Beyond the Pearl Trade

I still remember the first time I held a pearl in my hand. It was a ring given to me by my mother. I was twelve years old then. My mother told me that it was given to her by my grandmother and had it for many years. The pearl wasn’t perfect; it had tiny bumps and a soft yellowish colour, with a creamy glow when it catches light. In my mind, it seemed alive although some of my friends told me that from the bumps, new pearls will come. I waited and waited but no baby pearls sprouted. Still it was the beginning of my love affair with pearls.  Over the years, my love for pearls has grown, and I started learning as much as I could about them. I wouldn’t call myself an expert—just a passionate admirer. I read books, talked to jewelers, and even spoke with a Badjao  to understand how pearls are gathered and cared for. While I don’t yet own Akoya pearls, exploring different types, qualities, and price ranges has taught me so much. What I discovered is that knowing these little detail...