Chinese freshwater mussel pearls
posted on 12 March 2011 | posted in
Fashion
Chinese freshwater mussels used to be grafted up to 50 times per shell when the industry mussel was primarily the cockscomb pearl mussel. This mussel produced a large number of pearls but they were of relatively low quality and were known as ‘rice krispie’ pearls in the 1970s and 1980s. The freshwater pearl industry then moved production to the triangle shell mussel (Hyriopsis cumingii). This particular shell produces fewer pearls, 24-36 per mollusc, but they are generally much better quality and therefore produces much better pearl jewellery. The pearls are usually bought whilst still in the shell and are then taken to a first stage factory where they are cleaned and sorted by size and shape. They are then sent to processing factories where they are treated in a warm and cold chemical solution and then bleached. They are then drilled and matched into temporary strands ready for the wholesaler.
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