Genuine 8.5-9mm Round 3A Purple Freshwater Pearl Pendant 925 Sterling Silver Necklace Brand New Cultured Freshwater Peal 3A Purple (Lavender) color 925 Sterling Silver Tarnish Resistant Comes in a box Pearls are the only gems that are produced by an animal. Cultivators mimic the way natural, uncultured pearls are created by implanting a beadlike nucleus from a mollusk shell into an oyster, and the animal responds to the irritant by coating it with a pearlescent nacre of calcium carbonate, layer by layer, multiple times per day. In this article the sizes and shapes of freshwater cultured pearls are approximate, therefore no claims are accepted for this reason. Pearls are the only gems that are produced by an animal. Cultivators mimic the way natural, uncultured pearls are created by implanting a beadlike nucleus from a mollusk shell into an oyster, and the animal responds to the irritant by coating it with a pearlescent nacre of calcium carbonate, layer by layer, multiple times per day. It is important to know that natural pearls are extra-sensitive to body creams, perfumes, hairdressing products such as hairspray and the like, so we advise you to put these products on before putting on earrings, necklaces or bracelets with pearls.