Natural pearls are formed inside oysters or mollusks without any human intervention. These pearls rarely occur in nature and are highly valued for their unique shapes, colors, and luster. However, their scarcity makes natural pearls quite expensive and hard to come by. Most natural pearl necklaces available today are antique or vintage pieces.
Cultured pearl necklaces are created with human assistance. In pearl farming, a small irritant or nucleus is inserted into an oyster or mollusk, which triggers the secretion of nacre (a substance that forms the pearl). Over time, layers of nacre form around the nucleus, creating a cultured pearl. Cultured pearls are more readily available and make up the majority of pearl jewelry in the market, including pearl necklaces.
It's important to note that the term "cultured" does not imply that these pearls are artificial or fake. Cultured pearls are still genuine pearls, formed in a similar manner to natural pearls, but with human intervention to initiate the process. They are still valuable and beautiful!