Here is an amazing fact which has been a well-kept secret for 100 years--95% of the entire world’s cultured pearls have their origin in the United States.

And you thought all of those exotic pearl names -- Tahitian from Tahiti, South Seas from Indonesia and Australia, Akoya from Japan -- meant they were totally born and bred in foreign pearl farms. It is not necessarily so!

A pearl begins life as a nucleus (sometimes called “irritant”) in an oyster or mussel shell. As this oyster or mussel goes about its daily chores, it tries to flush out the pearl nucleus. But this tiny bit, often not much larger than a grain of sand, has been implanted in the inner shell. While no harm is done to the oyster or mussel, a natural occurrence takes over.

These magnificent creatures naturally coat the nucleus with layer after layer of calcium carbonate and conchiolin. This is an instinctive reaction. The resulting substance is called nacre. Over a period of months and years this nacre layer builds and produces a near iridescent effect, and thus a pearl is conceived.

Here is the secret -- 95% of cultured pearls start with a nucleus from the USA. And the state of Tennessee (where an American pearl farmer set-up shop) now enjoys a multi-million dollar industry by producing and exporting pearl nuclei.

There is no scientific reason yet found as to why USA nuclei have been so successful in producing the majority of the world’s most beautiful pearls. Sure, many of our competitors have tried other nuclei. But they always fail. Other nuclei produce the 5% of low-grade pearls which are worth only pennies on the dollar an unsuspecting customer spends.

Not only will these inferior pearls not increase in value, they will not stand the test of time. And there are other examples of a genuine pearl’s need for pristine water and the correct nucleus:
*Faux Pearls are synthetic, made of plastic or glass. Whatever you pay for these pearl-like imitations is a waste of money;
*Also, Majorica Pearls are of inferior quality. These start with a pearl nucleus, with spun synthetic fibers trying to represent the nacre. Again, worth pennies on the dollar.

At Pearl Republic, our cultured pearls take time and caring attention. A lot of time and attention to let the natural nacre weave its wondrous course. This is why wearing real pearls makes you look and feel like a real woman. You know the Pearl Republic motto well--Real pearls, really chic.