Before the creation of cultured pearls in the early 1900s, natural pearls were so rare and expensive that they were reserved almost exclusively for the noble and very rich. A jewelry item that ...

Natural versus cultured. Natural pearls are hard to find. They're rare, and this makes them worth more money. But let's rewind for a second. What is a natural pearl, and how are they formed?

and a necklace can reach over $200,000. So, how are these pearls grown? And what makes them so expensive? More from Retail South Sea pearls are the largest cultured-pearl variety, sometimes ...