| In the past, pearls
were extremely rare and only found in a very limited number of oysters.
Pearls that are formed in oysters without man's intervention are called
Natural Pearls. Natural Pearls constitute less than 1 percent of the
current world pearl sales. Today, the pearls that we see in the market
are mainly Cultured Pearls, pearls that are cultivated in a natural
environment through man's assistance. The know-how of growing pearls
in oysters was developed about 100 years ago in Japan. Natural and
Cultured Pearls are organic gems consisting of layers of nacre naturally
secreted by the oysters.
The first Cultured Pearls were Akoya Pearls cultivated in Japanese
waters. The spreading of this know-how in the past 40 years has
resulted in the birth of South Sea Pearls in Tahiti, Cook Islands,
Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and other Pacific Islands.
Because of the rarity and high cost of real pearls, imitation pearls
have been used throughout history. These products are manufactured
in factories instead of the sea. Fine black pearls are rare and
costly, and should not be confused with imitation or artificially
coloured black pearls.
The Gemmological Institute of America has certified the pearls
from Polynesia as "natural coloured black pearls". This
certificate authenticates the black pearls of Tahiti and the Cook
Islands and distinguishes them from dyed pearls.
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