An oyster of record breaking size in the UK has turned up in a fish marked in Plymouth. The giant shellfish, unashamedly nicknamed ‘Shelly’ by the newspapers, measures 7” across and weighs 3lb. It’s currently residing in the local aquarium, where it’s become a bit of a tourist attraction.
Unfortunately for fashionistas who are loving the current revival of pearl jewellery though, there’s no chance of a giant hidden gem inside the shell, because Shelly is the wrong type of oyster. Although it’s an exceptionally large specimen, it is a species called the edible oyster, which live in the English Channel. Although edible oysters do secrete a hard substance called ‘pearls’ it is of no value, those pearls that are used to make jewellery come from different species of oyster.
The valuable pearls used to make pearl earrings, necklaces, bracelets and other jewellery are found in Pteriidae or feathered oysters, which nowadays are farmed on large pearl farms across the world, mainly in China. Pearls are formed when an irritant gets into the oyster’s shell and it protects itself by building up layers of a secretion known as nacre to cushion it with a smooth surface. Natural pearls are far more valued than cultured pearls as they are much rarer and hard to find.
People have been wearing pearls throughout history, it’s tradition for brides to wear pearls as well as the rich and glamorous across countless generations. They are a sign of purity and love, as well as suggesting wealth and class. The introduction of cultured pearls to the jewellery market has made them more widely available in recent years, and the popular vintage fashion revival along with a number of high profile celebrities publicly displaying their love for pearl sets and other classic jewellery means pearls are as desirable as ever. Michelle Obama is the latest in a long line of celebrities showing off their pearls in the fashion pages, she is becoming a star in her own right for her individual style and ‘imaginative’ choice of accessories combining pearls, brooches and waisted belts.
Related posts:
- All About Pearls
- Pearl jewellery is perfect for everyone
- The Pearl Process
- What are the Main Differences Between Freshwater and Saltwater Pearls?
- Things You Must Recognize On all sides of Pearl Jewellery
- Lesser Known, But Beautiful Pearls
- Around Pearls
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