From shell to piece of jewellery: the fascinating path of shell beads
The Formation of Shell Pearls: The formation of a shell pearl begins with an unwanted intruder in the shell, such as a grain of sand or a parasite. To protect itself, the mussel responds by secreting layers of mother-of-pearl, also known as nacre, around the intruder. This process takes several years, during which time the pearl is formed, layer by layer.
Mussel Farming: Most of the mussel beads on the market come from mussel farms. In these farms, mussels are specifically bred to produce high-quality pearls. The breeding process begins with small nuclear implants, usually made of nacre, placed in the mussel. This nucleus serves as a starting point for nacre layer formation. The mussels are then kept in special farms where they grow under controlled conditions and develop their pearls.
Pearl extraction: After the mussels have grown for a sufficient period of time and the pearls have developed, they are gently harvested. This is done either by opening the shell or by performing special surgical procedures to extract the pearls. It is a precise operation that requires expertise and experience in order not to damage the shell and the pearl.
Pearl processing: After harvesting, the freshly removed mussel pearls are cleaned and sorted. They are classified according to their shape, size, color and quality. They are then cut, polished and, if necessary, drilled by skilled jewelers to prepare them for use in jewellery.
The arrival in our shop : After the shell beads have been carefully processed, they are selected by experts and integrated into beautiful jewelry such as necklaces, earrings or bracelets. Each piece is handcrafted with great care and attention to detail to showcase the unique beauty of the shell beads.
