Value of antique opera glasses2/18/2023 This process usually takes several years with a cultured pearl whereas a natural pearl may take 10 or so years to form. Over time, in the same way that natural pearls are formed, layer upon layer of nacre is naturally applied to the intruder by the host mollusk. Keep in mind that pearl culturing didn't really take root until the 1920s, so antique pieces dating prior to the Art Deco era are most often made with natural blister pearls rather than cultured.Ĭultured pearls are those made by inserting an object like a small bit of shell or even a bead into an oyster or clam. Other times they are mounted with the blister more clearly affixed to the shell base showing the natural contours, and sometimes imperfections, surrounding the blister. Sometimes they are isolated similarly to a mabe pearl. When fully formed, a blister pearl is cut away along with a portion of the shell. Cultured versions form around a nucleus glued to this inside of the shell and can vary in shape depending on the shape of the base material. These are usually less uniform in shape since the nucleus was not intentionally set. Blisters occurring happen when a piece of mud or other substance serving as a nucleus attaches to the inside of a mollusk's shell. These pearls can be found in both fresh and saltwater mollusks, both naturally occurring and cultured, and they are part of the animal's shell rather than a true pearl. The brooch shown here features a blister pearl used as the centerpiece of an Art Nouveau brooch surrounded by enameling and diamond accents.
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