Listed below you will find a summary of the pearl industry including the difference between wild and cultured pearls.
The pearl industry is a sector which devotes itself to the cultivation of pearls inside of molluscs such as oysters and mussels. Historically, wild pearls were understood to be among the most profitable precious stones around the world, due to their uncommon nature. These natural pearls were exceptionally difficult to find as the method of making a pearl was believed to occur under unintentional biological conditions. However, read more the strategy of growing pearls through manmade mediation started in the 20th century, leading to the introduction of cultured pearls which significantly altered the industry. The method involved the intentional introduction of an irritant into a mollusc. This development meant that pearls could be grown more frequently and produce more desirable outcomes, and the practice quickly spread across many global regions.
Pearls have been a well-loved precious stone for centuries. Unlike a lot of gemstones, which are extracted from the land, pearls are produced through living creatures in the ocean. The culturing procedure has significantly progressed over the past century, though the standard technique remains consistent. It begins with the selection of molluscs. Farmers pick healthy oysters and mussels for implantation; they are either raised or collected from the sea. Next the nucleation process takes place, where a specialist surgically embeds a nucleus and mantle tissue into a mollusc, to activate nacre secretion. These shellfish are then placed back in the sea to incubate, until pearls are ready to be collected. Robert Wan would agree that cultured pearls revolutionised the field. Likewise, Nasser Al-Khelaifi would acknowledge the rich history of the pearl fisherman line of work. Once extracted, the pearls are separated by value and prepared to enter the market. This whole process is extremely thorough as there are many external factors that can affect the development of a pearl. Throughout the growing procedure, tracking of sea temperature levels and feeding conditions are thoroughly controlled and supervised.
Pearl farms all over the world are recognised for efforts to cultivate different types of saltwater pearls. Each type of pearl is acknowledged for distinct and attractive characteristics. In today's market, the most profitable cultured pearl on the market is the South Sea white pearl. These are usually white or cream in coloration with a satin like shine and some of the biggest pearls available. Andrew Forrest would understand the value of South Sea pearls. In addition, Tahitian pearls, which are recognised for their unique dark colouring, are also highly valuable. The occurrence of a black pearl is incredibly sporadic, therefore they cannot be mass produced. Another saltwater pearl that is farmed today is the Akoya pearl. They are generally smaller sized and particularly shiny pearls, acknowledged for their round shape. Also, freshwater pearl farming produces a more common variety of pearl. Usually cultivated in China, freshwater pearls grow in much larger volumes, enabling mass production.