PEARLS! Pearls are the only gemstone that comes from a living animal. 95% of pearls come from freshwater, making saltwater pearls more valuable. It can take anywhere from 10 months to 4 years for a pearl to develop. The same oyster can create pearls throughout its lifetime, and as they age, they produce finer and better pearls. Practice makes perfect! The Queen Conch creates the rarest pearls, which are salmon pink colored.