[Jan.2013] In Toba, we visited Mikimoto Pearl Island.
Four Ama (professional female divers) jumped into the freezing sea to show us how they traditionally worked.
This was my second time to see this, so I was not surprised at how they do it, but it was bitterly cold day and I was really impressed by their courage and strength.
After the demonstration, we hurried to the warm building and enjoyed shopping and listened to the explanation about the pearls.
Apparently they cultivate pearls by putting a round core, which is made from another shell and the natural shell substance which makes the sparkle to grow on the core into the mother shell, like pearl oyster or black lip pearl oyster.
The size of a pearl depends on the size of the core and the work itself is always the same, but when the core is big, the success rate is lower and that is why they are more expensive.
To make the clear water pearl is basically the same, apart from that they often do not put the core but only the shiny substances.
That is why their shapes are often not round, but it does not mean that they are imitation or something less valuable, so I can enjoy my clear water pearls confidently from now on.
Also, I learned that even here, the cheap pearls are from China.
