Pearls are one of the few organic precious gemstones, and they begin life as a particle of grit or other debris that becomes embedded inside the shell of a marine or freshwater mollusc such as a clam or oyster. This triggers a defensive mechanism in the mollusc to protects its soft, vulnerable interior and [...]

Silver is a popular precious metal used in jewelry, but like gold it can be too soft to use in its purest form for everyday jewelry, and so is mixed with trace amounts of other metals in order to create a stronger, more durable material. Sterling silver is one of the most popular alloys [...]