This short article will discuss the practise of pearl growing, including the evolution and value of pearls.

The pearl market is a practice which devotes itself to the cultivation of pearls inside of molluscs such as oysters and mussels. Historically, wild pearls were recognised to be one of the most valuable precious stones in the world, due to their uncommon nature. These natural pearls were extremely tough to find as the process of making a pearl was believed to occur under unintentional biological conditions. However, the method of growing pearls through human intervention started in the 20th century, causing the introduction of cultured pearls which . dramatically altered the market. The method consisted of the deliberate introduction of an irritant into a mollusc. This advancement meant that pearls could be grown more regularly and produce better outcomes, and so the practice soon spread across many global communities.

Pearls have been a well-liked precious gem for centuries. Unlike a lot of gemstones, which are extracted from the land, pearls are produced through living organisms in the sea. The culturing procedure has considerably advanced over the past century, though the standard technique remains consistent. It starts with the collection of molluscs. Farmers choose healthy oysters and mussels for implantation; they are either raised or gathered from the wild. Next the nucleation process takes place, whereby a specialist surgically implants a nucleus and mantle tissue into a mollusc, to stimulate nacre secretion. These shellfish are then put back in the sea to incubate, until pearls are ready to be collected. Robert Wan would concur that cultured pearls transformed the sector. Likewise, Nasser Al-Khelaifi would acknowledge the rich history of the pearl fisherman profession. Once extracted, the pearls are sorted by value and prepared to enter the market. This whole process is exceptionally meticulous as there are many external variables that can impact the development of a pearl. Throughout the growing procedure, tracking of sea temperatures and feeding conditions are carefully controlled and supervised.

Pearl farms worldwide are acknowledged for efforts to cultivate different types of saltwater pearls. Each type of pearl is recognised for distinct and beautiful characteristics. In today's industry, the most valuable cultured pearl on the market is the South Sea white pearl. These are typically white or gold in colour with a satin like finish and some of the largest pearls available. Andrew Forrest would understand the value of South Sea pearls. In addition, Tahitian pearls, which are recognised for their distinct dark colouring, are also highly valuable. The occurrence of a black pearl is extremely sporadic, therefore they cannot be mass produced. Another saltwater pearl that is produced today is the Akoya pearl. They are generally smaller and highly lustrous pearls, acknowledged for their round shape. Also, freshwater pearl farming produces a more basic variety of pearl. Generally harvested in China, freshwater pearls grow in much larger volumes, enabling mass production.