Pearl openings & pearl discovery

The art ofthe pearl reveal.

Discover what a pearl opening is, how pearls grow, and the beauty that makes each variety distinct.

Explore pearl collectionsWhat is a pearl opening?

A closer look at the pearl, from its first layers to the final reveal.

An editorial still life of pearls and an open shell
Discover the beauty within
Understand the opening Get to know the pearl Find your collection
Editorial illustration of an open shell and pearls
The moment of discovery. Editorial illustration.

Start with the experience

What is a pearl opening?

A pearl opening is a reveal experience: a shell is opened to show the pearl or pearls inside. In a live opening, you watch the reveal as it happens.

The opening is the experience. Freshwater, Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea describe pearl categories, each with different characteristics.

Check each listing for the opening format and exactly what is included.

Explore the opening guide

Meet the material

What is a pearl?

A pearl is a gem formed inside a mollusk. In familiar pearl varieties, the animal builds up layers of nacre, the lustrous material also known as mother-of-pearl.

Natural pearls form without human help. Cultured pearls begin with human involvement and grow inside the mollusk.

Layer by layer, a quiet kind of beauty.

Discover the pearl guide
Editorial illustration of the soft glow of nacre
Nacre gives familiar pearl varieties their luminous character.

Explore the pearl families

Find your kind of pearl.

From soft freshwater colors to deep Tahitian tones, each family has a character of its own. Baroque celebrates the beauty of irregular shapes.

Collection imagery is illustrative. Read each listing for pearl type, measurements and any treatments.

View all collections

A closer look

How a cultured pearl grows.

Human care starts the process. A living mollusk does the growing.

  1. Tissue, sometimes a bead

    A careful beginning

    A specialist introduces mantle tissue, sometimes with a bead, to start the process.

  2. Nacre builds up

    Layer upon layer

    The mollusk deposits nacre as the pearl grows.

  3. A cultured pearl

    Ready to reveal

    After a period of growth and care, the pearl is harvested.

A simplified illustration of pearl culturing; methods and growth periods vary.

Learn to look a little closer

The details that draw you in.

Four useful starting points for understanding a pearl's individual character.

Luster

Look for clear, bright reflections. Luster is the light that brings a pearl to life.

Surface

Small marks can occur. Their extent and placement matter when you look closely.

Shape

Round, drop and baroque shapes each have their own character. Notice what feels like you.

Size

Millimeters describe scale, not quality on their own. Picture how you will wear or use your pearl.

Keep exploring pearl quality

A few good questions

Curiosity, answered.

A little more detail before your first discovery.

Are cultured pearls real pearls?

Yes. Cultured pearls grow inside living mollusks with human involvement. Natural pearls form without that intervention. Imitation pearls are a different category.

Does opening a shell prove a pearl is natural?

No. Natural and cultured describe how a pearl formed, not how it is revealed. An opening alone does not establish the pearl's category or whether it has been treated.

Are all pearls perfectly round?

No. Pearls can be round, oval, drop-shaped or irregular. Baroque is the term for an irregular shape, and it can occur in different pearl categories.

Is a larger pearl always better?

Size is one characteristic. Luster, surface, shape, color and nacre also influence how a pearl looks. Consider the whole pearl and the way you want to use it.

Is every pearl opening the same kind of purchase?

No. An opening experience, loose pearls and finished jewelry are different offers. Read the item details to understand the options and what you will receive.