Natural Pearls

Natural pearls form inside molluscs when an irritant, such as a parasite or a grain of sand, gets trapped inside the shell. Conversely, when a rock becomes lodged in a human’s shoe, no precious objects are formed, an injustice that technology ought one day rectify. The process sees the mollusc coat the foreign body in layers of nacre, slowly armouring it over until the lump becomes smooth, shiny, and fit for auction. Trading these items is often forbidden without a license, as pearl-producing species are typically protected or hail from endangered habitats. These restrictions are easily sidestepped by shoving the pearls in your hand luggage and not giving a shit.