Pearl -

Because pearls are organic, they don't follow the same "4 Cs" as diamonds. Instead, experts at Willie Creek Pearls and other leading jewelers evaluate them based on five primary virtues:

A pearl begins as a defense mechanism. When an irritant—such as a grain of sand or a parasite—becomes lodged in the soft mantle of a mollusk (typically an oyster or clam), the animal responds by secreting (mother-of-pearl). Because pearls are organic, they don't follow the

A is a unique, organic gemstone formed within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk, such as an oyster or a clam. Unlike most gems found in the earth, pearls are the only ones created by a living creature. Formation and Composition A is a unique, organic gemstone formed within

: The unique "glow" of a pearl is caused by light reflecting off these overlapping layers of aragonite, a phenomenon known as "orient". A is a unique