Scallop Pearl
A non-nacreous pearl from a scallop, often maroon or purple, with a fine granular shimmer.
Scallop pearls come mainly from the Pacific calico and lion's paw scallops off Baja California.
They are typically symmetrical and rounded, with a shimmering surface produced by tightly packed crystals rather than nacre layers.
Colours cover maroon, purple, bronze and cream, often with two tones in one pearl.
Sea of Cortez Pearl
A dark, strongly iridescent cultured pearl from the rainbow-lipped oyster of Mexico. Produced in tiny quantities.
Conch Pearl
A pink, non-nacreous pearl from the queen conch, prized for a flame-like surface pattern. Cannot be cultured commercially.
Natural Pearl
A pearl that formed with no human involvement at all. Vanishingly rare, and effectively absent from the retail market.