Q：What is the process of harvesting pearls?
A：The process of harvesting pearls involves several steps:
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Pearl Cultivation: Pearls are typically cultivated in oysters or mollusks. Cultured pearls are formed when a foreign substance, such as a piece of shell or a bead, is inserted into the oyster or mollusk. This irritant stimulates the secretion of nacre, a substance that the mollusk produces to coat the irritant and eventually forms a pearl.
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Implantation: Small pieces of mantle tissue from a donor mollusk are implanted into a recipient mollusk along with a nucleus (a bead made from mussel shell) to initiate pearl formation.
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Nurturing: The implanted mollusks are carefully tended in pearl farms. They are monitored for several years to ensure their health and to allow the pearls to develop properly.
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Harvesting: Once the pearls have reached the desired size and quality, they are harvested. This involves carefully opening the mollusks and removing the pearls without damaging them. In the case of saltwater pearls, this is often done by divers, while freshwater pearls can be harvested by opening the mollusks in a controlled environment.
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Cleaning and Sorting: After harvesting, the pearls are cleaned to remove any remaining organic matter and polished to enhance their luster. They are then sorted based on size, shape, color, and quality.
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Grading: Pearls are graded based on various factors such as size, shape, surface quality, luster, and color. This grading process helps determine their value in the market.
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Setting and Selling: Finally, the pearls may be set into jewelry or sold as loose pearls to jewelers or wholesalers who will use them to create various pieces of jewelry.
