Pearls emerge inside a mollusk.
Pearls are formations that arise from a particle that encysts inside a mollusk . Thanks to their rounded shapes and shine, there are pearls that are considered precious stones and are highly valued in jewelry .
The appearance of the pearl occurs when the mollusk covers a particle foreign to its body with proteins and crystals of a chemical compound called calcium carbonate . This mixture allows the formation of nacre , which covers the particle in several layers and, in approximately a decade, gives rise to the pearl.
Pearls throughout history
It is believed that the extraction and ornamental use of pearls began in prehistory . The creation of pearl-based jewelry emerged on the Asian continent and then spread to Europe and the rest of the world.
Although, at first, pearls were very expensive and only members of the nobility and the wealthiest classes could access them, over time their value decreased.
The position of animal groups
Many animal rights groups work hard to stop the production of pearls, since to obtain them it is necessary to harm certain living beings, unlike obtaining precious stones. As has been explained repeatedly, mollusks generate pearls to defend themselves against foreign particles that enter their organisms; When irritation appears, its reaction is to neutralize it, covering the invading bodies with crystals of calcium carbonate and conchiolin (a protein).
This mixture is called nacre and generally protects the entire interior of the shells of mollusks. After the attack, this tissue begins to thicken, generating a type of cyst that takes approximately a decade to finish forming: the pearl. To extract it, it is necessary to kill the animal by opening it with a knife. Once this information is accessed, few arguments could justify such a bloody process. Would we do that with a human being?
Pearls are considered precious stones.
Other meanings of the term pearl
In any case, by extension to that high initial value and its membership in the group of precious stones, the concept of pearl is still used to name the most luxurious or valuable objects , and even the most outstanding people in some field. For example: “This youth player is the pearl of the club: it has already been valued at several million euros,” “If you want to renovate your house, I recommend buying the new television from the Japanese firm that is the pearl of this type of device.”
The term pearl can also refer to a funny video , as a synonym for blooper or outtake ; In other words, these are those moments during the recording of a movie or a program, in which hilarious situations occur such as a fall, a set failure or the impossibility of containing laughter on the part of an actor. These types of videos are highly appreciated by fans, as it takes them behind the scenes and allows them to get up close and personal with their favorite artists through a sense of humor .
In a context similar to the previous case, black pearl can be used to refer to those artists who are overrated by the public or critics. This term is common in the field of opera and there are various recordings of truly disastrous performances by many of the most celebrated singers, thanks to which you can see everything that companies do not want to show about their most promising stars. It should be noted that this assessment is subjective and that many times the concept of black pearl is used simply to tarnish the name of an artist for personal reasons.