Difference Between Mother of Pearl and Pearl

Mother of Pearl vs Pearl

Mother of pearl and pearl are two of the most beautiful wonders that mollusks share to the world. These two highlight the beauty of the wearer and as such being used in the creation of some of the finest jewelries that have adorned many women and men, from time past and present.

Mother of Pearl

Mother of pearl is also called nacre, a durable, glittering layer produced by mollusks and serves as an inner shell layer. It is created by mollusks, usually an abalone or a pearl oyster, in order to protect its soft tissues from parasites or foreign debris. It is iridescent, strong, and beautiful and, due to this, the mother of pearl is widely used to adorn furniture, architectural pieces, and jewelries.

Pearl

Pearl is made up of calcium carbonate coming from living mollusks. Usually, it has a round smooth shape but sometimes other shapes also occur. It is created by concentric layers of a substance called nacre, which is also the mother of pearl, to enclose a foreign object that has entered the lining of the mollusk. And some of the finest pearls have very high values and have been the objects of beauty.

Difference between Mother of Pearl and Pearl

Mother of pearl and pearl all comes from the same lowly mollusk. Their difference is that the mother of pearl is formed in the linings of the shell while the pearl is formed by entombing a foreign object that has lodged inside the shell, albeit using the same material called nacre. Furthermore, a pearl is usually round in shape while a mother of pearl follows the shape of the shell as it is created in its walls. Mother of pearl is mostly used to adorn furniture, musical instruments, and an inlay of jewelry while pearls, especially the finest ones, have been valued as precious gems and are made as finest necklaces, rings and earrings.

Whatever you may choose, the mother of pearl or a pearl, having one is an investment that could last a lifetime.