• Question: What are pearls made out of?

    Asked by HugoBOSS to Craig, Laura, Saffron on 25 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Craig Doig

      Craig Doig answered on 25 Jun 2015:


      ummm.. not a sea pearl person. But I will have a go.

      If a grain of sand gets into a clam it can cause damage and irritate so the clam coats it in lots of layers of protective material or shell (calcium-carbonate) and these build up over time into a round pearl.

    • Photo: Saffron Whitehead

      Saffron Whitehead answered on 25 Jun 2015:


      Absolutely correct Craig (below) . This can occur naturally and they are the most expensive type or they can be cultured pearls where the whole thing is engineered in captured clams.

    • Photo: Laura Wales

      Laura Wales answered on 25 Jun 2015:


      Nice answers, nothing to add.

Comments