Page 67 - magazine

PEARLS TODAY CAN BE FOUND IN A

KALEIDOSCOPE OF COLORS, SHAPES

AND SIZES TO SUIT THE TASTE OF EVERY
WOMAN. Freshwater Coin Pearl - Cultivated in the famous lake

Biwa in Japan, these pearls are unique in their high luster
and flat shape. Lake Biwa was once world renowned
for its high-quality freshwater pearls produced by the
Biwa pearl mussel, the Hyriopsis schlegeli. However, in
the mid 1970’s pearl farming in Lake Biwa came to a
South Sea Pearls are among some of the largest halt due to pollution. There are other coin or button
commercially cultivated pearls in the world. The South pearls in existence today which come from other areas,
Seas lie between the northern coast of Australia, and the but Biwa pearls are special for their exceptionally high
southern coast of China. These waters are the native habitat level of luster. Their shape is flat because the mussel
of the large oyster, the Pinctada maxima. This oyster grows that produces them is flatter than a normal mussel. They
up to 12 inches in diameter, and can be nucleated with a are also able to adopt the shape of the nucleus that is
much larger bead than other saltwater oysters. There are implanted in them. Therefore, a nucleus in the shape Baroque soufflé pearl and diamond
up to three generations of pearls that can develop from of a heart or square will develop into a pearl that is the bracelet, set in 18k white gold.
one South Sea oyster. The first generation pearl takes an shape of a heart or square. They come in shades of
average of 4-6 years to culture and ranges from 7.5 – 14 mm white, cream, peach and pink. Because the texture of
in size. The second generation pearl takes 7-10 years and a Biwa pearl is not as smooth as other freshwater pearls
is much larger, 14-18 mm in size. The third generation pearl this makes them even more unique.
is even rarer, taking 20-30 years to culture. These pearls are Soufflé Pearls are grown in a variety of colors,
the most valuable as they are the largest, ranging from shapes, and sizes. Their magnificent metallic luster is
18-25 mm in size. Some have grown so large that they rarely found in any other type of pearl. Soufflé Pearls
are no longer measurable on the pearl scale. South Sea are hollow and therefore especially lightweight.
pearls are also referred to as saltwater pearls. Their colors They are produced by inserting a piece of sun-
are determined by the type of oyster in which they grow. Tahitian cultured pearls are cultivated from the large, dried mud into the oyster, around which the pearl
As the pearl develops it acquires the same color as the black, Pinctada maxima oyster, and produce very develops. When Soufflé Pearls are removed, a small
large pearls. The natural black or gray color of these
The largest available round saltwater pearl inner lining of the oyster. Black and dark color pearls come pearls comes from the color of the oyster’s black lips. hole is drilled into the pearl so that any mud that
necklace in the world. from the seas around Tahiti, hence they are referred to as might still be present inside is removed.
‘Tahitian’ pearls. Golden, champagne and butterscotch This oyster is very sensitive to the pearl culturing process,
pearls come from Indonesia and the Philippines. which makes the pearls both rare and expensive.
Cultivated around the islands of French Polynesia, they
usually range from light gray to black. Tahitian pearls are
thought by many to be solely a product of Tahiti, but this
is in fact not true. Although Tahiti is the commercial and
trading center of the industry, it does not actually have
any pearl farms on the island.
Keshi Pearls - Keshi means tiny in Japanese, and can
grow in either salt water or freshwater. Keshi pearls
Freshwater Pearls are grown inside mussels that are formed when the oyster rejects the implanted
inhabit lakes and rivers. Up to forty pearls can grow nucleus before the culturing process is complete,
inside one freshwater mussel. They evolve in a wide thereby producing unusual pearls without a nucleus.
range of shapes, sizes, and colors. The exception
to this is the Biwa pearl which comes from a flatter They are smaller in size and come in a wide variety of
mussel and only produces one pearl at a time. shapes and colors.

Natural pearl necklace with natural cognac
diamonds, set in18k gold.

64 65