Understanding The Difference: Pearl Vs Mother Of Pearl

This world is so beautiful and surprising that everything you imagine, fascinate or dream of is here. Even if heaven exists, it's also here on the earth. 

We meet with incidents or things that give us hints about the presence of heaven on the Earth. One such thing is pearl stone, yes you heard it right. Pearl is such a gem that is considered a belonging to heaven. 

The other gem is the mother of pearls which people have always mistaken with pearls.  

Knowing About Pearl

Pearl stone is unique among gemstones because they are organic and formed by living organisms. Pearl formation begins with the accumulation of irritants inside the mollusk. 

Then around this irritant, the mollusk secretes layers of nacre, a combination of a mineral like aragonite and an organic protein like conchiolin. 

These layers get collected to develop pearls. The shape and texture of an ideal pearl gemstone is always round and smooth. But it also occurs in many other shapes. 

Pearls have remained the source of natural beauty and attraction for centuries. Creative people have been using it as a metaphor for centuries for something rare, admirable, valuable, and fine. Pearl has a white streaky just like turquoise stone has. 

Depending upon their formation pearls can be either Natural pearls or cultured pearls. These two are the types of pearls.

Short Brief About The Mother Of Pearl

Nacre is the actual name of the Mother of Pearl. It is both organic and inorganic because of its formation. It is the inner shell layer of a mollusk. It has proved its strength, resilience, and iridescently. 

It can display multi-colored effects and an impressive moon-like faint glow.

Mother Of Pearl Vs Pearl Difference

Let’s learn about the difference between pearls and the mother of pearls step by step.

1. Word Origin Difference

The Latin word “Perna” which means a “leg” is the origin of pearl.

The Italian word “Madreperla” is the origin of Mother of Pearl. The French word “Mother Perle” is also considered the origin of the “Mother of pearl”.

2. Compositional Difference

It is not wrong to say that Nacre is the mother of both Pearl stone and the Mother of Pearl. It means they both came from this iridescent substance that an oyster a mollusk secretes made of calcium carbonate.

This leads them to be known as organic gemstones. The difference lies in where this material forms.

Pearls take birth inside the mollusk, within the tissue of its body. The creature coats the irritant with layer upon layer after the irritant gets its path into the soft tissue, which builds up a spherical sea pearl over time.

Mother of Pearl is a sharp layer birthed on the inner lining of the oyster’s shell.  Most mollusk shells have this iridescent surface that gleams in different colors. This lining acts like a protector for the shellfish that gets inside the mollusk.

3. Value Difference

Pearl stone has always been more valuable, before the launch of cultured freshwater pearls when accessibility of natural pearls was a rarity to the masses.

The Mother of Pearl never becomes as valuable as the Pearl gemstone. Because it's easier to excess than a real pearl. The Prices of these two are increasing with time, and still have the tag of being more valuable.

4. Shape Difference

Sometimes Pearls can develop into unique and strange shapes but mostly they are spherical. This is the case in Keshi Pearls. 

Pearls can give jewelers the flexibility to create something extraordinary by pearl stone, but not exactly with the pearl itself, because of its round shape.

The surface of the “mother of pearl” is flat without any particular shape. You may see the shape of “Mother of Pearl” exactly like the shape of the shell.

5. Jewelry Difference

Pearls are always seen as naturally gifted gemstones and are broadly getting used in jewelry. The use of pearl gemstones has been seen highly in rings,  beads bracelets, necklaces, and pendants.

Mother-of-pearl jewelry is distinguished significantly from pearl jewelry. Mother of pearl is often used for statement pieces with uncommon designs. It can also be used for crafts, architectural creations, and home décor.

6. Appearance Difference

Pearl and Mother of Pearls both have appearance qualities but distinct ones.A pearl gemstone appears lustrous and smooth and will put seven stars on your look if worn with jewelry.

On the other hand, mother-of-pearl can offer you more color but its appearance is relatively not better than a pearl.  

Conclusion:

It is important to understand the differences between Pearl gemstone and Mother of Pearl, not only for knowledge purposes but for their usage purposes also. 

Both have distinct qualities and features that make them unlikeable. Pearl price also differs from the Mother of pearl’s price. 

Both are mesmerizing gemstones with different compositions and properties. Pearls and the mother of pearls have been used by many as part of their jewelry or other stuff. 

With these facts, it will be easy for you to make the right choice while purchasing any of these gemstones. And hopefully, these terms are not confusing anymore.