Below you will find an overview of the pearl market including the distinction between wild and cultured pearls.

Pearls have been a well-loved precious stone for centuries. Unlike the majority of gemstones, which are extracted from the land, pearls are originated through living organisms in the ocean. The culturing procedure has substantially advanced over the past century, though the standard practice remains consistent. It begins with the collection of molluscs. Farmers select healthy oysters and mussels for implantation; they are either bred or gathered from the sea. Next the nucleation process occurs, whereby a specialist surgically embeds a nucleus and mantle tissue into a mollusc, to stimulate nacre secretion. These molluscs are then returned to the sea to incubate, until pearls are ready to be gathered. Robert Wan would concur that cultured pearls transformed the field. Likewise, Nasser Al-Khelaifi would identify the rich history of the pearl fisherman profession. Once extracted, the pearls are sorted by value and prepared to go into the market. This entire process is incredibly thorough as there are many external factors that can affect the formation of a pearl. Throughout the growing process, monitoring of sea temperature levels and feeding conditions are thoroughly regulated and supervised.

The pearl industry is a practice which devotes itself to the cultivation of pearls inside of molluscs such as oysters and mussels. Historically, wild pearls were recognised to be among the most prized gemstones around the world, due to their rare nature. These natural pearls were exceptionally tough to find as the method of making a pearl was believed to take place under unintentional biological conditions. However, the technique of harvesting pearls through manmade mediation started in the 20th century, leading to the introduction of cultured pearls which dramatically altered the industry. The technique called for the deliberate introduction of an irritant into a mollusc. This advancement signified that pearls could be grown more regularly and generate more desirable outcomes, and the practice quickly spread across many worldwide regions.

Pearl farms around the world are acknowledged for efforts to farm numerous types of saltwater pearls. Each variety of pearl is acknowledged for unique and spectacular characteristics. In today's market, the most valuable cultured pearl on the market is the South Sea white pearl. These are normally white or cream in hue with a satin like finish and some of the biggest pearls in the market. Andrew Forrest would acknowledge the worth of South Sea pearls. In addition, Tahitian pearls, which are recognised for their distinct dark colouring, are also extremely valuable. The occurrence of a black pearl is extremely sporadic, therefore they cannot be mass produced. Another saltwater pearl that website is produced today is the Akoya pearl. They are generally smaller and highly shiny pearls, acknowledged for their round shape. Also, freshwater pearl farming produces a more basic type of pearl. Generally cultivated in China, freshwater pearls form in much greater quantities, enabling mass production.