| TAHITIAN PEARLS
Black Tahitian pearls are mainly grown in the clear, warm waters
of French Polynesia. They are grown in the large black-lip oysters
found there. Tahitian pearls are rarer than other types of pearls,
since only a small number of oysters survive to produce a fine pearl.
Since each Tahitian pearl is very unique and does not resemble any
other, it takes hundreds of pearls to find the similar ones required
to make a strand.
AKOYA PEARLS Akoya Pearls are found only in Japan, China, and
Vietnam. Japanese Akoya pearl farms are shifting towards the warmer
Chinese waters, where these pearls take only half as long to grow.
Overtone colors of Akoya pearls include white, cream, rose, silver,
and green. Akoya pearl sizes range from less than 5mm to 9mm.
Larger Akoya pearl sizes are possible, but less frequent.
SALTWATER PEARLS These are almost
always Akoya pearls.
These pearls are farmed in saltwater and are always grown in oysters.
Saltwater pearls typically command a higher price than their freshwater
cousins.
FRESHWATER PEARLS These cultured
pearls are farmed in freshwater and are grown in mussels. The
irritants used in making freshwater pearls are often smaller than
those used in saltwater pearls, which results in a pearl with
more nacre, or more pearl, and less core irritant. Freshwater
pearls are typically cheaper because freshwater mussels are larger
and can produce up to 20 pearls at a time, whereas saltwater oysters
are smaller and can only produce one pearl at a time.
CULTURED PEARLS Made famous by Mikimoto,
nearly all pearls sold on the open market are cultured. Cultured
pearls evolve in a similar manner as natural pearls, with the
distinction being that cultured pearls have an irritant intentionally
placed by a pearl farmer to start the formation of a pearl. The
process may take one to several years. Japan, China and various
places in the South Pacific have traditionally been major suppliers
of cultured pearls. All pearls sold on this website are cultured
pearls.
NATURAL PEARLS (UNCULTURED) These
are the most rare form of a pearl. They form without human instigation.
The process begins when an irritant positions itself inside the
oyster. As a defensive measure, the oyster secrets layers of nacre
which cover the irritant. This nacre forms the "pearl"
as we know it. The amount, quality and shape of nacre that surrounds
the irritant particle essentially determines the quality of the
pearl. Because of their rarity and low demand, natural pearls
can only be bought at estate auctions and through private dealers.
JAPANESE VS CHINESE AKOYA PEARLS
Japan is famous for its introduction and promotion of the cultured
pearl. Unfortunately, pollution has devastated Japan's pearl harvests
and has decreased the quality of their pearls. China initially
started culturing pearls in the 1980's and is now producing pearls
of equal and sometimes higher quality than many of the pearls
coming from Japan. Since the waters in China are less polluted
and warmer, Chinese pearls have a thicker nacre and often a higher
luster. Most Japanese firms have even started importing Chinese
pearls and labeling them as Japanese pearls since it is more expensive
to grow the pearls in Japan.
WHITE SOUTH SEA PEARLS White South
Sea cultured pearls are grown in large tropical or semi-tropical
oysters in Australia, Myanmar, Indonesia and other Pacific countries.
These generally range in size from 10mm to 20mm and command premium
prices because of their relative rarity and large size. They come
primarily in white, yellow, yellowish orange, blue and some black
tones. The overtones are rose, green and blue.
MABE PEARLS These are grown in Japan,
China and the United States. They are hemispherical cultured pearls
grown against the shell of an oyster rather than within the oyster's
body. They generally are used in earrings or rings which conceal
their flat backs.
|
