The history of natural pearls

Finding natural pearls in the wild is rare and difficult. Historically, pearl divers would search for oysters or mussels in the ocean or in freshwater rivers and lakes. Once a mollusk was found, the diver would carefully remove it from the water and open it to see if it contained a natural pearl. In the past, it was estimated that only about one in every 10,000 oysters would produce a natural pearl, and the percentage was even lower for freshwater mussels.

Today, most natural pearls are found by commercial pearl divers who use specially designed equipment to locate and harvest them. This can include using sonar to locate pearl-producing mollusks, and using scuba gear to dive and retrieve the mollusks from the ocean floor. However, natural pearls are still extremely rare.

Due to overfishing and pollution, the number of mollusks that contain natural pearls has decreased even further.

It's important to note that not all mollusks are capable of producing pearls. Only certain species of oysters and mussels have the ability to create natural pearls, and even within those species, only a small percentage of mollusks will produce a natural pearl.

Additionally, not all natural pearls that are found in mollusks are of high quality and suitable for use in jewelry.

 

Enter the era of the cultured pearl

Pearl farming, also known as pearl culture, originated in early 20th-century Japan, thanks to Kokichi Mikimoto who pioneered a technique to farm pearls by manually inserting an irritant into oysters, sparking nacre production.

The process begins by inserting a small piece of tissue, typically from another oyster or mussel, into the soft tissue of a mollusk. The mollusk then responds to the foreign object by secreting layers of nacre around it, just as it would if an irritant occurred naturally.

Over time, the layers of nacre build up and form a pearl. Pearl farmers must carefully monitor the mollusks to ensure that they are healthy and that the nacre is developing properly.

Initially, only saltwater pearls were cultured, primarily Akoya pearls in Japan. By the mid-20th century, South Sea and Tahitian pearls were also being cultured in places like Australia, French Polynesia, and Indonesia. In the 1970s, China developed successful methods for culturing freshwater pearls in mussels, leading to large-scale production and making freshwater pearls the most widely available today.

His method, patented in 1916, made pearls more accessible and affordable. Initially, only saltwater pearls, such as Akoya pearls, were cultured, but by the mid-20th century, South Sea and Tahitian pearls were being farmed in regions like Australia and French Polynesia. In the 1970s, China perfected the culturing of freshwater pearls, making them the most widely available type today. Cultured pearls have since transformed the pearl industry, shifting it from an exclusive luxury to a sustainable gem market, while preserving wild pearl oyster populations.

The vast majority of pearls available in the market today are cultured pearls aka. farmed pearls, rather than natural pearls. In fact, it is estimated that over 99% of pearls on the market are cultured pearls. This is because cultured pearls can be produced in much greater numbers and with greater consistency.

Pearl farming has been practiced for over a century and has allowed for the mass production of high-quality pearls in a variety of sizes, colors, and shapes. made pearls more accessible and affordable. Some of the world's largest producers of cultured pearls include Japan, China, and Australia. Pearls that are farmed or cultured are highly valued and sought after and generally more beautiful than their rarer and naturally-found counter parts.

This is why pearl culture has become so popular, as it allows for the production of high-quality pearls in a more sustainable and reliable manner.

Cultured pearls transformed the pearl industry, shifting it from a luxury reserved for the elite to a more accessible gem, while also preserving wild pearl oyster populations. Today, cultured pearls dominate the market, offering a sustainable and beautiful alternative to natural pearls.