Pink Cultured Pearl Necklace

This elegant pink pearl necklace is made from 8mm cultured pearls with a sterling silver T bar clasp. 

A cultured pearl is a real pearl that has had a helping hand. Pearls grow when a grain of sand or other foreign object gets inside a mussel or oyster. Cultured pearls have a bead placed inside the mollusc, ensuring each shell harvested has a pearl inside. This technique was first invented by Japanese entreprenuer Mikimoto in 1893. It was such an important invention that in 1985, the Japan Patent Office selected him as one of Ten Japanese Great Inventors.

Cultured pearls differ from synthetic or imitation pearls because they are real. Synthetic pearls are glass beads that have fish scales glued onto the surface. Cultured pearls are exactly the same as natural pearls except the centre of the pearl, the part that starts the process, is initiated by man rather than by accident. 

Pearl is the birthstone for June and the gem for the 30th wedding anniversary. 

These pearls are a beautiful alternative to white pearls as they are more unusual and add warmth from the subtle colour. They are a very classic design that look great worn casually or with formal evening wear. The necklace is 17 inches, 43cm long.

These pearls are a cooler pink colour than they look in this photograph but the exact shade will appear different on a screen to how each person sees colour in real life.