Things I have Learned While Traveling: Bruised to Beauty

I am amazed at the number of things i have learned just because i left my city to visit some place else. It is not that i could not have learned about these things in my city of residence, but i just either never knew such existed or was not curious enough to find out about them. However, something happened when i stepped foot on the shores of Bali, Indonesia. I discovered the preciousness and worth of Pearls. I knew they were beautiful, but i just did not understand why they needed to be that expensive, so i found out why.

We were out and about window shopping on the streets of Seminyak and a pearl store caught my eyes and so we skipped over there to see their collections. The first pearl necklace i picked up was so beautiful and elegant, but when i saw the price tag of $10,000, i muttered it ain't that beautiful to my self lol. I could not afford that! so we left to another store next door called Atlas South Sea Pearl and that was where i learned all about these romantic gems called Pearls.

Most people at least know Pearls come from Pearl Oysters, but they come from all shellfish such as Rock Oysters, Mussels, clams, and abalone etc. Pearls are formed when an Oyster is injured and part of the healing process is for the mantle to produce a cyst, which fills with mother of pearl to form a pearl. Pearls are very unique because they are the only gems created withing living animals and that's why they are called "Nature's most precious gift."

Though the above is the natural way for pearls to form. Almost all the pearls on the market now are cultured, meaning they have undergone some surgical procedures through human intervention. It takes about four years to harvest a pearl , hence the high price of good pearls.

Freshwater pearls are cheaper pearls compared to South sea Pearls because a single freshwater mussel can produce multiple pearls at once. Their shapes are often irregular and can come in many colors because they can be dyed. Due to the large production of freshwater pearls, they are much cheaper than the South Sea Pearls.

South Sea Pearls are the largest and best quality of all pearls because of the nacre coating. An Oyster can only produce one pearl per four years. Only 3% of the world pearl is attributed to South Sea Pearls but these gems represent over 33% of total pearl value.

Pearls are going to come in different shapes and sizes depending on what type of pearl you get, but all pearls have an individual beauty!

Narrated to you as educated by the shop attendant at Atlas South Sea Pearl, Seminyak and their brochure.