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.

DID YOU KNOW? Pearls are actually GOOD for the environment... Pearls cannot grow in polluted water, so the more the pearl industry grows the more likely pearl farmers are to ensure their neighbors are also protecting the water! This is especially good news for countries of intense industrial growth, such as China.

from: Kojima Pearl

Types of pearls

	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	Blue pearls Haliotis iris of New Zealand produces the exquisite blue pearl, with all the colours of the paua shell that produces it.

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.