Pearl parties are abundant, online and in person. It is a sham operation where one buys a chance to open an oyster and maybe "win" a pearl. I am reprinting an article that KQED in San Francisco did unveiling some of these Pearl Parties.
I hope you have never been part of one of these, but this is good information to know.
A pearl is considered a luxury when it possesses certain characteristics that enchance its rarity, quality and desirability.
These are the qualities that set luxury pearls apart.
The myth that a pearl begins with a grain of sand entering an oyster is a widely held misconception. While it's a nice idea that a small irritation can lead to the creation of something beautiful, the reality is a bit different.
On screen and off screen her elegance was complemented by the pearls she wore.
There is a rich history of pearl harvesting and farming in Australia. The great boom came with the discovery of rich oyster beds off the north-western coast of Australia and the use of compressed air diving suits in the mid-nineteenth century.
There are several reasons for the different colors of pearls. The most important is the mollusk species along with the donor or mantle tissue that is inserted into the gonads of the cultured pearl sac. There is also the chemical condition and pigmentation of the water source where the pearls are grown.
