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Tuesday, 3 August 2004
A visit to a black pearl farm
Larger photos here, or click on an individual photo below

Behold the simple oyster, creator of
the magnificent
black pearl
The basic raw materials, fresh out
of the water and ready for inspection
First the oysters
are pried open
and spacers are inserted
The pearl technician dissects the pearl sack and looks
for a pearl

Eureka! The one
in a thousand
that contains a
black pearl
These are "seeds" made from the
shell of other
oysters
Next the "seed"
is implanted back
into the pearl sack
Rejects (pearlless oysters) are
recycled as "seeds"

Re-implanted oysters are inserted into nets
The nets are then placed back into
the water
The growing cycle begins again
Pearls are sorted
by size and quality

Loose pearls are
sold individually
"How many would you like, m'lady?"
Finished jewelry is also available
We face the sunset as proud pearl owners