These saltwater oysters can grow as large as a dinner plate resulting in pearls that range from 8 to 18 mm in.
Rare type photos of different types of pearls.
As a result conch pearls especially those in the most popular soft pink colour are incredibly valuable and even a pea sized gem can fetch as much as us 120 000.
You may find small natural pearls available for purchase but they are costly.
However the majority of them have already been harvested therefore natural pearls are tremendously rare.
Learn about different types of pearls from pearl paradise.
Whether a pearl is a naturally occurring matter in saltwater or freshwater or if it has been cultured there are still plenty of names to identify each pearl with.
This type of pearl is grown in a pearl farm.
This is why many people keep adding to their pearl collection.
Rare exotic and luxurious tahitian pearls are produced by the pinctada margaritifera oyster native to tahiti and the french polynesian islands.
Conch pearls are also extremely rare non nacreous pearls which cannot be cultivated and are only found in one in every 10 000 queen conch molluscs.
Each type of pearl offers something different.
The above are the main types of pearl varieties available on the market.
As you can see you ll be spoiled for choice when buying pearls.
Pearl type pearl type.
Ranging in size from 8 0 9 0mm up through 20 0mm with the average sizes ranging from 9 0 10 0mm through 14 0 15 0mm.
Since it s rare to come across a natural pearl many pearls on the market are cultured.
South sea pearls are generally the largest cultured pearl type.
Sizes over 15 0mm are rare and very expensive.