Nuclei from Toba Pearl Island, JapanPearl farm, Seram, Indonesia
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Pearl

A pearl is a hard, rounded object produced by certain mollusks, primarily oysters. Pearl is valued as a gemstone and is cultivated or harvested for jewellery. more...

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Pearls are formed inside the shell of certain bivalve mollusks. As a response to an irritating object inside its shell, the mollusk will deposit layers of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in the form of the minerals aragonite or calcite (both crystalline forms of calcium carbonate) held together by an organic horn-like compound called conchiolin. This combination of calcium carbonate and conchiolin is called nacre, or as most know it, mother-of-pearl.

The unique luster of pearls depends upon the reflection and refraction of light from the translucent layers and is finer in proportion as the layers become thinner and more numerous. The iridescence that some pearls display is caused by the overlapping of successive layers, which breaks up light falling on the surface. Pearls are usually white, sometimes with a creamy or pinkish tinge, but may be tinted with yellow, green, blue, brown, purple, or black. Black pearls, frequently refered to as Black Tahitian Pearls are highly valued because of their rarity; the culturing process for them dictates a smaller volume output due to rejection by the oysters.

History

Before the beginning of the 20th Century, pearl hunting was the most common way of harvesting pearls. Divers manually pulled oysters from ocean floors and river bottoms and checked them individually for pearls. Not all natural oysters produce pearls, however. In fact, in a haul of three tonnes, only three or four oysters will produce perfect pearls.

Now, however, almost all pearls used for jewelry are cultured by planting a core or nucleus into pearl oysters. The pearls are usually harvested three years after the planting, but it can take up to as long as six years before a pearl is produced. This mariculture process was first developed by Kokichi Mikimoto in Japan, who was granted a patent for the process in 1896. The nucleus is generally a polished bead made from mussel shell. Along with a small scrap of mantle tissue from another oyster to serve as an irritant, it is surgically implanted near the oyster's genitals. Oysters which survive the subsequent surgery to remove the finished pearl are often implanted with a new, larger nucleus as part of the same procedure and then returned to the water for another three years of growth.

Read more at Wikipedia.org

Resources

Pearl Jewelry Sets
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Antique Book Chain W/ Intaglio Portrait Cameo C. 1850 $395.00 Antique Victorian 10K Mercury Shell Cameo Pendant $22.72
Fine Art Nouveau 14k Gold Diamond Lily Locket Necklace $261.75 Vintage Sterling Kitty Cat Charm $1.99
Vintage Sterling Fairy Godmother Charm $8.99 Antique Victorian Coral Cameo 10K Gold & Pearl, Pendent $9.99
Vintage Mens Sapphire & Diamond Ring 14K Gold Jewelry $899.00 Art Nouveau Lady'S Head Gold Diamond Drop 14Kt Chain $30.99
Lovely Vintage Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Amber Ring $28.97 Vintage Sterling Silver Onyx Marcasite Bracelet L@K $19.99
Antique Georgian Silver Diamond Pearl Pendant Earrings $100.00 Vintage Sterling Enameled Flower Charm Double Sided $5.99
Antique 1880 British Sterling Silver Marked Brooch $8.50 Vintage Silver Bracelets (3) $9.95
Beau Sterling Silver Double Horses Pin $10.99 Stunning 14Kt Solitaire Engagement Ring Florida, Estate $127.50
Vintage 1960'S Retro 14Kt White Gold Diamond Dome Ring Over 1 1/2 Ct Of Vvs Diamonds  $700.00
Vintage Cameo 9ct Gold Ring Size 6 $20.50
Pair Antique Victorian Faceted French Jet Long Hatpins $9.14 Big! Vintage! 14K 5.85Ct Citrine Dome Ring Sz 6.25 $295.00
Beautiful c.1900 Antique 18Ct Gold Opal 3 Stone Ring! $93.39 Antique Victorian Large Faceted French Jet Long Hatpin $9.14
Ornate Antique c1900 Bohemian Garnet Pearl Brooch $99.98 c1900 14k Gold Seed Pearl Enamel Flower Brooch Lovely Antique Jewelry, No Reserve, Free Shipping  $79.98
Turquoice And Diamond Ring 18K White Gold $400.00 Estate 14K Gold Natural Pearl 2" Chandelier Earrings Sexy Pair of Champagne Colored Pearls and Solid 14K Yg!  $56.99
Art Deco 1932 Solid Silver good luck Horseshoe Brooch Fully Hallmarked Birmingham 1932 - Henry Griffith & Son  $10.07
Beautiful Gold Fiery Opal Pendant Florida, Estate $51.00
1970 Man on the Moon 18K Yellow and White Gold Pin Nr $2,039.00 Longines Vintage 14K Watch $162.50
18K Charm Pendant 14K Chain Emrerald? $19.99 Vtg Sterling Silver Pine Cone Pinecone Charm Pendant $8.00
Vtg. Swank Tie Clasp Plastic Cameo Julius Caesar Nr! $9.99 Vintage Danecraft Sterling Silver Necklace & Bracelet $14.50
Cigarette in Ashtray Vintage Sterling Silver Charm $14.99 Fun Vintage 1950s 1960s Sterling Silver Charm Bracelet Fantastic Costume Jewelry, No Reserve, Free Shipping  $49.98
Child's Paddleball Game Vintage Sterling Silver Charm $12.99 Spectacular Sterling Silver And Amber Designer Bracelet $9.95
Vintage Silver Lilly/ The Valley White Stones Brooch $13.74 1970 Man on the Moon 18K Yellow and White Gold Pin Nr Made in Belgium to commemorate the first Moon Landing!  $2,039.00
Vintage Sterling Antique Bicycle / Tricycle Charm Moves $8.99 Antique 1860s Reversible Cameo Landscape Photo Brooch Exceptional Double Sided Item, Nr, Free Shipping  $99.98
Vintage Sterling Camper Charm $9.99 Edwardian 10Kt Gold Diamond Pearl Lavalier 14Kt Chain $46.99
Designer Signed Galle Sterling Wood Thrush & Nest Pin $9.99 Niagara Falls Vintage Enamel Charm $12.99
Designer Signed Siam Sterling Silver Nude Woman Ring $9.99 Vintage 1960'S Retro 14Kt White Gold Diamond Dome Ring $700.00
Nice Vintage Sterling & Enamel Star Of David Pendant $11.11 Antique Diamond Filigree Estate Ring Vintage $450.00
Vintage Brushed Solid Sterling Silver Italy Bracelet $29.99 Vintage Signed Silver Japan Gumps Jade Bird Pin-Exec-Nr $5.99
Sterling Silver Hand Carve Bead Ethnic Arrow Pin Brooch $9.99 Vintage 40's old Gold-filled wide Omega Choker Necklace $9.99
Lady'S Vintage Black Hills Gold Ring $139.00 Victorian Gold Jet & Hair Mourning Brooch 1837 Inscript $84.32
Gorgeous Cuff Bracelet By William Spratling Collectors 100% Signed And Authentic William Spratling Wow!  $6,000.00
Vintage Enamel Design Copper Sweater Holder Brooch $0.99
10K Vintage Yellow Gold Ladies Class Ring~Class of '51! $42.99 Antique Silver & Gold Artist Palette Sweetheart Brooch $12.50
Vintage Estate 14Kt Gold & Diamond Wedding Ring Set-Sz7 $108.49 Lot of 3 sterling silver bangle bracelets - nice design $9.99
vintage sterling flower pin with stones $9.99 Vintage Freirich Necklace Huge Gold Fancy $6.00
Superb Antique Solid 9Ct Gold Shell Cameo Stick Pin $4.03 Pretty Edwardian 9Ct Gold Coral & Turquoise Daisy Ring $27.48
Beautiful c.1900 Antique 18Ct Gold Opal 3 Stone Ring! Wonderful Genuine Antique Fiery Opal Gold Ring, Wow!  $93.39
Vintage 925 Taxco Mexican Sterling Bangle Bracelet $6.99
c1900 14k Gold Seed Pearl Enamel Flower Brooch $79.98 Peacock Black 4 Strand Japanese Pearl Bracelet 7.5Inch $125.00
Vintage Old Silver Turquoise-Coral Flower Ring size 6.5 $6.99 Vintage Sterling Bunny Charm W/ Rhinestones In The Eye $9.99
Art Deco 1932 Solid Silver good luck Horseshoe Brooch $10.07 Tiny Vintage Sterling Silver Baby Elephant Charm $6.00
High Quality Glass Stones Gold Tone Clip Earrings $0.99 Vtg. Pioneer Tie Clasp Royal Crown Intaglio Nr! $9.99
Vintage Ven Dell Sterling Silver Flower Pin $9.99 14K Estate W. Gold Diamond Cocktail Ring O.40Ct Cntr. $1,500.00
Beautiful 18K White Gold Diamond Estate Ring ~ Firea $785.00 Vintage Gold-plate brown-Smokey-Quartz pendant-Necklace $8.99
Sterling and 18K Gp estate lot of 13 pieces $29.99 Vintage gold-Gf Pink-Crystal rhinestone dangle Earrings $7.99
Vintage Gold-filled Picard 17-jewel Ladies Wrist-Watch $9.99 Antique Cherry Amber Bakelite Bead Necklace 27" 83.1gr $401.00
Vintage Natural Ruby Nugget Motif Ring 14K Gold Jewelry $329.00 Gander Airport Newfoundland Vintage Enamel Charm $12.99
Vintage Siam Silver Multicolor Enamel Bracelet L@K $9.99 Antique 1860s Reversible Cameo Landscape Photo Brooch $99.98
Antique Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Bar Pin Butterfly? Gorgeous, lovely detailing, blue center, wing?  $24.00
Bee Buzzing around Hive Vintage Sterling Silver Charm $16.99
Wonderful c.1890 Antique 15Ct Gold Opal Solitaire Ring! $53.12 sterling silver 925 Crusifix signed Pcc $1.99
sterling cuff bracelet with black & white stone,heavy $9.99 Unforgettable Garnet & Diamond 14Kt Gold Estate Ring $66.00
1960's Glass Beaded Necklace 17 Inches Of Glass Beads $9.99 Large Sterling Silver Dogwood Floral Brooch 1940'S $24.95
Czechoslovkian Marcasite and Onyx Bracelet $9.99 10k Gold Vintage 3D Hour Glass Charm pendant ~ Moves $22.03
Vintage 14K Engagement Ring Charm $31.00 Beau Sterling Silver Horse Pin $8.99
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Prices current as of last update, 08/28/08 2:04pm.

See also...
Art Nouveau/Art Deco 1895-1935, Pearl, Fine Vintage Jewelry
Designer, Signed, Pearl, Fine Vintage Jewelry
Georgian, Pre-1837, Pearl, Fine Vintage Jewelry
Other Vintage, Antique, Pearl, Fine Vintage Jewelry
Retro, Vintage 1940s-1980s, Pearl, Fine Vintage Jewelry
Victorian, Edwardian 1837-1910, Pearl, Fine Vintage Jewelry

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