The Miracle of Pearls A pearl start as

The Miracle of Pearls

A pearl start as a piece of dirt or grain of sand which enters the oyster. This piece of dirt or grain of sand then “grows” inside protected by the oyster to a beautiful pearl.

The Formation of Pearls • Oysters are living creatures. • The grain of sand or piece of dirt enters the oyster while the oyster filters water over it’s gills for food.

• The foreign object is then covered, slowly and layer by layer with nacre, a shell-like substance and in this manner the pearl is formed. • A “normal” size pearl takes many years to form in nature.

The Harvesting of Oysters and Pearls • Divers in Japan dive to great depths and hold their breaths for several minutes without equipment to harvest oysters at great peril to themselves.

Pearl in oyster It is impossible to tell whether a pearl has formed inside the oyster without harvesting and opening the oyster.

• Natural pearls are therefore very expensive. • Today, almost all pearls are “cultured” pearls. • Cultured pearls are formed in the same way as natural pearls but a “core” is placed in the oyster to start the pearl-forming-process.

Black Pearls • Natural pearls are mostly shades of white, although grey and black pearls are also found. • Grey and black pearls are extremely rare in nature and therefore very expensive.

Oysters therefore protect and nurture the object, a piece of dirt or grain of sand, to become