Pearls are treasured for their lustrous sheen and timeless elegance. In the waters of the Andaman in Southern Thailand, pearls are carefully cultivated using a combination of age-old traditions and modern techniques. Book a pearl farm tour in Phuket to visit the island’s oldest pearl farm and get a closer look into the intricate world of pearl farming.
How Pearls Are Formed In Oysters
Pearls form within oysters as a natural response to irritants. When a foreign substance such as a grain of sand enters an oyster’s shell, the oyster’s defense mechanism secretes nacre, layer upon delicate layer, around the irritant. This process is gradual, with nacre layers accumulating over several years to form a pearl.
Cultured pearls follow a similar process, initiated by human hands, where a nucleus is carefully implanted in the oyster to stimulate nacre production. At Amorn Phuket Pearl Farm, this natural process is guided with precision—cultured pearls are carefully nurtured, ensuring each pearl’s optimal growth, shape, and lustrous quality.
Pearl Farming History in Phuket
Amorn Phuket Pearl Farm is a family business that began more than 50 years ago, when the first generation learned the intricacies of pearl farming from Japanese experts. These techniques have been passed down from generation to generation, and Amorn Phuket Pearl is the only one left to have this strong foundation of knowledge and expertise.
Since its founding, Amorn Phuket Pearl Farm has grown from a modest family-run operation into a benchmark of excellence in the pearl industry. Considered the oldest pearl farm in Phuket, Amorn has a deep understanding of how pearls are made from oysters. Combining traditional pearl-farming methods passed down through generations with innovative practices, Amorn has since continued to produce beautiful and sustainable pearls while maintaining the ecological balance of its marine environment.
Ideal Pearl Farming Environment in Phuket
Phuket’s natural environment offers the perfect conditions for pearl farming. The warm, sheltered waters around the island provide an ideal habitat for oysters to thrive. The rich marine biodiversity helps maintain the necessary balance in the ecosystem, which is crucial for the health of the oysters and the quality of the pearls they produce.
Amorn Phuket Pearl Farm is located in Sapam Bay, an ideal spot for the quality of the water that constantly flows and changes during high tides and low tides. The water temperature of around 26 to 29 centigrade and daily tides ensure the oysters receive nutrient-rich plankton for optimal growth.
What You Will Learn at Amorn Phuket Pearl Farm
Part of Amorn’s pearl farm tour in Phuket is learning about the varieties of cultivated pearls, their unique care, and cultivation techniques, including:
Akoya Pearls
Renowned for their perfect roundness and mirror-like luster, Akoya pearls typically range from 6mm to 9mm and are highly prized for their brilliant white or cream colors with overtones of pink or silver.
Akoya pearls are produced by the Pinctada Fucata Vulgaris oyster, primarily in temperate sea waters. At Amorn, each oyster is carefully nucleated with a small bead and a piece of mantle tissue, initiating the pearl formation process. The pearls are usually harvested after 12 to 24 months of cultivation, during which the water conditions and oyster health are meticulously monitored
Mabe Pearls
Mabe pearls or blister pearls are known for their unique half-spherical shape, making them popular for use in earrings and rings where their flat back can be securely mounted. They often display a beautiful luster and can come in various colors.
Mabe pearls are cultured using the Pteria Penguin oyster shell’s interior surface rather than within the body. The process involves attaching a hemispherical nucleus to the inside of the oyster’s shell. The oyster then secretes nacre over the nucleus, forming the pearl. Mabe pearl cultivation can take up to 10 to 12 months, and careful handling is required to ensure the pearl’s quality and luster.
South Sea Pearls
These are among the largest pearls cultivated, known for their impressive size, ranging from 10mm to 20mm. South Sea pearls have a soft, satiny luster and are available in a range of colors from white to gold and silver, depending on the type of Pinctada Maxima oyster used.
South Sea pearls require a tropical marine environment to thrive. The oysters are larger and are nucleated with correspondingly larger beads. The extended cultivation period of 24 to 36 months allows for the development of a thick layer of nacre, contributing to the pearls’ rich, deep luster and substantial size.
Rather Round Pearl
Amorn’s patented Rather Round Pearl is a hybrid of the South Sea Pearl and Mabe Pearl. It has a lustrous, gold-rainbow color and a near-perfect spherical shape. The Rather Round Pearl is the result of careful genetic selection and environmental control, ensuring consistency in shape and size. The farm’s innovation has gained international acclaim for its unique beauty and quality.
Sustainable Farming
Amorn Phuket Pearl Farm maintains the delicate balance between marine biodiversity and pearl farming by adopting practices that conserve the natural environment. The farm employs advanced systems to monitor and manage water quality to ensure the surrounding aquatic environment remains unpolluted and healthy for all life forms.
For instance, some oyster cages also include red corals, which only thrive in good water conditions and are thus natural indicators of water quality. Additionally, some cages are stocked with food fish, such as groupers grown in the pearl farm for food and conservation. This supports pearl growth and maintains the natural habitat for other marine species.
Crafting Exquisite Pearl Jewelry
Once harvested, the pearls are transported to Amorn Phuket Pearl’s jewelry workshop, where they are transformed into high-quality, fine jewelry. Each pearl is carefully assessed and selected for pieces with exquisite designs reflecting traditional Thai and contemporary aesthetics. Visit Amorn Phuket Pearl Farm to learn about the history of pearl farming in Phuket and the delicate art of pearl cultivation and jewelry making. Schedule a pearl farm tour in Phuket today.
