Judi McCormick / growth of a pearl

Phuket Thailand Pearl Farm

Phuket Thailand Pearl Farm

I love to take you on a visit to a pearl farm every once in awhile.

Pearl farms are fascinating for many reasons, but most importantly, they can only exist in some of the most clean and sustained water conditions. They are wonderful places to visit.

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The definitive book on Pearls, by Elisabeth Strack

The definitive book on Pearls, by Elisabeth Strack

At over 700 pages long, I go to Strack's book whenever I have a question about pearls.

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Natural vs. Cultured Pearls

Natural vs. Cultured Pearls

What is the difference? There is so much misinformation about whether a cultured pearl is really a pearl. 
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Freshwater vs. Saltwater Pearls

Freshwater vs. Saltwater Pearls

Let me give you a very concise match-up and you can decide.
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Pearl Nacre Thickness

Pearl Nacre Thickness

The thicker the nacre of a pearl and the better the quality, the more exquisite the pearl.
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What Is Nacre?

What Is Nacre?

You have heard this term used as a level of quality in a pearl. But, why?
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How an Oyster is Implanted with a Nucleus

How an Oyster is Implanted with a Nucleus

I am sharing a video that I took at the Ha Long Pearl Farm in Vietnam of a worker implanting an oyster so it will "grow" a pearl.

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What Gives A Pearl Its Color?

What Gives A Pearl Its Color?

Because we are focused on color as an important part of our expression, I thought it would be interesting to discuss how pearls acquire their natural color.
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Why Are Golden South Sea Pearls So Special?

Why Are Golden South Sea Pearls So Special?

South Sea cultured pearls are the largest type of cultured pearls. The Goldens are the rarest of the rare of the South Sea Pearls.

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Pearl Pioneers- Nicholas Paspaley (Picture of Nick and his sister in 1932)

Pearl Pioneers- Nicholas Paspaley (Picture of Nick and his sister in 1932)

It all started out as a wonderful wild adventure for 19 year old Nick Paspaley in the 1930s. 
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Tokki Pearls

Tokki Pearls

Tokki is a Japanese term to describe a protrusion or bump. Occasionally, oysters will produce a pearl with curious shapes. These are the result of an accident during growth. Oysters definitely have a mind of their own.
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The Beginning Growth of a Pearl Oyster-the Spat

The Beginning Growth of a Pearl Oyster-the Spat

For a truly vertical pearl farm, wild spat have to be ecologically collected from the surrounding waters in the South Seas. This is called natural spat collection. In the months of October and November, pearl oysters produce sperm and eggs in to a water column. It is here that they fertilize and form free swimming larvae.
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