A pearl is a hard, glistening object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk or another animal, such as fossil conulariids. . Cultured or farmed pearls from pearl oysters and freshwater mussels make up the majority of those currently sold. Pearls are made by marine oysters and freshwater mussels as a natural defence against an irritant such as a parasite entering their shell or damage to their fragile body. The oyster or mussel slowly secretes layers of aragonite and conchiolin, materials that also make up its shell. Pearls have organic origins. They form within various species of freshwater and saltwater mollusks. Simply put, pearls are gems but not stones . Pearls are the Only Gemstone to Come from a Living Creature. Despite being classified as a gemstone, pearls differ significantly from all others (including sapphires, rubies, emeralds, etc.) due to the fact that they are the only gems to com...