
These days the majority of pearl cultivation takes place in China. A small piece of nucleus is inserted into a freshwater oyster. A fully formed pearl can take six months to 2 years to grow and is made almost entirely of nacre.
Pearls rank among the most popular gems in the world. Their serene beauty makes a perfect complement to flashier gems and of course, their distinctive appearance and watery origins have inspired pearl symbolism and lore for centuries.