American mississippi pearl nucleus for pearl farming

American mississippi pearl nucleus for pearl farming

Pearl farms vary greatly depending on the type of pearls being produced. But the one thing all pearl farms share is the process of creating the pearl nucleus, and nucleating the pearl.

The nucleus of a pearl, although it is not typically visible in a harvested pearl, is extremely important in the culturing process. The nucleus is the seed that impregnates the oyster and produces the gem – the pearl. Without a quality nucleus it is impossible to create a quality pearl.

The nucleus used in all saltwater pearl farming today is a mother-of-pearl bead. This bead is composed of mussel shell that has been cut, rounded, and polished. A nucleus of high quality will be white, without calcium carbonate streaking (striation or banding), that may show through the pearl nacre.

Our MOP nuclei are made from eligible American mississippi river shells.

American mississippi river shells