A new type of freshwater pearl on the horizon

[jshepherd]

While in Hong Kong last week there was quite a bit of talk about a new kind of freshwater pearl being grown. It's still in the experimental stage, but they have succeeded in producing a small amount. Commercial production won't be available until late 2018, but this very likely could be a game changer for smaller freshwater pearls.

These pearls are are a sample of what is to come. They are small - none are larger than 7 mm. They are "raw material," which means they are straight out of the shell. They've had no processing done to them whatsoever.

But who can guess what makes them so special? I think someone here should be able to figure it out.

 

[Pearl Dreams]

They look metallic, but that isn't new....

 

[MMtwo]

pearls cultured without mantle tissue?

 

[JerseyPearl]

Are they actually grown in an akoya oyster?


Sorry folks....I couldn't resist!

 

[Pearly-Whites]

They are beautifully round, so one would assume bead nucleated....or not??

 

[MMtwo]

JP...Hahaha, shame on you

 

[CathyKeshi]

Nucleus made from another pearl, maybe FW keshi?

 

[Katbran]

I too wondered as to whether there is a small bead as there are a lot of round ones. Are they weeny teeny Edisons ? lol

 

[Marianne]

Whatever the process, they are very pretty

 

[Pareltje]

Nuked small freshwater pearls? I thought I saw Pearlescence had something like that but the pearls were 8 mm.

 

[SunSeeker]

LOL, JP, almost spit out my morning coffee!

 

[SunSeeker]

Jeremy, this is very exciting news! Now, you didn't say they are Chinese freshwater pearls, so is it possible that these are being produced somewhere else in the world?

 

[jshepherd]

I too wondered as to whether there is a small bead as there are a lot of round ones. Are they weeny teeny Edisons ? lol

Yep They are tiny Edisons. They have never been produced in this small a size before because they are grown in the reproductive organ like marine pearls. That means most shells only produce a single pearl and since raw pearls are sold by weight, farmers produced the largest pearls they were able to.

A new technique was developed to grow ten of these in a single shell. That makes growing small pearls economically feasible. The farm that is growing these will only produce a few hundred kilo this year. Next year the plan to have more of a commercial production.

Understanding how rare, think easily one in 10,000, a true round, tissue-nuke pearl is shows why this has the potential to be a game changer.

 

[ckrickett]

I am really excited for this, and tickled at the teeny weeny edison comment!!! They are precious!

 

[JerseyPearl]

Jeremy, this is really fascinating. Look at how thick that nacre is. How does it compare to traditional larger Edisons?

 

[JerseyPearl]

JP...Hahaha, shame on you

That's what happens when I read the boards after having a martini....

 

[jshepherd]

Jeremy, this is really fascinating. Look at how thick that nacre is. How does it compare to traditional larger Edisons?

The nacre is thick. Freshwater mussels grow nacre at a much faster rate than akoya. Depending on the season, nacre deposition can range from 1 mm to 5 mm per year.

 

[MSC]

Oh wow, how cool! Teeny edisons, right up my alley

 

[GemGeek]

Thanks for sharing! We need more small pearls.

 

[JerseyPearl]

The nacre is thick. Freshwater mussels grow nacre at a much faster rate than akoya. Depending on the season, nacre deposition can range from 1 mm to 5 mm per year.

Thanks, great information!