Kinds of pearls and their development in oyster
Natural pearl: Natural pearls develop in oysters in natural process. When a small parasite accidentally gets into a bivalve oyster and begins living inside it, the shell feels irritated because of the presence of the parasite (foreign body). To get rid of the irritation, the shell forms a pearl sac of external mantle tissue cells and secretes the calcium carbonate and conchiolin to cover the irritant. This process happens again and again inside the shell, thus producing a pearl inside an oyster. In the peal developing process in an oyster, a special substance which makes pearls in oysters and other shell-forming mollusks is called the nacre that lines the insides of shells. The smooth lining is called the nacreous layer, or pearly layer, and is often lustrous. It is formed by cells from a fleshy body organ called the mantle.
Natural pearls have many shapes and sizes, however, the perfectly round pearls occur very rarely in nature. After a couple of years, develops a pearl and the lucky person may have the chance of getting the shells containing valuable pearls.
Cultured pear: In cultured pearl cultivation, young oysters are very carefully selected and the selected oysters are planted in selected oyster beds. When they grow up 3 years old, then they are taken from the beds to special production plants. Then trained and experienced people open the donor shell, collect a piece of mental tissue / tiny pellet made of nacre or made from mussel shells, and insert it into the recipient shell. The workers then place the recipient shells in the wire cages that will protect them from adverse environment and situation. The cages are suspended from rafts and lowered into calm, protected waters near the shores. Twice a year, the attendants raise the cages and remove seaweeds and barnacles from the oysters. From one to three years after the pellets and tissues are inserted, the oysters are removed from the cage and its shells are opened for collecting pearls. The pearl is washed, graded, and polished before it is made ready for sale.
Imitation pearl: Imitation pearls are manufactured pearls. Manufacturers coat glass beads with a substance known as pearl essence. It is a creamy liquid extracted from fish scales. Herring scales usually furnish the main ingredients for manufacturing imitation pearls. In other words, pearls are made of mother of pearl (a common name for an iridescent nacre coating, a blend of minerals that are secreted by oysters and other mollusks and deposited inside their shells, coating and protecting them from parasites and foreign bodies).
Apart from those qualities of pearls or pearl powder, we again find and discover the significant reference and mention of pearls as a mark of outstanding beauty and heavenly adoration and bliss in the scriptures of different religions. They are as follows:
Religious references of pearls
A pearl is religiously very prestigious and valuable. According to the Islamic scripture the dwellers of paradise will be adorned with ornament of pearls. It has been mentioned several times in the holy Quran. The English versions of the holy Quran say, “God will admit those who believe and work righteous deeds, to Gardens beneath which rivers flow: they shall be adorned therein with bracelets of gold and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk.” Sura: 22, verse: 23.
“Gardens of Eternity will they enter: therein will they be adorned with bracelets of gold, silver and pearls; and their garments there will be of silk.” 35:33, and “Round about them will serve, [devoted] to them, youths [handsome] as pearls well-guarded.” 52: 24.
The Hindu tradition and Hindu scripture describe the sacred Nine Pearls which were first documented in the Garuda Purana , one of the books of the Hindu mythology.
Religious pendant showing Christ blessing, framed with rubies and pearls, from the Byzantine Empire, 12th or 13th century.
In a Christian New Testament parable, Jesus compared the Kingdom of Heaven to a “pearl of great price”. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly (fine) pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45–46).
We may draw the conclusion saying that a real pearl is very costly, qualitative and exquisitely beautiful and it is usually used in jewellery and for health befits. According to the Chinese astrology, pearls promote general health and prevent many diseases with their curative aura. Pearls benefit hearts, ulcers, depressions, anxiety, hyperactivity, high blood pressure, skin problems, and women’s menstrual irregularity. Pearls regulate body temperature, ensure normal heart beats, and strengthen brainpower and bring goodness of health. Despite that we have to remember and keep it in mind that pearls of all colors do not suit all persons. The suitable color for a person has to be determined under the supervision of a true astrologer. Pearls are also used as ornaments for decorative beauty. Pure pearls are very rare and expensive. It is believed that pearls bring fortune, honor, prestige, dignity and good health. In different religious scriptures, we find the references of pearls. Therefore, pearls are religiously sacred, significant and prestigious too. As genuine pearls are very expensive, it is not possible for all to use it. However, those who have financial ability to buy pearls should choose to buy genuine pearls for use. Peals must not be used as medicine without the recommendation of a qualified professional expert.
(The article is the last part of a two-part series)
The writer is a former Joint Secretary to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and regular contributor to Bangladesh Post
