occurred naturally, usually found now only in antique jewelry.
A natural gemstone formed when a oyster is irritated by a substance that gets into its shell. If the irritation is a naturally occurring grain of sand, it is an Oriental pearl. If it is produced by purposefully inserting a mother-of-pearl bead, a cultured pearl is formed. A pearl that forms attached to the shell is a blister pearl, while a pearl that forms a half dome is a mabe (pronounced mah-bay) pearl. Baroque pearls are irregularly shaped rather than round. South Sea pearls are mostly round and large in diameter. They are grown primarily in Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and other areas of the South Pacific. Tahitian pearls are the dark variety of South Sea cultured pearls created with a black-lipped oyster. They range in color from light gray to deep green to gunmetal gray. Freshwater pearls come in various colors and are grown in bays, lakes and rivers primarily in Japan, China, Europe and the United States.
A pearl is created when a mollusk secretes layers of calcium carbonate around an irritant that has entered its shell. When this happens by chance, the pearl is "natural." Cultured pearls are made when the irritant is intentionally placed in the shell.
One of the few gems materials with an organic origin, pearls are a product of marine and fresh water mollusks.
A nacreous growth inside a mollusk's shell, which forms around intruding irritants to protect the creature's delicate body Pearl Age
A smooth, round growth formed naturally within the shell of a mollusk due to an irritant and used as a gem.
Organic gems grown within oysters and abalones, formed when a foreign object (like a tiny stone) has made its way into the mollusc’s shell. The mollusc secretes nacre, a lustrous substance, and as thousands of layers of nacre coat the intruder, a pearl is formed. This process takes up to seven or eight years. The most valuable pearls are perfectly symmetrical, large, naturally produced, and have a shimmering iridescence. Pearls may be natural or cultured (i.e. when the irritant is purposely placed in the oyster’s body).
A pearl is a hard, rounded object produced by certain animals, primarily mollusks such as oysters. Pearls can be used in jewelry and also crushed in cosmetics or paint formulations. Pearl is valued as a gemstone and is cultivated or harvested for jewelry.
