Somalia Pearl Gold Diamond 2015 Fashion Jewellery.

 By Aamir Mannan.

Periodically, the oysters are lifted from the sea for cleaning and health treatments. Seaweed, barnacles and other seaborne organisms that might interfere with their feeding are removed from the oysters' shells. The shells are also treated with medicinal compounds to discourage parasites. Over time, after many months of growth and care, the oysters are ready for harvest. Those that have survived the many perils of the sea are brought ashore and opened. And then, when everything has gone well, a beauty is revealed -- the result is a lovely, lustrous and very valuable cultured pearl. 

 Solomon Islands Pearl Gold Diamond 2015 Fashion Jewellery. 

By Aamir Mannan.

 The cells from the mantle tissue develop around the nucleus forming a sac, which closes and starts to secrete nacre, the crystalline substance that forms the pearl. The nucleated oysters are then returned to the sea where, in sheltered bays rich in nutrients, they feed and grow, depositing layer after layer of lustrous nacre around the nuclei implanted within them. The oysters are given the utmost care during this time, while suspended in the water, from the rafts above. Technicians check water temperatures and feeding conditions daily at various depths, moving the oysters up or down as appropriate. 

 Slovenia Pearl Gold Diamond 2015 Fashion Jewellery. 

By Aamir Mannan.

In Japanese pearl cultivation, scientists have isolated strains of oysters that possess superior pearl-producing qualities. These selectively-bred oysters produce pearls of exceptional lustre and color clarity. In a process referred to as "nucleation," also called "grafting" or "seeding," highly skilled technicians carefully open live pearl oysters, and with surgical precision make an incision in the oyster's body. Then, they place a tiny piece of "mantle tissue" from another oyster into a relatively safe location. Then, they place a small round piece of shell, or "nucleus," beside the inserted mantle tissue. The nucleus is a mother-of-pearl bead made from an American freshwater mussel.

 Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Pearl Gold Diamond 2015 Fashion Jewellery. 

By Aamir Mannan.

Cultured pearls share the same properties as natural pearls. Oysters form cultured pearls in an almost identical fashion. The only difference is a person carefully implants the irritant in the oyster, rather than leaving it to chance. We then step aside and let nature create its miracle. How pearls are cultivated and harvested Early on, pearl cultivation depended entirely on wild oysters. Later you'll learn that, in some cases, the same applies today. But modern pearl cultivation has become more selective.

 Singapore Pearl Gold Diamond 2015 Fashion Jewellery. 

By Aamir Mannan.

How something so wondrous emerges from an oyster's way of protecting itself is one of nature's loveliest surprises. For the nacre is not just a soothing substance. It is composed of microscopic crystals of calcium carbonate, aligned perfectly with one another, so that light passing along the axis of one crystal is reflected and refracted by another to produce a rainbow of light and color. 

Sierra Leone Pearl Gold Diamond 2015 Fashion Jewellery. 

By Aamir Mannan.

A natural pearl begins its life as a foreign object, such as a parasite or piece of shell that accidentally lodges itself in an oyster's soft inner body where it cannot be expelled. To ease this irritant, the oyster's body takes defensive action. The oyster begins to secrete a smooth, hard crystalline substance around the irritant in order to protect itself. This substance is called "nacre." As long as the irritant remains within its body, the oyster will continue to secrete nacre around it, layer upon layer. Over time, the irritant will be completely encased by the silky crystalline coatings. And the result, ultimately, is the lovely and lustrous gem called a pearl.

Seychelles Pearl Gold Diamond 2015 Fashion Jewellery. 

By Aamir Mannan.

But today, with the advent of pearl cultivation, pearls are available and affordable to all.

How pearls Form In Oysters

The birth of a pearl is truly a miraculous event. Unlike gemstones or precious metals that must be mined from the earth, pearls are grown by live oysters far below the surface of the sea. Gemstones must be cut and polished to bring out their beauty. But pearls need no such treatment to reveal their loveliness. They are born from oysters complete -- with a shimmering iridescence, lustre and soft inner glow unlike any other gem on earth.

 Serbia Pearl Gold Diamond Fashion Jewellery. 

By Aamir Mannan.

During the European expansion into the New World, the discovery of pearls in Central American waters added to the wealth of Europe. Unfortunately, greed and lust for the sea-grown gems resulted in the depletion of virtually all the American pearl oyster populations by the 17th century. Until the early 1900's, natural pearls were accessible only to the rich and famous. In 1916, famed French jeweler Jacques Cartier bought his landmark store on New York's famous Fifth Avenue -- by trading two pearl necklaces for the valuable property. 

 Senegal Pearl Gold Diamond Fashion Jewellery. 

By Aamir Mannan.

In ancient Rome, pearls were considered the ultimate symbol of wealth and social standing. The Greeks held the pearl in high esteem for both its unrivaled beauty and its association with love and marriage. During the Dark Ages, while fair maidens of nobility cherished delicate pearl necklaces, gallant knights often wore pearls into battle. They believed the magic of these lustrous gems would protect them from harm. The Renaissance saw the royal courts of Europe awash in pearls. Because pearls were so highly regarded, a number of European countries actually passed laws forbidding anyone but the nobility to wear them. 

Saudi Arabia Pearl Gold Diamond Fashion Jewellery. 

By Aamir Mannan.

Brief History pearls

Many thousands of years ago, long before written history, human beings probably discovered the first pearl while searching the seashore for food. Throughout history, the pearl, with its warm inner glow and shimmering iridescence, has been one of the most highly prized and sought-after gems. Countless references to the pearl can be found in the religions and mythology of cultures from the earliest times. The ancient Egyptians prized pearls so much they were buried with them. Cleopatra reportedly dissolved a single pearl in a glass of wine and drank it, simply to win a wager with Mark Antony that she could consume the wealth of an entire nation in just one meal.

Sao Tome and Principe Pearl Diamond Gold Fashion Jewellery. 

By Aamir Mannan.

Cultured pearls ... their very name conjures images of lustrous jewels nestled deep in oysters far below the surface of the sea. Yet cultured pearls are more than just jewels. Since the beginning of time, pearls have been revered as one of the world's most beautiful and magical gems. Today, cultured pearls are the foundation of every woman's jewelry wardrobe. Fashionable, feminine and fresh, cultured pearls truly enhance a woman's palette of styles. Rich and adaptable, a lustrous star in the world of fine jewelry, a simple cultured pearl necklace can take a woman through every moment in her life, every outfit in her wardrobe. The possibilities are endless.

  San Marino Pearl Diamond Gold Fashion Jewellery. 

By Aamir Mannan.

Curator-Thumb_small

Meet the Curators

Curators from the American Museum of Natural History and The Field Museum in Chicago collaborated on the Pearls exhibition.

 Behind-Scenes-Thumb_small

Behind the Scenes

The Exhibitions Department, in cooperation with other Museum staff members and scientific divisions, is responsible for both the design and construction of the Pearls exhibition.

Sponsor

The American Museum of Natural History is most grateful to Tasaki Shinju, for its generous support of the Pearls exhibition. 

Samoa Pearl Diamond Gold Fashion Jewellery. 

By Aamir Mannan.

 Freshwater-Pearls_small

Freshwater Pearls

Freshwater pearl mussels produce pearls that can rival those of marine mollusks in luster and diverse color.

 Marine-Pearls_small

Marine Pearls

The best-known sources of pearls are marine mollusks, especially the pearl oysters, conchs and abalone found worldwide.

 Pearls-in-Human-History_small

Pearls in Human History

Throughout the ages, humans have been enchanted by pearls and the shells of the mollusks that produce them.

 Saint Vincent Pearl Diamond Gold Fashion Jewellery. 

By Aamir Mannan.

Exhibition Highlights

 What-Are-Pearls_small

What are Pearls?

Unlike gemstones produced deep inside the Earth, pearls are created by living creatures called mollusks.

 Obtaining-Pearls_small

Obtaining Pearls

In their quest for both pearls and mother-of-pearl, people have sometimes taken extraordinary measures.

Saint Lucia Pearl Diamond Gold Fashion 2015 Bridal Jewellery.

 By Aamir Mannan

Any mollusk that produces a shell can produce a pearl. Nevertheless, naturally occurring pearls are rare, found in perhaps one of every 10,000 animals. The cultured pearl industry, which has flourished since the early 20th century, has developed techniques to greatly improve these odds. Indeed, more pearls are produced now than at any time in human history.

Saint Kitts and Nevis Pearl Diamond Gold Fashion 2015 Bridal Jewellery.

 By Aamir Mannan

Cherished as symbols of purity and perfection, elegance and affluence, pearls are unusual gems, created inside living animals called mollusks. Occurring naturally in a wide range of sizes, shapes and colors, pearls have long captured the attention of scientists as well as socialites. 

Rwanda Pearl Diamond Gold Fashion 2015 Bridal Jewellery.

 By Aamir Mannan.

Generally, the cleaner the surface of a pearl, the more valuable it is. But it's very important to remember that, as products of nature, pearls are almost never flawless -- and imperfections, because they're natural, don't necessarily detract from the beauty or value of a pearl. 

Surface of Akoya pearls 

Akoya pearls are typically clean, generally free of heavy blemishes. This is a result of their comparatively short cultivation time, and the strict quality standards Japanese pearls are subject to. 

 Russian Federation Pearl Gold Wedding Fashion 2015 Jewellery.

 By Aamir Mannan
Quality Factor Two: Surface

Surface is the second most important quality factor in pearl evaluation. Surface quality refers to the amount and kinds of flaws that appear on the outside of a pearl. Surface is generally evaluated in terms of "clean" to "heavily blemished," with grades of blemishing in between. "Clean" pearls have virtually no spots, bumps, pits, cracks, circles or wrinkles on them. "Heavily blemished" pearls, on the other hand, are dominated by such flaws. It's important to note the difference between "damaging" and "non-damaging" blemishes. Damaging blemishes are those that tend to become larger over time. "Cracks" and "chips," often near a pearl's drill holes, are damaging blemishes. Non-damaging blemishes do not worsen over time. Spots, bumps, pits, circles, and wrinkles are considered non-damaging blemishes. 

Romania Pearl Gold Wedding Fashion 2015 Jewellery.

 By Aamir Mannan
Lustre of Akoya pearls 

Many experts believe that Akoya pearls have the highest lustre of all cultured pearls, and it has to do with their nacre coating. The Japanese waters in which Akoya pearls grow are considerably cooler -- 10 to 15 degrees cooler -- than those in warmer climates, where other types of saltwater cultured pearls are grown. The cooler conditions cause Akoya pearls to develop their nacre coating more slowly, and with a more compact crystal structure. This is what increases Akoya pearls' reflective and refractive qualities. Even though Akoya pearls' nacre coating is generally thinner than that of most other saltwater varieties -- about a half millimeter thick -- their lustre shines the brightest.