What type of Pink Pearl? Tip: Freshwater pearls are Seldom Round by: Anonymous
The queen conch, mother of the pink pearl, is a very sensitive animal and every attempt to produce cultured Caribbean pink pearls has failed.
Each year, between 2,000 and 3,000 Caribbean pink pearls are fished from around the coasts of Florida, the Bahamas, the Yucatan and the Antilles islands. Of these, only 15 to 20 percent are marketable for jewelry. These pearls are heavier and harder than all other pearls. The fact that the queen conch is endangered means that pearl fishing is highly regulated and the Caribbean pink pearl is likely to remain a very rare gem.
Other types of Pink Pearls Akoya and South Sea pearls can be produced in many different colors, including pink, though they are not as deeply saturated as the Caribbean pink pearl.
The pearl could be a freshwater pearl, as they take dye readily and are often dyed many different colors to suit public demand. One tip to to help identify the origin of your pink pearl is to keep in mind that a Freshwater pearl, is seldom round, as the implant used is tissue from a "donor," rather than a round piece of shell, which is used as the irritant in saltwater pearls. However, the upside is that for this reason, freshwater pearls are much more durable.
Read more: History of Pink Pearls | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5025811_history-pink-pearls.html#ixzz245U5PKkD
