Pearls

EDUCATION SERIES

PEARLS



While most precious gemstones are mined from deep within the layers of the Earth's crust, pearls are formed by living organisms. These unique organic gems are created when an object, such as a shell bead, is embedded inside an oyster. The oyster covers the object with a naturally iridescent substance called nacre, which produces a smooth, visually appealing outer casing.


GIFT-GIVING

Pearls come in many forms of shapes, color and types. Renowned for their smoothness and lustre, they elicit a classic elegance that many are drawn to. Whether on its own or paired with gold or other stones, pearls jewellery are popular choice for gift-giving.
 

At Michael Trio,

We use Akoya pearls, which come in an assortment of colors, shades and size.


PEARL TYPES


AKOYA PEARLS




Akoya pearls are cultured in the Pinctada fucata martensii, also known as the Akoya oyster. This mollusk is found and farmed primarily in Japan and China.

CLASSIC



Renowned for their lustre, Akoya are considered the classic pearl. They are generally white or cream colored, with overtone colors of rose, silver, or cream.

SIZED SMALL



The Akoya oyster is the smallest pearl-producing oyster used in pearl culture today, so akoya pearls also tend to be small, ranging in size from about 2 to 11 millimetres.

SHAPE CONSISTENCY


They also tend to be the most consistently round and
near-round pearls, making them ideal in terms of matching for
multi-pearl jewellery such as strands and bracelets.

 

TAHITIAN PEARLS




These glorious pearls are mainly grown in the clear, warm waters of French Polynesia, in the large black-lip oysters named Pinctada Margaritifera.

QUEEN PEARLS



After nucleation, oysters will hang on lines in dreamy and clear lagoons, building the beautiful dark nacre that distinguishes these pearls as the Queen of Pearls.

RARITY



They are rarer than other type of pearls, since only a small number of oysters will survive to produce a fine pearl.

ATTRACTIVE VARIETY


They also come in a very attractive variety of different colors
from black to green to bronze to dark or pale gray.

 

SOUTH SEA PEARLS



A South Sea pearl is pearl produced by the Pinctada maxima mollusk. They are currently cultured in areas throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans, primarily in Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar.

LARGE GROWTH



This oyster grows up to 12 inches in diameter, and can be nucleated with a much larger bead than other saltwater oysters such as the Akoya.

HARVEST



The growth period for South Sea pearls is also substantially longer than that of the Akoya. Akoya pearls are harvested after only 9-16 months, where as South Sea pearls are harvested after a minimum of two years allowing for a larger size.

LOCATION



The South Seas lie between the northern coast of Australia and the southern coast of China.

FOOD SOURCE



The South Seas are also extremely clean, and filled with plankton - the Pinctada maxima's favourite food source. The clean waters and abundant food supply also speeds the nacre production.
 

FRESHWATER PEARLS



Freshwater pearls are pearls which grow in non-saline environment in freshwater mussels. In general, freshwater pearls are not as round as saltwater pearls, and they do not have the same sharp lustre and shine as Akoya pearls.

VARIETY



However, they appear in a wide variety of shapes and natural colors, and they tend to be less expensive than saltwater pearls, making them very popular with younger people and designers.

DURABLE



Also, because freshwater pearls are solid nacre, they are also quite durable, resisting chipping, wear, and degeneration.