Tetreault Jewelers

What is the birthstone for June?

Pearl is the birthstone for June. A natural pearl forms when an irritant, such as a piece of sand, works its way into an oyster, mussel, or clam. As a defense mechanism, the mollusk secretes a fluid to coat the irritant. This coating is deposited on the irritant until a lustrous pearl is formed.  A cultured pearl undergoes the same process. The only difference is that the irritant is an implanted bead.  Saltwater pearls tend to be higher quality and Freshwater pearls tend to be very irregular in shape. A pearl takes years to form and only 5% are jewelry quality.