How Pearls Grow

In the wild...
An oyster produces a pearl when an irritant becomes trapped inside. As the irritant passes through the shell it can dislodge some of the nacre (pearl) producing cells. Once settled these pearl-producing cells will continue producing nacre, forming a natural pearl.

Nacre is a complex mixture of calcium and protein. The special way the calcium and protein are joined makes it both hard and lustrous when layer upon layer of nacre is combined.

Cultivating Pearls
Every single Blue Lagoon Pearl Farm oyster undergoes a surgical seeding procedure. A nucleus created from a Mississippi Mussel shell is implanted into the body of the oyster, covered by a piece of the mantle (the part of the living oyster which secretes nacre) from another oyster, and so the process of nacre secretion and pearl creation begins. Great skill is required to perform this technique, and it can take years to perfect.

The beauty and lustre of pearl farm pearls is the result of hundreds of layers of nacre. This is the reason that each pearl farm oyster must receive the best care while the pearl grows.

After much research into innovative shell growing and seeding techniques, we now produce first class pearls. Blue Lagoon Pearl Farm is a pioneer of the cultivation of the Black Lipped pearl shell (Pinctada Margaritifera) in Shark Bay.

We were also the first to grow coloured pearls from the Black Lipped pearl shell in WA, and the first to grow round pearls from the Pinctada Albina pearl shell which is endemic to Shark Bay.

The beauty of your Blue Lagoon Pearl Farm pearl reflects the skill of pearl-culturing developed over generations and the years of care that each oyster receives. You can learn more about how to care for your pearl here.