Pearl stones, also simply known as pearls, are hard, round objects produced within the soft tissue of a living shelled mollusk, like oysters and mussels. Pearls are highly valued for their beauty and are commonly used in jewelry, particularly for necklaces, earrings, and rings. Unlike other gemstones that are mined from the earth, pearls are organic and formed inside marine or freshwater mollusks when an irritant, like a grain of sand, enters the mollusk’s shell. The mollusk then secretes layers of a substance called nacre around the irritant, eventually forming a pearl.

There are two primary types of pearls: Natural Pearls: These form without any human intervention and are rare due to their spontaneous formation inside mollusks. Cultured Pearls: These are produced when humans intentionally insert an irritant (typically a small bead) into the mollusk to stimulate the production of nacre. Cultured pearls are more common and are farmed in controlled environments.

In addition to their use in jewelry, pearls have been historically associated with wealth, purity, and elegance. In various cultures, they are symbols of wisdom, spiritual enlightenment, and feminine power. Some believe pearls have healing properties, like promoting calmness, soothing emotions, and supporting overall health.