Pearls are delicate, lustrous spheres formed within the shells of certain living molluscs such as oysters and clams. Composed almost entirely of calcium carbonate, pearls are created when an irritant, such as a grain of sand or a parasite, enters a mollusc’s shell – which consequently responds by secreting and depositing layers of calcium carbonate and nacre around the irritant. Although white and cream-coloured pearls are the most popular – they are also found in hues of pink, yellow, black, and grey.

There are several types of pearls available today – the most popular ones being natural and cultured pearls. Natural pearls are formed without any human intervention and are among the rarest of pearls found in nature today – comprising about half a percentage of all available pearls. Cultured pearls, on the contrary, are formed via human injection of an irritant within the mollusc. Over 95% of pearls available today are cultured.

Popularly known as the gemstone of the Moon in astrology, pearls have been an enduring symbol of wealth and prosperity. These organic roundels have long been known to positively influence the wearer’s intuition, emotional quotient, and willpower, and are also believed to bring clarity to one’s thoughts.