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The black pearl was not known at all in the West in ancient times. Black pearls first came on the market in 1845. Originally they were not highly esteemed, selling for a fraction of the price brought by white pearls from the traditional sources in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Mannar. The Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, was the person most responsible for bringing the black pearl into fashion. After the fall of Napoleon III, a fine necklace owned by the former Empress was auctioned at Christies for twenty thousand dollars, the equivalent of several hundred thousand of todays dollars.... (2006) Complete Story
The romance of the South Seas! The exotic mystery of the black pearl! It is this combination that has lured me to travel over ten thousand miles to Manihi Island, a remote speck of land in the Tuamotu island group, three hundred fifty miles northeast of Tahiti. It is only in these far-off islands that the natural conditions exist for the culture of this unique gem.... (2006) Complete Story
When taking in a piece of pearl jewelry for repair, it may be necessary to remove the pearl to avoid damaging it. Since most pearls are held in place with glue, you can remove them by gently warming the jewelry piece. You want the part near the pearl to get warm and soften the glue. Most glues will soften with heat, allowing you to pull the pearl off the peg easily.... (2004) Complete Story
Both natural and cultured pearls are formed when an irritant lodges in a mollusk. The mollusk then deposits layers of nacre, covering the irritant and producing a pearl. In a natural pearl, the irritant may be organic or inorganic matter. In cultured pearls, the irritant is a mother of pearl bead or a piece of tissue placed in the mollusk by a technician. The mollusk covers the nucleus with alternating layers of conchiolin (a protein-like substance similar to human nails) and nacre. The latter consists of very fine crystals of calcium and aragonite, which are very soft minerals. It is delicate and can be scratched or chipped easily.... (2004) Complete Story
