The history of pearls starts from oceans from where it was brought to shores enclosed in oysters. Since ages it has been enhancing the classic beauty of jewels adorned by royal families of all the countries. The early Arab culture reveals that there were oyster farms present in Persian Gulf to trade the pearls all over the globe.
Pearls are natural gem stones adorned by all jewelry lovers since ages. It is formed when an irritant enters into oyster shell. The oyster’s soft substances start secreting crystalline type substance known as nacre. Natural pearls are quite rare to find available due to multiple reasons. Gem lovers will always be thankful to Kokichi Mikimoto, Japanese by birth who gave the gift of cultured pearls to the world. In this kind of man-made pearls, the irritant substance is place in the oysters by man to form pearls.
The Mikimoto pearls became quite famous in the beginning of 19th century worldwide. It became a high trading commodity making Japan, the proud founder of cultured pearls. Mikimoto Akoya pearls are still most valuable flawless pearls highly elegant and gorgeous in appearance. The size of pearls can go up to 7mm, thus chosen for nicely carved jewels. The common colours of Mikimoto pearls are light baby pink, pure white or cream shade of colour.
There are multiple kinds of pearls cultivated in the Japanese shores:
- Kesi pearls – They are smaller size pearls used mainly in delicately carved ornaments.
- Biwi pearls – These freshwater pearls are formed in Biwi lake. They are highly valued decades back, however now due to pollution, the Biwi pearls are available less in the market.
- Kasumiga pearls – This Kasumi pearls are known for their larger size like 11 to 16 mm. They are expensive and these freshwater pearls are cultivated less in quantity.
- Abalone pearls – Abalone is the name of large snail whose shell can produce pearls. The pearls are even naturally formed and known as Paua pearls in New Zealand. The natural shape of this pearl is baroque and are quite popular.