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The Fierce Competition Between Akoya Pearls and Freshwater Pearls

Saturday, June 12th, 2010

There are several differences between freshwater pearls and Akoya pearls, just like the fierce battles between the cultured pearls and natural ones. To start with, Akoya pearls are far more expensive than freshwater. The freshwater pearls can be grown easily as they have an easier nucleation process. Pearl mussel, which provides freshwater pearls, a higher rate of nucleation of the mollusk. On the other hand, the mortality factor of the Akoya molluscs increases and damages the quality of the product. In addition, molluscs also have to face the problems they face due to high tides and typhoons. Thus, in the present manner, Akoya pearl production is simple, as cultured pearls, but then it’s not as difficult as the production of diamonds. Akoya Pearls are able to attract more attention due to their round shape. They can easily be used for a variety of necklaces and bracelets. A round bead of nucleation of Akoya pearls envelopes, while the soft tissue is present near the nucleation field of freshwater pearls. This soft tissue is later absorbed and later leaves a solid nacre pearl. On the other hand, the pearl nacre deposited Akoya, is limited as its gets in particular the duration of harvesting pearls. Although the elegance of Akoya pearls may be more, but the freshwater pearl is relatively durable. Due to heavy deposit of solid nacre its periphery, it has greater longevity. Some of Akoya Pearls, which are chemically synthesized, often break off and are worn out due to thinner deposits of nacre. In this case, the freshwater pearl emerges victorious in terms of less tendency of Chipping away. But the high luster Akoya pearls scores, once again, turns the tide in his favor. But, bracelets, made of fresh water rainbow iridescence of their beads, which is not on the former pearls. Although the akoya pearl nacre, is definitely thin, at the same time, its shine can not be compared with any other types of pearls. In retail, the debate still stands open. But then, freshwater pearls are giving tough competition to the establishment of Akoya pearls. They could appear as Heirloom tomorrow. Jewelry industry is changing rapidly and therefore, there is no more room for innovation and different companies. Although the akoya pearls have their own qualities which can not be overcome.

The importance of cultured pearls has risen but still Akoya pearls are able to draw more attention due to their round shape.

The Appeal of Akoya Cultured Pearls

Saturday, June 12th, 2010

Elegant Akoya Pearls
A lush piece of jewelry which is adorned with fine quality Akoya cultured pearls will offer a sophisticated, yet versatile touch of elegance capable of enhancing a wide variety of colors within your wardrobe.
It is very trendy today to wear several Akoya cultured pearl necklaces (multiple strands), at the same time. This particular approach to fashion can create an exotic, and attention grabbing affect which many find quite useful in a variety of social and casual settings alike. Wearing various lengths and sizes of Akoya cultured pearls in the form of necklaces and bracelets allows many fashion conscious people to really get creative with their Akoya cultured pearls.
Akoya cultured pearls are often graded as extremely high quality pearls; and the fact that they can be bought for relatively inexpensive prices is very appealing to many people. The process in which Akoya cultured pearls are produced allows pearl farmers to have a great deal of control as to how the pearls turn out. These highly specialized techniques have been developed and perfected over many decades of experimentation with Akoya cultured pearls.
Although many people often think of the body color of a pearl as being white or cream colored, there is in reality a wide variety of colors such as various shades of blue, green, gold, silver or even black pearls. Usually the Akoya cultured pearls are shaped very near to being perfectly round, however slightly irregular to a certain degree.
Pearls naturally have flaws, just like diamonds do. An absolutely perfect diamond is quite rare and may just be a fake; this is true of Akoya cultured pearls as well. Small blemishes are normal, small imperfections should be expected, and an Akoya cultured pearl should not be absolutely perfectly smooth to the touch either.
The creation of Akoya cultured pearls occurs when the soft tissue of a mollusk, referred to as the mantle, is implanted with an irritant. A natural reaction to this irritation within the mantle will begin to take place and the mollusk’s own defense system will eventually create a pearl very slowly over time; one layer at a time. The process can take several years, and is part of the reason why people have such an appreciation for pearls. The Akoya cultured pearl is a thing of sheer beauty, which has been created by a living creature, and the results come in a stunning variety of shapes, sizes and colors.
Because Akoya cultured pearls are actually made by a living creature, there will almost always be slight size variations among the pearls that make up a strand. This is a good thing as long as the size variation is not too far beyond a half millimeter or so. You will most often notice that the beautiful Akoya cultured pearls will be commonly found in earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and even anklets.
Beautiful strands of Akoya cultured pearls can be exotic and mysterious, as well as sophisticated and even casual choices of jewelry. Some white Akoya cultured pearls have a rosy hue which is quite desirable; with others you may find, upon close inspection, a rainbow of colors from different angles. The more you begin to learn about Akoya cultured pearls, the more you begin to realize that no two are ever exactly alike; and that is just part of their appeal.

Art Morse A jeweler for more than 20 years try these online sites
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Black and Gray pearls

Akoya Pearls: Tips to Know Them Better

Friday, June 11th, 2010

Every time you appreciate a traditional single-strand pearl necklace, it is most likely to be decorated with Akoya pearls. Akoya pearls are those classic and timeless natural gems that can make an ordinary jewelry piece to look like an adorable one. Have you ever thought, what make Akoya pearls so desirable? Here is some information on these beautiful pearls:
Commercial Akoya pearls are cultivated from a smaller variety of oyster known as Pinctada fucata martensii, a saltwater species. Although, they have a Japanese name, the oyster has a Chinese origination. Currently, they are widely cultured in countries like Japan, China, Korea and Sri Lanka.
Usually, the color and size decide the price of the pearl. Typical roundish in shape, Akoya pearls are available in different range of colors. The standard size of Akoya pearls range from 3 mm – 9 mm. Pearls which are of 10 mm size are considered rare and expansive. Besides these two, Akoya Pearls have other determining features:
Shine and Nacre
These pearls enjoy the highest luster in all pearls. You will be surprised to know that, in dim lights, a high quality Akoya pearl reflect its aura and display interesting color contrast.
Akoya pearls come with a minimum of 0. 35 mm of nacre thickness.
Quality of the Surface
It is seen that the pearls having large or thick nacre develop some blemishes on their surface. It is mainly due to the fact that blemishes emerge as the result of a long time in the oyster.
Color of Pearls
Colors of pearls play a significant role in determining the prices of akoya pearls. The pearls’ colors and overtones decide its value to a great extent. Take a look on the colors of the pearls as per their value:
Light Pink — The highest price Akoya pearl
White — white body color normally with silver or pink overtone
Light Cream — cost less than white. But in low quality pearls, the different between the two are small
Cream — lower than light cream one
Dark Cream &Yellow — Less 50% of price than white Akoya Pearl
Overtone
Pink: higher the value
Silver: without much affection
Green: sometimes decrease the price slightly
Shape
Akoya pearls are available in mainly four shape; round, off-round, semi-baroque and baroque.
So, next time when you plan to buy an Akoya pearl, be sure that your buy the one that worthy of its price.

The article is contributed by a professional content writer, having experiences of working in different industries. For further information on Freshwater Pearls and Akoya Pearls please visit at http://www. alohapearls. com/

Wholesale Loose Pearl Akoya Pearl South Sea Pearl

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

http://www. wspearl. com
Cultured pearls are grown on pearl farms, where several thousands of oysters can be nucleated and then cared for over the 2-5 years required for a pearl to develop. Like any other form of farming, the culture of pearls is as dependent on luck as it is on skill. An entire bed of oysters can be completely devastated by such unpredictable and uncontrollable factors as water pollution, severe storms, excessive heat or cold, disease, and many other forces of both man and nature. Although pearl farmers attempt to control as many of these variables as possible, pearl farming can indeed be a risky business!
Before the farmer can even begin nucleating oysters to begin the process of pearl production, there must be oysters to nucleate. In the early days of the cultured pearl industry, oysters were simply collected from the sea. Although some farmers continue using this method today, the more-modern practice is to essentially breed the oysters. The pearl farmer collects oyster sperm and eggs from high-quality oysters already on the farm, and then uses the sperm to fertilize the eggs and create a new generation of oyster larvae.
The larvae are allowed to float freely in the water under controlled conditions until they are a few weeks old, at which point they attach themselves to “collectors” which have been provided by the farmers for this purpose. (In the wild, the larvae would attach themselves to a rock or similar object at this point in their development. ) Over a period of a few months, the larvae develop into baby oysters. They are then generally moved into a separate “nursery” area of the farm, where they are tended for perhaps 1-2 years, until they have grown sufficiently to be nucleated.
The process of nucleation is a surgical procedure whereby a foreign object is implanted into the oyster. This object causes irritation, which the oyster counteracts by secreting nacre to surround the object, thereby producing a pearl. Two basic methods of nucleation are used.
Saltwater oysters are generally nucleated using a “bead” prepared from mother-of-pearl. The bead is first surrounded by a small piece of mantle tissue taken from a donor oyster, and then the bead and tissue together are implanted into the oyster. The bead serves as a mold, or nucleus, around which the pearl develops. The resulting pearl will contain the bead at its center (where the bead can be detected by x-rays), and the pearl will tend to develop in the same general shape as the original bead.
Freshwater mollusks are generally nucleated using a piece of mantle tissue only, without a bead. The pearl develops around the mantle tissue, which can over time deteriorate, leaving a pearl that is composed almost entirely of nacre.
After nucleating, the oysters are provided a few weeks to recover from the surgery. During this time, some of the oysters may reject and expel the implanted nuclei; others may become sick or even die. Most, however, will recover fully. The oysters are placed in cages or nets and moved into the oyster bed, where they will be tended as the pearls develop. Depending on the type of oyster, this process can require anywhere from a few additional months to several more years!
All the while that the pearls are developing inside the oysters, the pearl farmers pay close attention to water conditions, weather, and other factors which can influence both the health of the oyster and the development of the pearl. Various oysters, for example, require various levels of water temperature to thrive and produce the best pearls. The farmers will often raise or lower the oyster cages in the water to help control the temperature — lowering the cages to cooler depths when the weather is warm, or raising them nearer the surface warmth when the weather is cool. The cages are often lowered in storms as well, to keep the oysters as safe as possible from surface turbulence. Water pollution is also a continuing concern, and pearl farmers take numerous steps to insure the cleanliness of the water in which their oysters live.
After the pearls have been allowed to develop fully, they must be harvested. The pearls are extracted from the oysters, then washed, dried, and sorted into general categories. Sometimes the pearls are polished by tumbling them in salt and water. The pearls are then sold to jewelers, manufacturers, and pearl dealers.

www. wspearl. com

The Freshwater Pearls the Grading of Akoya Pearl

Monday, May 31st, 2010

Pearls , which are grown from fresh water mussels in bays, lakes and rivers, are known as freshwater pearls . The largest producer of freshwater pearls in the world is China and next follows Japan and United States . The first freshwater cultured pearl farming was executed in U. S by John Latendresse in 1963 in Teneesse.

There are 20 different species from the family called ‘Unionidae’ of fresh water pearls, which are harvested for commercial purpose every year. Up to 40 to 50 pearls are produced from a single mussel.

Freshwater pearls have different shapes. The shapes of cultured pearls are determined by the quality of water, as well as, the shape of nucleus and its position in the mussel. You would find beautiful Freshwater pearls, which are round in shape and have a high lustrous quality.

Freshwater pearls are cheaper in cost and also have less quality than salt water cultured pearls due to its unique shape, size and color. However, high qualities pearls are round in shape and also are as good as salt-water cultured pearls. There are many color varieties of freshwater pearl such as pink, white, cream and black etc. Among them, white color pearl is the most common pearl and expensive whereas black pearl is gaining its popularity in the field of fashion and design.

Moreover, white pearl though, expensive are considered as classic and traditional whereas black pearls with its deep color are considered as dramatically modern. Some of the factors that result in freshwater pearls to have different types of color are the quality of water and the position of the shell in the mussel. Some pearls are artificially dyed in different colors with the development in the field of fashions and styles.

High quality freshwater pearls are no doubt rare, exotic and flawless in their construction. With its luster, shine and shape like a saltwater pearl, freshwater pearls have a distinguishing character rarely found in any other cultured pearls.

One can find these pearls sold in the market under different brand names. There are various extra ordinary developments happening in the pearl market these days. Freshwater pearls have changed their stature incredibly in fashions and designs. They never wear out of time, as they are truly cultured and composed solidly of nacre in freshwater mussel.

Pearls of Joy is a leading online retailer provides detailed about Pearl Jewelry, Freshwater Pearls and more.

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Wholesale Freshwater Pearl Akoya Pearl Tahitian Pearl Jewelrys Pearl Beads in Strand

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Our own pearl farm lies in Zhuji city ,Zhejiang province,Where are known as “Country of freshwater pearls”. It is principally engaged in the pearl breeding,pearl deep process,pearl grading, pearl jewelry products and pearl R&D. Furthermore we also carefully choose some top quality pearls from our other pearl farmers. Besides the market of mainland China and Hong Kong, Top Pearl Jewelry begun to export & wholesale CHINESE AKOYA SALTWATER PEARLS directly form our family pearl farms via the Internet from 2000. There are no middlemen – no importers,no national distributors,no retail vendors – between our customers and our pearl farms, so we can offer the world’s finest pearls with reasonable prices and high quality.

Now our online jewelry store mainly wholesale freshwater pearl & akoya pearl jewelry & tahitian pearl , pearl necklace , pearl bracelets , pearl earrings , pearl pendants , and loose pearl beads , coral jewelry ,turquoise jewelry , crystal,jade,shell jewelry,lampwork jewelry , gemstone jewelry , wish pearl gift sets,oysters with pearls. All jewelry products are almost handmade. In addition, our online wholesale jewelry store also supplies jewelry raw materials – freshwater pearls,akoya pearl beads & strands, coral beads, turquoise,shell beads,jewelry class fittings, jewelry making kits.

Our online wholesale store has our own jewelry designers, we’re continuing to design new jewelry styles – Crystal & pearl jewelry, fine pearl jewelry such as bridal jewelry series,anniversary pearl jewelry, and beautiful graduation pearl jewelry. Custom jewelry designs are welcome.

In China’s jewelry industry, we are not enough a big guy, but our Professional Foreign Trade,Good English Communication, Product Quality, Competitive Price and On-time Delivery earn us the reputation in our clients all over ther world.

WSPearl Jewelry Inc. , China’s online wholesale jewelry store, is professional wholesaler and supplier of Chinese cultured pearls. All pearls are directly from Chinese culutred pearl farms.

The Unique and Distinctive Features of Akoya Pearl Jewelry

Sunday, May 23rd, 2010

It was around the 1920s that the Japanese began farming pearls in earnest and they have been growing in popularity ever since. However; recently the Chinese have began to produce Akoya pearls and Akoya pearl jewelry and they are predicted to dominate the market in time.

This is due to the fact that pearl farming is very labor intensive work and China with its over one-billion residents has plenty of cheap labor to keep a burgeoning pearl industry supplied. Akoya pearl jewelry has to be cared for after it has been purchased due to the fact that pearls are not as durable as other gemstones.

This is because, unlike gemstones that were created deep in the earth under great pressure and heat pearls were created in a living organism, just the same as ivory. Akoya pearl jewelry will last up to one hundred and fifty years or more if it is properly cared for but if not they can deteriorate far more quickly.

They should be kept carefully in their own clothe bag, so they don’t get scratched by other jewelry in a jewelry box. Also due to the actual mineral composition of Akoya pearl jewelry, acid in any form is its worst enemy.

Your skin, particularly when you sweat even in minor amounts is slightly acidic and it is because of this fact that Akoya pearl jewelry should be whiped down after it has been worn using a soft cloth. Never use commercial cleaners to clean any type of pearls so you should obtain and use special pearl cleaning agents for this task.

Written by Stella Jussen. Find the latest information on Akoya Pearl Jewellery

Akoya Pearl Necklace – Chinese Or Japanese?

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Beautiful. Elegant. Lustrous. These are just three adjectives normally used when asked to describe Akoya Pearl Necklaces. A contemporary piece of jewelry, each pearl necklace is hand-knotted individually showing a silky luster. Brilliant Japanese pearls, it is always a pleasure receiving Akoya pearl necklaces.
Although something so rare and precious does come with a price. The average price for an Akoya pearl necklace is $4000 dollars. Some stores offer a discount especially during the Holidays though.
But if you can afford getting yourself or a significant other one, why not? Akoya pearl necklaces assure fine beadwork, awe-inspiring luster effect and a brilliance that is so stunning that when worn, they seem to be diamonds fresh out from the sea. Akoya pearl necklaces have then on become symbols for beauty and elegance and one of the most popular pearls the world over.
Akoya pearls are graded using AAA, AA+, AA and A.
AAA pearls are those belonging to the Top 1% of the harvest. Their luster is excellent and they are 96% blemish free. Their matching is excellent, they have a round shape and a thick nacre.
The AA+ pearls are those that came from the top 5% of the harvest. Their luster is also excellent and they are 90 to 95% blemish free. Their matching is excellent, they have a round shape and a thick nacre.
The AA pearls are those belonging to the Top 20% of the harvest. Their luster is very good and they are 80 to 90% blemish free. Their matching is very good, their shape is round and their nacre ranges from medium to thick.
The A pearls are those belonging to the Top 50% of the harvest. Their luster is very good and their blemishes are moderate when set on the light. They have good matching and a round shape.
Every pearl necklace retailer know that if there are two kinds of pearl necklaces competing head-to-head for the demands of the jewelry-loving market, it would have to be the Japanese Akoya Pearls and the Chinese Akoya Pearls. The normal public would go, “What’s the difference? They’re both pearls. ” Alas, my friend, you think wrong. There is still a difference between the two, therefore the competition.
When it comes to pearls, Japan has the best and most precious ones out there. Considering that theirs are the most spherical in shape. In the pearl industry, the rounder the pearl, the more valuable it is.
Japanese Akoya pearls is the epitome for the classic quality and grace of what pearl necklaces should be. Pearliculture in Japan is one of the highest paid labor in the world because of the tedious procedure of cultivating and getting the pearls from the oysters and mussels.
But because there are so much competition out there, Japanese Akoya pearl industry being number one just had to come to a halt. It was obvious for the last half-decade but it was only with the strong supply of Chinese Akoya pearl necklaces pouring in did the expected actually occurred.
Regardless, even if it were Japanese of Chinese Akoya pearl necklaces, the price remains the same because of the rarity and the precious quality this piece of jewelry represents. The twist of this whole competing for the best pearl necklace is that Japanese factories are quickly becoming the largest consumers of the Chinese Akoya pearl farmers. Pearls from China are imported into Japan and then later on tagged “Made in Japan. “
Akoya pearl necklaces today obviously contain Chinese Akoya pearls. To say that it is Japanese Akoya pearls kinda raises the question if it really is. Is it really the rare spherical black Akoya pearls Japan is known for or is it merely made in Japan?
But it is still a consumers right to know whether he is paying the right price for the necklace he is purchasing. Generally, people believe that if the Akoya pearl necklaces came from Japan, it is expensive. For them to not feel cheated, they must not take the “Made in Japan” tag seriously.
Studies show that 80% of Akoya pearl necklaces are actually Chinese cultured pearls. The strands may be from Japan but the pearls are really from China.
Another question is that what about the manufacturers that gets their Akoya pearl stocks directly from Japanese farms. The answer is that Japan pearl farms sell their pearls to factories where the items are bleached, polished, matched and drilled. Never do they sell directly to the retailers.
Because of the estimated 80% Chinese pearls and 20% Japanese pearls, it is extremely hard to figure out the understandable profit when it comes to Akoya pearl necklace-making.
Regardless, consumers still buy Akoya pearl necklaces simply because the standard of this fine piece of jewelry continue to prove true today. Its standards remain topnotch and the beauty, luster and elegance of the Akoya pearl necklace be it Chinese or Japanese still make the wearer shine to the nines.

For more information go to: http://www. unlimitedpearls. com www. bestpearlnecklaces. com

Wholesale Freshwater Pearl Akoya Pearl

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

www. wspearl. comPearls have been prized for their beauty and rarity for more than four thousand years. From ancient China, India, and Egypt, to Imperial Rome, to the Arab world, to Native American tribes, cultures from around the world and throughout recorded history have valued these unique, biologically based gemstones – much longer than any other gem. The pearl is the only gemstone which is grown inside of a living organism. Pearls are formed within oysters or mollusks when a foreign substance (most often a parasite – not a grain of sand) invades the shell of the mollusk, entering the soft mantle tissue, and picking up epithelial cells. In response to the irritation, the epithelial cells form into a sac (known as a pearl sac) which secretes a crystalline substance called nacre, the same substance which makes up the interior of the oyster’s shell, which builds up in layers around the irritant, forming the pearl. There are approximately 8,000 different species of two-shelled (bi-valve) mollusks, of which only about 20 types are capable of consistently producing pearls. Natural pearls have always been extremely rare and valuable. Because the layers of nacre tend to maintain the irregular shape of the original irritant, natural pearls which are round or spherical in shape are even rarer still, and are highly prized. Most natural pearls are irregularly shaped. In a completely natural state, only a very small percentage of oysters will ever produce a pearl at all. Of the pearls which are produced, only a handful will develop to a desirable size, shape, and color; and only a small fraction of those will be harvested by humans. It is commonly assumed that only one in ten thousand oysters will naturally produce a gem quality pearl. Obviously if we relied only on nature, ownership of pearls would still be relegated to only the wealthiest people in the world, and pearl producing oysters would be on the brink of extinction due to over-harvest. As pearls have been a prized gem by much of the world’s population for thousands of years, this need has led to the development of cultured pearls. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, however, several Japanese researchers discovered a method of producing pearls artificially. Essentially, the technique involves inserting a foreign substance, or nucleus, into the tissue of the oyster or mollusk, then returning the creature to the sea and allowing the resulting cultured pearl to develop naturally. This practice was quite widespread harvesting Mabe pearls. Kokichi Mikimoto is credited with perfecting the technique for artificially stimulating the development of round pearls in Akoya oysters, receiving a patent for this technique in 1916. Although patented in 1916 this technique has since been improved upon and used extensively throughout the pearling world – no longer simply used to cultured Akoya pearls, but freshwater, South Sea and Tahitian pearls as well. Mikimoto’s discovery opened the door to a greatly expanded pearl industry, in which pearls could be farmed like an agricultural crop, rather than simply sought hit-and-miss. These cultured pearls could now be produced in sufficient quantities to make them available to virtually anyone. The cultured pearl industry has now far surpassed that of the natural pearl industry. Although a market still persists for pearls gifted to us by nature, these pearls are becoming more and more difficult to find, with rare full strands being auctioned for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Today, purchasing a pearl necklace from nearly any store in the world means purchasing a strand of cultured pearls.

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Freshwater Vs Akoya Freshwater Vs Cultured Japanese Vs Chinese Japanese Akoya Pearls Hanadama Akoya Pearls Black Tahitian Pearls Saltwater Pearl

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

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Pearls have been prized for their beauty and rarity for more than four thousand years. From ancient China, India, and Egypt, to Imperial Rome, to the Arab world, to Native American tribes, cultures from around the world and throughout recorded history have valued these unique, biologically based gemstones – much longer than any other gem.
The pearl is the only gemstone which is grown inside of a living organism. Pearls are formed within oysters or mollusks when a foreign substance (most often a parasite – not a grain of sand) invades the shell of the mollusk, entering the soft mantle tissue, and picking up epithelial cells. In response to the irritation, the epithelial cells form into a sac (known as a pearl sac) which secretes a crystalline substance called nacre, the same substance which makes up the interior of the oyster’s shell, which builds up in layers around the irritant, forming the pearl.
There are approximately 8,000 different species of two-shelled (bi-valve) mollusks, of which only about 20 types are capable of consistently producing pearls. Natural pearls have always been extremely rare and valuable. Because the layers of nacre tend to maintain the irregular shape of the original irritant, natural pearls which are round or spherical in shape are even rarer still, and are highly prized. Most natural pearls are irregularly shaped.
In a completely natural state, only a very small percentage of oysters will ever produce a pearl at all. Of the pearls which are produced, only a handful will develop to a desirable size, shape, and color; and only a small fraction of those will be harvested by humans. It is commonly assumed that only one in ten thousand oysters will naturally produce a gem quality pearl. Obviously if we relied only on nature, ownership of pearls would still be relegated to only the wealthiest people in the world, and pearl producing oysters would be on the brink of extinction due to over-harvest. As pearls have been a prized gem by much of the world’s population for thousands of years, this need has led to the development of cultured pearls.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, however, several Japanese researchers discovered a method of producing pearls artificially. Essentially, the technique involves inserting a foreign substance, or nucleus, into the tissue of the oyster or mollusk, then returning the creature to the sea and allowing the resulting cultured pearl to develop naturally. This practice was quite widespread harvesting Mabe pearls. Kokichi Mikimoto is credited with perfecting the technique for artificially stimulating the development of round pearls in Akoya oysters, receiving a patent for this technique in 1916. Although patented in 1916 this technique has since been improved upon and used extensively throughout the pearling world – no longer simply used to cultured Akoya pearls, but freshwater, South Sea and Tahitian pearls as well.
Mikimoto’s discovery opened the door to a greatly expanded pearl industry, in which pearls could be farmed like an agricultural crop, rather than simply sought hit-and-miss. These cultured pearls could now be produced in sufficient quantities to make them available to virtually anyone.
The cultured pearl industry has now far surpassed that of the natural pearl industry. Although a market still persists for pearls gifted to us by nature, these pearls are becoming more and more difficult to find, with rare full strands being auctioned for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Today, purchasing a pearl necklace from nearly any store in the world means purchasing a strand of cultured pearls.

www. wspearl. com