Pearls may not as expensive as loose online diamonds, they may not wow as much as diamond engagement rings but these pretty little beads have been a staple in fashion since time immemorial. Screen legends and cultural icons such as Jackie Onassis and Audrey Hepburn have made these precious gifts of nature even more sought after by women everywhere.

What exactly are these lustrous drops made of?

Pearls are formed by a living creature, a mollusk, specifically oysters, out of an irritation or foreign body that got into its shell. Natural pearls are created layer by layer over a very long period of time, which is why these are very expensive. Since natural pearls are very hard to come by… [....]