Most cultured freshwater pearls are composed entirely of nacre, just like their natural freshwater and natural saltwater counterparts. Throughout most of this century, the Japanese dominated the ...

Its best freshwater pearls fueled a ready market ... Kokichi Mikimoto single-handedly launched the cultured-pearl industry. Kokichi Mikimoto, the son of a noodle maker, had a dream and a hard ...

playing on a fascination with natural materials such as cultured pearls or lamp work glass for fun and relaxed forms. In the Froot Loop and Pearl necklace, glass beads made by Barcelona artisans are ...

Before the development of plastic, buttons were made from mussel shells. Freshwater pearls are still cultured by inserting small pieces of native mussel shell into oysters. Mussels are fascinating ...