There are many types of Pearls:
Natural Pearls -made without human interference
Cultured Pearls- made when a foreign substance is intentionally inserted into a living oyster. This method was first used in 1893.
Baroque Pearls -pearls that have irregular shapes
Biwa Pearls- an irregular shaped pearl which forms in the freshwater of Lake Biwa, Japan
Blister Pearls -pearls which grow attached to the inside of the shell
Black Pearls- gray to black pearls
Freshwater Pearls -pearls which form in fresh water mollusks and resemble puffed rice
Mabe Pearls -cultivated blister pearls
Seed Pearls- small, tiny pearls used in Victorian jewelry and sewn on clothing)
Early Chinese myths told of pearls falling from the sky when dragons fought. Much early folklore mentionsPearls as a symbol of innocence, faith, and charity.