What am I seeing?

[twinsmummy20]

I'm sorry I'm asking a million questions! But I am really trying to understand pearls and how they are made and the inside and everything about them! I realize this is a cheap pearl that is dyed (but it's gritty, cold and dense...so I believe it is real) and I am confused as to what I am seeing in the hole that is white? Is the part where it is chipped the nacre? Can someone tell me what I'm seeing?

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Sorry, the image is too small. Can you give us a close up?

 

[twinsmummy20]

The picture is clear in my photos but took a huge loss in quality uploading it!

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Blame my aging eyes....I need a larger photo.

 

[twinsmummy20]

I will post the original that may let you just zoom in on and another that may work...

 

[Pearl Dreams]

You're looking inside the drill hole? If it's a genuine pearl you are seeing the bead nucleus, which is carved from shell.

 

[GemGeek]

Or, the dye only goes so far into the pearls if they are solid nacre. When they are drilled, the inner area may be undyed.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

Good point-- thank you GemGeek.