The most beautiful things in the world are natural.
Pearls are a favourite of mine, the only organic gem in the world, they have been worn for luck and as a sign of prosperity or virginity through the ages. Once only worn by royalty, these precious little miracles are accessible to us all thanks to the production of Freshwater pearl farms which cut down wastage by a massive percentage. On average a decent sized pearl will take 7 years to produce, being smoothed over daily with a new layer of nacre.
How can you tell if a pearl is real? The easiest way is to rub two of the pearls together. If you feel a grainy residue, or see a soft powder form they are real. This is the nacre coming off, and as soon as you rub your finger over it, the scratch is gone. If they are glass pearls they will have no purchase against each other and slip right off.
This section gives you a sample of some of my favourite organic materials used.