Lots of people take romance novels or mystery books to read on vacation. I took a book that chronicles the story of the pearl trade. Fraught with tales of woe and triumph, treasure and oyster guts, scientists and simple fisher folk. Tears of Mermaids: The Secret Story of Pearls by Stephen G. Bloom is a fascinating read. (Not just for geeky jewelry designers, it really was an interesting, engaging book!)
Some interesting facts that I learned about these alluring orbs:
* An extremely high quality, cultivated, saltwater pearl can be sold for as much as $8,000 per PEARL.
* The largest, most expensive, most sought after creamy white orbs are grown off the coast of Australia.
* Almost all available pearls are cultivated now. Natural pearls are usually so puny and misshapen that they're worth less than the oyster meat surrounding them.
* Black and grey saltwater pearls are grown off the coast of Tahiti. I've forgotten in which places the pink/peach pearls are grown, you'll just have to read the book!
* The freshwater pearls that I use in my jewelry (and that are the most commonly available) are cultivated in China in freshwater mussels.
* Pearl cultivation begins when Japanese scientists insert a small plastic bead wrapped in oyster mantle tissue in just the right spot of the oyster. For freshwater mussels, only a piece of mantle tissue is needed.
* A saltwater oyster produces one pearl and requires pristine, clean water, as well as a host of other factors (depth, sunlight, temperature) to produce beautiful pearls.
*A freshwater mussel can produce more than a DOZEN pearls of different colors (white, orangish, pink, grey) at the same time and actually thrives in water polluted by agricultural runoff. So much so that they add extra fertilizer to the water where they have the mussels growing.
* Almost all pearls (even the really high-end ones) go through some sort of dyeing/bleaching process to clear up imperfections.
* As might be expected, the people on the bottom rung of the pearl ladder make a pittance while those at the top are ridiculously rich and live ridiculously lavish lifestyles. More so than in many industries because for pearls, every single mark-up in price along the way is enormous. (See the book for details, it's fascinating/sickening/hard-to-believe how some of these men live!)
All in all, it proved to be a bad reading choice while I was in Mexico, because it made me want to get my hands on some pearls, and I'd left all my beading at home! Even the "poor" quality little Chinese freshwater pearls that I work with are ridiculously enchanting and magical. My all time favorite pearls are the baroque pearls. These are the ones that are all bumpy and weird shaped. They're my ideal for pearl beauty!
While pearls and the pearl trade was fascinating to read about, some of it was sickening, too. I think it's important and responsible to have learned more, since I support this industry with my purchases. I understand the world's addiction to them, because I, too, am afflicted with this malady! Like they said at the end of every episode of G.I. Joe: "Now you know, and knowing is half the battle!" Do check out this book, it's at once educational and thrilling and it won't disappoint!
Some interesting facts that I learned about these alluring orbs:
* An extremely high quality, cultivated, saltwater pearl can be sold for as much as $8,000 per PEARL.
* The largest, most expensive, most sought after creamy white orbs are grown off the coast of Australia.
* Almost all available pearls are cultivated now. Natural pearls are usually so puny and misshapen that they're worth less than the oyster meat surrounding them.
* Black and grey saltwater pearls are grown off the coast of Tahiti. I've forgotten in which places the pink/peach pearls are grown, you'll just have to read the book!
* The freshwater pearls that I use in my jewelry (and that are the most commonly available) are cultivated in China in freshwater mussels.
* Pearl cultivation begins when Japanese scientists insert a small plastic bead wrapped in oyster mantle tissue in just the right spot of the oyster. For freshwater mussels, only a piece of mantle tissue is needed.
* A saltwater oyster produces one pearl and requires pristine, clean water, as well as a host of other factors (depth, sunlight, temperature) to produce beautiful pearls.
*A freshwater mussel can produce more than a DOZEN pearls of different colors (white, orangish, pink, grey) at the same time and actually thrives in water polluted by agricultural runoff. So much so that they add extra fertilizer to the water where they have the mussels growing.
* Almost all pearls (even the really high-end ones) go through some sort of dyeing/bleaching process to clear up imperfections.
* As might be expected, the people on the bottom rung of the pearl ladder make a pittance while those at the top are ridiculously rich and live ridiculously lavish lifestyles. More so than in many industries because for pearls, every single mark-up in price along the way is enormous. (See the book for details, it's fascinating/sickening/hard-to-believe how some of these men live!)
All in all, it proved to be a bad reading choice while I was in Mexico, because it made me want to get my hands on some pearls, and I'd left all my beading at home! Even the "poor" quality little Chinese freshwater pearls that I work with are ridiculously enchanting and magical. My all time favorite pearls are the baroque pearls. These are the ones that are all bumpy and weird shaped. They're my ideal for pearl beauty!
While pearls and the pearl trade was fascinating to read about, some of it was sickening, too. I think it's important and responsible to have learned more, since I support this industry with my purchases. I understand the world's addiction to them, because I, too, am afflicted with this malady! Like they said at the end of every episode of G.I. Joe: "Now you know, and knowing is half the battle!" Do check out this book, it's at once educational and thrilling and it won't disappoint!
About the Author:
Jenny C. Hoople of Authentic Arts http://jennyhoople.com/ invites you to visit her blogsite to browse more Authentic Living articles. She writes on a variety of topics including homesteading info, organic and biodynamic agriculture, mind and body wellness, authentic Mexican recipes, book reviews on all of the above and, of course, news from and pertinent to her handcrafted jewelry business, Authentic Arts. http://jennyhoople.blogspot.com/
(c) Copyright - Jenny C. Hoople. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jenny_Hoople Jenny C. Hoople of Authentic Arts http://jennyhoople.com/ invites you to visit her blogsite to browse more Authentic Living articles. She writes on a variety of topics including homesteading info, organic and biodynamic agriculture, mind and body wellness, authentic Mexican recipes, book reviews on all of the above and, of course, news from and pertinent to her handcrafted jewelry business, Authentic Arts. http://jennyhoople.blogspot.com/
(c) Copyright - Jenny C. Hoople. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
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