[glatendresse]

Pearl bearing mollusks exist around the world in various ponds, streams, lakes, rivers, seas, and oceans. Scottish and Bavarian pearls are available. They are very rare. Why? (1) They are natural. (2) Pollution, overharvesting, and industry have created difficulty for the mollusks to thrive. (3) Natural pearl diving is not a profession as it once was previous to 1900. Also, natural pearls were and can be a bi-product of other industries. For example, before the plastic button was invented, buttons were made of Mother-of-Pearl which is the mollusk itself. In harvesting the mollusks, many natural pearls were found and consequently traded, bought and sold. Another factor of rarity is the identification. To my knowledge, none of the laboratories around the world are capable of identifying specific origin in regards to location, unfortunately. For instance, it is scientifically possible to determine saltwater and freshwater natural pearls by x-ray. And by examination, the conch, melo, abalone, and scallop varieties are usually identifiable by their unusual characteristics. Can one identify a Scottish or Bavarian pearl? If it comes from the source, it is likely. The Scottish and Bavarian pearls we have bought and sold have been white with a soft milky tone.