The production of cultured pearls

Pearls have long been valued as a remarkable natural gem that grows inside a living oyster, clam or other mollusk. However, since natural pearls are rare, the pearls we seen in stores are cultured pearls. When we talk about the production of cultured pearl, it must be trace back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Japanese researchers such as Kokichi Mikimoto developed modern techniques for culturing pearls and was able to convince the consuming public to accept these "artificially created" pearls as a valuable commodity. Cultured pearls are formed when a pearl technician inserts a particle called a bead nucleus (usually a small round piece of shell) into an oyster. The pearl oyster is then returned to its habitat and nurtured for up to three or five years, depending on the oyster species.
To be more specification, the modern production of cultured round pearls is highly organized on large pearl farms where the oysters are reared. When the oysters are three years old, they are ready for the culturing process and are lifted out of the water. Each will receive an implant of one or more spherical mother-of pearl beads, usually obtained from a North American freshwater mussel. An oyster is killed and the mantle cut into small pieces. Each piece is put in contact with a mother-of-pearl bead nucleus and placed in an incision in the body of the host animal.
Up to 20 beads of 2-3mm may be inserted in a single animal, but only one bead of about 6mm beads up to 12mm diameter may be used, depending on the variety of bivalve. Up to 50% of the oysters will die or reject these implants.
The incisions usually begin to heal within five to seven days and the epithelium cells of the implanted square of tissue start to divide and join into an epithelium or pearl sack.
Thanks to the technology cultivation of cultured pearls, the precious and elegant pearls are available for all people. Cultured pearls can come to many types and colors, what’s more, they are nearly flawless. So cultured pearls have become one of their favorite jewelry collections.