Pearl Guide

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Unio: Genus in the Unionidae freshwater mussel family. Several species in the genus produce nacreous pearls.

Underwater platform: Used in French Polynesia as a temporary care station from which mollusks are suspended after implantation of a bead nucleus and donor-mollusk tissue piece.

Uroko: Japanese term for scaly spots on akoya cultured pearls.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Venezuelan necklace: Legendary strand of pearls owned by Spain's Queen Isabella.

Venus pearls: Natural non-nacreous pearls from the Veneridae family of saltwater mollusks that are often called "Venus clams".

virgin pearl: Historical term for an undrilled or freshly harvested pearl.

Vologne pearl: Natural freshwater pearl from the French province of Lorraine, specifically from the Vologne...

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Wada method: Developed by Dr. Koji Wada of Japan, a method of choosing donor-mollusk mantle tissue to help determine a cultured pearl's color.

wampums: Cylindrical beads made from quahog shells by native Americans and used as jewelry or money.

Wan, Robert: Founder of the Tahiti Perles Company, which became the largest producer of Tahitian cultured pearls.

warm hues: Colors from purplish...

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

X-ray testing: A laboratory test used to determine whether a pearl is natural or cultured.

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

yakkah: Historical Persian quality factor describing natural pearls of secondary quality.

yellow grains: Nineteenth century theory of natural pearl production stating that yellow grains found in some freshwater pearls were from shell-production reserve material. This organic material made its way into the mantle and catalyzed pearl growth.

yoyo: Japanese term for a host mollusk's 45-day...

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Zebra mussel: Introduced Asian mussel species that has done significant damage to freshwater mussel stocks in streams and rivers principally north of the Ohio River in the eastern United States.

Zuchtperlen: German term for cultured pearls.