Pearls?

[Chibi Kappa Sigma]

Hi everyone! So I turned 16 this year and my parents have offered to get me a nice ring to celebrate it. I think pearls are beautiful and I considered getting a pearl ring. However, I'm not sure whether they are considered "vegetarian". I'm a vegetarian, not a vegan. I know they aren't vegan, but what do you guys think? Thank you for your opinions.  

[loony x lovegood]

I strongly recommend against asking for a pearl ring. They're made by inserting a grain of sand (or other irritant) into an oyster, which is irritating and painful, so they form a pearl sac around it to protect their body. After a few years of this process, it ends up as a pearl, which is removed through either an operation or by killing the oyster.

Oyster farms use this process to insert an irritant:

Karipearls.com

Each operator has strips of prepared living mantle/epithelial tissue to be inserted with the nuclei. One oyster must die to provide this tissue which is cut from its mantle and its rough edges cut away, for 14-15 inserted nuclei. Too bad...but that is how pearls are made. The strip of tissue is cut into tiny squares and stays alive for 2 hours...so must be used within that time frame.

In summary: suffering, pain, and death for the sake of vanity? I would definitely say no.  

[Chibi Kappa Sigma]

Wow, I didn't know whether or not the oyster dies during the pearl process. Now that I know for certain that they do kill the oysters, I'm definitely against pearls. It seems just like fur, which I'm very strongly against. Thank you for the information, veganlicious. I won't be getting any more pearls, and I won't wear any that I receive/d as a gift. I totally agree with you. Encourage mass suffering and killing of oysters, just so I can have a memento? I'll get a real rock. At least it doesn't hurt a stone when you cut it.  

[aoijea23487]

unless you're worried about spreading the idea that real pearls are okay, i would suggest you try seeing if you could get your hands on a secondhand pearl ring [like at a pawn shop].

otherwise, i suggest you not get any sort of pearl ring.  

[Sazzie Lotus Song]

Try getting a fake pearl. 3nodding In my opinion, it looks just as pretty. biggrin
Peace and Love,
Sazzie heart  

[Fairytale Endings]

Sazzie Loves Bunnies

Try getting a fake pearl. 3nodding In my opinion, it looks just as pretty. biggrin
Peace and Love,
Sazzie heart

I agree with this. Maybe you could ask for a pretty ring that has a fake pearl.

 

[Lady Callie G]

I say it depends. It's really hard to know if your pearls are ethical. If you can find a dead oyster on the beach though with a pearl inside.....  

[pinkcatminht]

Chibi Ten

I'll get a real rock. At least it doesn't hurt a stone when you cut it.

eh, be careful of where you get your diamonds from too. there's a reason some are called "blood diamonds."