The oyster’s shell is its protection and when a grain of sand or bits of floating food slip inside this shell, the oyster immediately sets out to protect itself from the invasion. It will immediately cover the intruder with layers of nacre, the mineral substance that makes its shell. It will cover it with multiple layers of nacre, creating some very exquisite, unique and precious pearls. Pearl farming or cultured pearls are made in a similar way with the only difference being that the ‘pearl farmer’ will put or embed an intruder (grain of sand) in the mollusc (shell covering).
Why do oysters make pearls?
