| CULTURED
PEARLS GROW INSIDE AN OYSTER for a specified time
(depending on the pearl farmer's methods), but typically from
one to three years.
Almost all pearls on the market
today are "cultured" pearls. In simple terms, this
means that the oyster has been implanted with an irritant,
typically a bead nucleus and piece of mantle tissue from a
donor oyster, and the living oyster coats the inserted material
with many thin layers of nacre. Over time, a pearl is formed.
"Natural" pearls are
quite rare and always have been, hence the great value placed
on pearls throughout history.
Pearls are natural gems and the
only gem in popular use today that comes from a living
creature.
Types of pearls
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South Sea
South Sea pearls, grown in the oyster
Pinctada maxima, occur in a range of colours
but are mainly seen in white, cream and golden tones.
The Pinctada maxima is the largest
pearl producing species of oyster in the world and the
industry is concentrated in the northern areas of Australia,
in Indonesia and southern Asia.
South Sea pearls can grow up to 20 cm
with rare examples over 20 cm. |
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Tahitian
Tahitian pearls, from the Pinctada
margaritifera oyster, are grown in Tahiti, the Cook
Islands and other South Pacific localities.
They are often known as "black"
pearls, however, their colours range from almost black
and the very popular deep peacock shade, through varying
hues of grey, green and gold to very light cream.
While typically not growing as large as
the South Sea pearls, Tahitians exhibit a wonderful
variety of shades that, unlike the colours of dyed freshwater
pearls, are totally natural. Their colours are a product
of the oyster species and the growing conditions.
Tahitian pearls are sometimes erroneously
called 'South Sea' pearls. The oysters that grow the
different types of pearls, Tahitian and South Sea, are
quite distinct species. |
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Akoya
In the early twentieth
century, Akoya became the hallmark of the cultured pearl.
Various attempts had been made before then to perfect
the process, but none had achieved economic viability.
Kokichi Mikimoto received a patent for his cultured
pearl process in 1916 and since then methods and results
have continued to grow and improve.
Akoya pearls are still produced in Japan, and are now
also grown in China. |
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Freshwater
The growing popularity of freshwater pearls
has wrought a renaissance in pearl jewellery at all
levels of fashion.
Freshwater pearls may be dyed a myriad
of colours. They are often used with other freshwater
pearls of varied shapes and sizes, with semi-precious
stones and with gold, silver and base metal accents,
to create distinctive and unique pieces of jewellery. |
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Blue pearls
Haliotis iris of New Zealand
produces the exquisite blue pearl, with all the colours
of the paua shell that produces it. |
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What to look for
when purchasing pearls
There are five qualities to consider when making
a pearl purchase. More information is available
here.
Future of pearls
Pearls have had
a long history of mystique and resilience. Study the old masters
painters and you will see many instances of pearls featured
in their art.
The pearls of old were all "natural"
pearls, that is, they were found by accident when an oyster
was captured and prised open. The cultured pearl process,
pioneered just over a hundred years ago, has revolutionised
the availability and accessibility of these wonderful gems.
Pearls are a timeless treasure, proven in their
continuing value and appeal.
We are assured, through careful husbandry of
natural resources and the continuance of perliculture, that
our children and their children's children will still enjoy
the beauty and allure of pearls.
See also...
The Pearls Melba advice on Caring
for Pearls.
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