Origin of name
The "Black Beauty" is a natural black pearl belonging to the American Pearl
Company of Camden, Tennessee, founded by John Latendresse, the father of
American cultured fresh water pearls. The pearl is believed to have
originated in South America, possibly in Ecuador or Venezuela, two of the
historic pearl fishing grounds in the region. The pearl is an excellent
example of a large, well formed, high-domed button-shaped black pearl, with
overtones of a rainbow of colors such as green, yellow, violet etc. commonly
referred to as "peacock" or "rainbow" in the classification of black pearls.
Peacock or Rainbow black pearls are the most sought-after of black pearls
and the most valuable. Thus the name "Black Beauty" seems to reflect the
rare combination of color, orient, iridescence, size and shape of a unique
pearl, whose extraordinary qualities make it a famous pearl in the world.
©Smithsonian institute, photo by Chip
Clark
Characteristics of the pearl
The pearl is a high-domed, button-shaped pearl, with dimensions of 10.05 x
8.75 mm, and having a weight of 6.53 carats, equivalent to 26.12 grains. The
natural black color with a blend of rainbow colored overtones, known as
"peacock" is perhaps the finest ever seen. The natural black color
of the pearl is actually the body color of the pearl, caused by a black
melanin pigment secreted by special glandular cells in the mantle, during
the formation of the nacre. The pigment combines with the protein component
of the nacre known as conchiolin. The aragonite platelets which are
transparent calcium carbonate crystals, remain colorless, through which the
color of the pigment shows through. The overtone of rainbow colors is
actually caused by the interference of light passing through the alternative
layers of aragonite and conchiolin of the thick nacre, and so is the orient
and iridescence of the pearl. The blend of rainbow colors with the black
body-color of the pearl is known as "peacock" or "rainbow" in the
pearl trade, and today is the most sought-after color among the cultured
black pearls of Tahiti. The fact that the "Black Beauty" is a natural black
pearl having the most sought-after color combination as overtones, enhances
its value and uniqueness as a famous natural pearl in the world. The table
below gives the different combinations of body color and overtones, and
special names used for the combination, in the classification of cultured
black Tahitian pearls.
Combination of body color and overtones in
black Tahitian pearls
|
S/N |
Basic body color |
Overtone |
Combination |
Special name |
|
1 |
gray |
yellow |
yellowish-gray |
Champagne |
|
2 |
black |
purple |
purplish-black |
Cherry |
|
3 |
black |
blue |
bluish-black |
Lavender |
|
4 |
pale gray |
- |
pale gray |
Moon Gray |
|
5 |
black |
green |
greenish-black |
Peacock-green or black-green |
|
6 |
black |
rainbow of colors |
- |
Peacock or Rainbow |
|
7 |
black |
reddish-purple |
- |
Aubergine or Egg plant |
|
8 |
gray |
purple |
purple-gray |
Pigeon Gray |
|
9 |
gray |
green |
greenish-gray |
Pistachio |
|
10 |
gray |
- |
gray |
Silver |
|
11 |
black |
gold |
golden-black |
Tahitian Gold |
History of the "Black Beauty" Pearl
The "Black Beauty" is believed to have originated in South America, possibly
in the historic pearl fishing grounds of Venezuela or Ecuador. It is not
known exactly when the black pearl was discovered, but a study of the
history of pearl fishing in both countries, the habitat in which the
pearl oysters are found, and the species of pearl oysters found in these
habitats, might give an indication as to the probable origin of the pearl
Discovery of pearls in Venezuela
Native Indians used pearls for ornamental
purposes and decorating their temples
Even before the discovery of the New World by Columbus in the 15th century,
the native Indians had known about pearls, and collected them from the
mollusks, which they opened for food at times of necessity. They might also
have sought these pearls for ornamental purposes as well as decorating their
temples. Yet, the native Indians did not regard pearls as valuable
possessions, pricing them extravagantly as it was done in the old world,
particularly in the west. The native Indians readily bartered their pearls
in exchange for worthless items like ceramic plates, buttons, needles,
scissors, knives etc.
Christopher Columbus discovers pearls in
Venezuela in 1498
The occurrence of pearls in the New World was discovered for the first time
in Venezuela, in 1498 by Christopher Columbus, on his third voyage to the
New World. Columbus first reached the Island of Cubagua, off the Caribbean
coast of Venezuela, which he later called the "Island of Pearls" and observed a
boatload of native fisherman, fishing off the coast of the Island.
Inquisitive about the fisherman's activities, Columbus sent one of his own
boats with sailors to find out. The sailors followed the boat and reached
the shore where the native Indians had landed. As the sailors approached the
boat to have a look at their catch, a sailor saw a woman with a string of
pearls around her neck. He carried a dish of Malaga with him which he
exchanged for some strings of pearls, white and large. Delighted with their
transaction, the sailors returned to the ship. Columbus was surprised to see
such large pearls, and ordered more of his sailors to go ashore with items
like needles, scissors, knives, buttons, and other utility items, to be
bartered for pearls. The sailors returned with more than 48 ounces of pearls
of assorted sizes, with many good quality pearls among them. Columbus was
overwhelmed with what he had seen, and said to his sailors, "We are in the
richest country of the world. Let us give thanks to the Lord."
Columbus is brought back to Spain as a
prisoner for failure to report his discovery to the king
Columbus then left the island, and approached the land where large crowds
had gathered on the shore; men, women and children who had come to witness a
rare sight, a large sailing craft, the type of which they had never seen
before, with strange people on board. Some of the native Indians visited the
ships and were welcomed aboard, and were amazed by the dress, swords and
beards of the Spaniards, as well as the cannon, tackle and arms of the ship.
Most of the Indians wore pearls on their necks and wrists, and when Columbus
asked them where they found them, they pointed towards the coast and the
islands. Having made his sensational discovery, Columbus sailed across the
coastline of Venezuela, as far as Cape Vela, and then to Santo Domingo.
Columbus made the grave mistake of not informing his king immediately about
the discovery of the pearls, and by the time he decided to write to the
king, the news had already reached Castile about the discovery. This earned
the wrath of the king who ordered that Columbus be arrested and brought as a
prisoner to Spain.
More expeditions are sent to Venezuela in
search of pearls. Establishment of the first Spanish town in the New World,
called New Cadiz, on the island of Cubagua
Following the discovery of pearls in Venezuela in 1498 by Christopher
Columbus, a second expedition was sent by the king in 1499, headed by Pedro
Alonso Nino, and 33 other sailors, some of whom had accompanied Columbus on
the previous voyage. After a successful expedition, Nino returned to Galicia
with 96 pounds of pearls, which included many fine, round and lustrous ones
of about 5 and 6 carats or more. Nino also suffered the same fate as
Columbus, being accused by his sailors of stealing pearls and
cheating the king. However, the expedition has gone down in history as the
first financially profitable voyage to the New World. After the success of
this expedition, the Cubagua pearl fishery attained great fame, and more
expeditions by the Spanish followed, most of them sailing from Hispaniola or
Haiti, just 900 miles away. Initially, the pearl fishery had problems due to
the difficulty in finding local divers as a result of the cruelty and harsh
treatment meted out to them. The problem was relieved in 1508, by
transporting large numbers of Indian divers from the islands of Lucayan or
Bahamas who were experts in the field. This led to the establishment of the
first Spanish town in the New World in 1515, called New Cadiz, on the
Venezuelan island of Cubagua, by the Governor of Hispaniola, Diego Columbus,
son of the discoverer, which served as a center for harvesting pearl oysters
and collecting pearls. However, fresh water and other requirements needed
for the settlers had to be brought either from the mainland, twenty miles
away, or from Margarita Island, three miles northwards.
Discovery of more pearl beds off the
Pacific coast of Panama and the Gulf of California, in Mexico.
Pearls harvested from the Venezuelan coast were relatively small, having an
average weight of 2-5 carats. However, what was lacking in size, was
compensated in quantity, as pearls were harvested in the largest quantities
of any location in the New World, so much so, that the northeastern
coast of Venezuela, came to be known as the "Pearl Coast." Other locations where
pearls were discovered by the Spanish, a decade or two after the discovery
of the Venezuelan pearls, were around the islands off the Pacific coast of
Panama, and in the Gulf of California in Mexico. The Spanish also developed
programs to harvest pearls from these newly discovered sites, but quantities
discovered from the Venezuelan coast exceeded that of the other sites. In
1527, pearl production reached a maximum, and 1,380 kg of pearls were
harvested in Venezuela. It has been estimated that between 1513 to 1530, at
least 118 million pearls were harvested near Cubagua Island. Seville, Spain
became the center of the pearl market, for pearls originating in the New
World. Other pearl markets in Europe were Amberes also in Spain, Venice in
Italy, and Lisbon in Portugal.
Depletion of the pearl oyster resources of
Venezuela and Colombia and the closure of the pearl harvesting industry
Intensive harvesting of the pearl oyster resources off the Caribbean coast
of Venezuela and Colombia, stimulated by strong market demand during this
period, resulted in the great depletion of the resources, so much so by the
mid-17th century, barely 150 years after pearls were first discovered, pearl
harvesting as an industry, which for a number of years, represented the
greatest single industry of the European people in the American continent,
totally ceased. Some of the reasons attributed for the closure of the
industry were :-
1) The rapid depletion of resources due to the abandonment of conventional
methods of harvesting using divers and instead using mechanical devices such
as rakes and drags, to scrape up everything from the ocean floor, destroying
the habitat of pearl oysters.
2) Decrease in demand for natural pearls, brought about by the skilful
manufacture of imitations at Venice and elsewhere in Southern Europe.
3) The development of mining resources such as gold and silver in Mexico and
Peru, in the early 17th century, that attracted the Spaniards away from
pearling to mining.
4) The long years of cruelty and oppression had converted the surviving
Indians of the region into deadly foes, who terrified the remaining settlers
to abandon their enterprise.
Revival of the pearl harvesting industry
in the early 20th century
After the independence of Colombia and Venezuela from Spanish rule, in 1823
and 1829 respectively, the pearl industry could not be revived in spite of
the natural restoration of the reefs, after being left undisturbed for
almost 150 years, following their abandonment in
the mid-17th century, due to frequent changes in government regulations and
the imposition of heavy taxes. However, after 1895 the government of
Venezuela had granted concessions to individuals and companies for the
exploitation of defined areas for limited periods, taking a 10% royalty on
the turnover of the enterprise. The government reserved the right to examine
the books, and to intervene if necessary at any phase of the enterprise.
Besides the traditional method of diving for pearls, the only mechanical
method that was allowed was the use of dredges, that does not remove all
oysters from the reef, and instead help spread the oysters, enlarging the
reef.
The species of pearl oyster around which
pearling in Venezuela and Colombia was based
The species of pearl oyster around which the pearl industry of Venezuela and
Colombia was based, was Pinctada imbricata, known as the Atlantic pearl
oyster, whose distribution ranged beyond the Caribbean Sea as far north as
North Carolina and south to Brazil. The pearl beds around which the industry
was built, was situated off the coasts of Venezuela and northeastern
Columbia. In Venezuela the harvesting of pearl oysters was mainly centered
around the three off shore islands of Margarita, Cubagua, and Coche, around
12-18 km off its northern Caribbean coast. In Colombia, the pearl fishery
was situated 1,000 km west of the Venezuelan fishery, off the Guajira
Peninsula, close to the Venezuelan border.
Pinctada Imbricata - Classification
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Mollusca
Classs - Bivalvia
Order - Pterioida
Family - Pteriidae
Genus - Pinctada
Species - imbricata
Alternative species names - martensii, fucata, radiata
Common name - Atlantic pearl oyster
- Gulf pearl oyster
- Akoya pearl oyster
Four species of Pinctada - imbricata, fucata, martensii
and radiata have the same genetic profile, and actually belong to the same
species
Pinctada imbricata (Atlantic pearl oyster), Pinctada fucata (Akoya pearl
oyster), Pinctada martensii (Akoya-gai), and Pinctada radiata (Gulf pearl
oyster) were previously classified as
different species, based on slight differences in morphological (external)
as well as anatomical (internal) characteristics. However, recent genetic
research conducted by Masaoka and Kobayashi in 2005, on the these species
has shown, that they possess the same genetic profile, and therefore belong
to the same species, in spite of their slight variations.
In Biology, "species" is one of the basic units of biological
classification, and taxonomic rank. A species is defined as a group of
organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.
Similarity of DNA and morphological characteristics are seen among members
of the same species; however the presence of specific locally adapted
traits, may further subdivide species into subspecies. Using this definition
of species as a guideline, it is seen that interbreeding and production of
fertile offspring takes place not only between members of each of the four
"species" of Pinctada, listed above, but also between a member of one
species and another. In fact Japanese researchers had crossbred all
the four "species" and produced fertile offspring, in their attempts to
develop hybrids most suited for Akoya pearl culture. Thus according to the
above definition, the notion that imbricata, fucata, martensii and
radiata are separate species is not tenable, as they can freely crossbreed
and produce fertile offspring. Pinctada fucata/martensii/radiata/imbricata is known as a
"species
complex." It is believed that this complex constitutes a cosmopolitan,
globally-distributed species, characterized by substantial intraspecific
variation over its range. Pearls derived from members of this "species
complex" in Japan are known as Akoya pearls, and thus the complex is referred
to as the Akoya pearl oyster.
The four components of the "species complex" have specific locally adapted
traits, besides their common traits, that led them to be classified as
different species. Thus, the four components of the "species complex" could
actually be considered as sub-species of a cosmopolitan species with a
global range.
Thus the
Atlantic pearl oyster, Pinctada imbricata, the two Indo-Pacific pearl
oysters, Pinctada fucata and Pinctada martensii, and the Gulf pearl oyster
Pinctada radiata, belong to the same species
in spite of their widely separated habitats. This enabled the introduction
of Pinctada imbricata into Japanese waters, to recoup the perliculture
industry of Japan after the mass scale deaths of Pinctada martensii in the
mid-1990s.
Pinctada species of significant commercial
value
Out of the large number of pearl oyster species in the Genus Pinctada, under
the family Pteriidae, which have the potential of producing pearls, only
around five species have been identified that have great commercial value,
and are used in Perliculture today. The table below gives the natural
distribution of these oyster species and the type of pearls produced by
them. The sizes and color of the pearls produced depends on the average size
attained by the mollusk species, and the natural color of the nacre inside
the shell.
Pinctada species
of commercial value and their distribution
|
S/N |
Pinctada species |
Common name |
Distribution |
Type of pearls produced |
|
1 |
Pinctada radiata |
Gulf-pearl oyster |
Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Mannar |
Silvery white, cream, and light pink pearls; also occasionally yellow,
brown, and violet |
|
2 |
Pinctada margaritifera |
Black-lip oyster |
Persian Gulf, Australia, Fiji, Tahiti, Myanmar, Baja California |
Black South Sea pearls or Tahitian pearls |
|
3 |
Pinctada maxima |
White-lip oyster, Gold-lip oyster |
Myanmar,
Philippines, Australia, Fiji, Tahiti |
White and Golden South Sea pearls |
|
4 |
Pinctada fucata (martensii, imbricata) |
Akoya pearl oyster, Atlantic pearl oyster |
Japan, China, Korea Venezuela, Colombia, Bermuda, Persian Gulf,
Australia |
Mohar oriental pearls,
Akoya cultured pearls |
|
5 |
Pinctada albina |
Smaller Australian oyster or
Shark Bay pearl oyster |
Australia, Philippines, China, Vietnam, Korea, Micronesia |
yellow and small pearls Species used for culturing blister pearls |
Characteristics of Pinctada imbricata
Being a bivalve Pinctada imbricata is bilaterally symmetrical, and has a
two-valved shell which is dorsally hinged. The shell has a notch in the
right valve. The shell is ovate, with a straight hinge line and has an
interior nacreous or pearl layer. The shell is thin and brittle and
therefore has no economic value as mother-of-pearl, as the shell of other
pearl oysters like Pinctada margaritifera (Black-lip oyster). This explains
the large mounds of dead pearl oyster shells dumped on the coastline of
Venezuela during the height of the pearl industry in that country, formed by
discarding of pearl shells after the oysters were searched for pearls.
The color of the shell can vary from white to brown or tan, with several
dark brown lines radiating from the dorsal hinge. The oyster attaches by
byssal fibers to the substrate. The left valve is more concave than the
right, and it has a byssal opening, for the byssal fibers. The valves can
have a maximum length of 7 cm.
Life cycle of Pinctada imbricata
Pinctada imbricata is a protantric hermaphrodite; i.e. the bivalve is
bisexual, but during its development it behaves first as a male, and later
in life as a female. Thus the younger and smaller oysters are males and the
older and bigger oysters are females. In a given population the ratio of
males to females is approximately 1 : 1. The gonads surround the digestive diverticulum.
Males and females release sperms and eggs into the surrounding water, where
fertilization takes place. The free swimming larvae formed after
fertilization take 20-25 days to grow into spats that settled on the
reef. Reproduction takes place throughout the year, but setting of juveniles
is heaviest from June to December when water temperatures are the highest.
The larvae that are about to set, also known as spats, attach with their
byssus to hard substrates such as rocks, coral reefs, other pearl oysters,
and molluscan shells and barnacles. The oysters retain this attachment with
byssal threads, throughout their lives, unless they are torn free by
unforeseen circumstances such the activities of fisherman or violent storm
actions.
Growth of all stages of the oysters, whether embryos, juveniles or adults,
are affected by three important environmental factors. They are 1) water
temperatures 2) availability of nutrients and 3) salinity. In the
relatively shallow waters surrounding the islands of Margarita, Cubagua and
Coche, during the period from December to February, strong easterly winds
cause upwellings that brings nutrient-rich water from the depths of the
ocean to the shallow seas. Water temperatures that were around 26-28
°C during summer, falls by 2-3°C during this period;
and the salinity also increases by about 2 ppt to 36 ppt (parts per
thousand). The combine effect of these changes during this period, results
in a large increase of the phytoplankton population, which is the main
source of food for fishes (sardines) and pearl oysters. The oysters grow
rapidly during this period, and in mature oysters the gonads grow rapidly in
anticipation of spawning. The natural predators that can feed on the pearl
oyster spats are certain species of gastropods and crabs, and the spiny
lobster. Oysters that escape from their natural enemies grew to adult
oysters within about 12 months.
Can Pinctada imbricata be the
source of the "Black Beauty pearl" ?
Historical records of the pearl fishery in Venezuela in
the 16th century show that the average size of the pearls harvested from
this region weighed between 2 to 5 carats, and there were three main color
grades of pearls harvested: white, yellow and pink. Besides this large
quantities of seed pearls were also harvested. Cultured Akoya pearls
produced by Pinctada fucata martensii, are also generally white or
cream colored, with overtones of rose, silver or cream. Thus it seems to be
highly unlikely that the "Black Beauty Pearl" with its overtones of rainbow
colors, would have originated in the common species of pearl oyster found
in Venezuela, Pinctada imbricata.
However George Frederick Kunz in his book "The Book Of
The Pearl" identifies the pearl oyster species found on the coast of
Venezuela as Margaritifera radiata (Pinctada radiata), which according to
him is closely related to the Ceylon species found in the "Gulf of Mannar."
"The pearl-oyster (Margaritifera radiata) secured on the coast of
Venezuela is closely related to the Ceylon species. It averages slightly
larger in size, and there is a much greater range in coloration. The pearls
are of good quality. In color they range from white to bronze, and
occasionally a so-called black one is found. The total output is valued
locally at about 1,750,000 francs ($350,000) per year. Most of them are sold
in Paris.
If Pinctada imbricata/radiata was not the source of the
"Black Beauty Pearl" theoretically the most probable source would be the
black-lip oyster. Pinctada margaritifera, the source of black Tahitian
pearls, which are known to produce black/gray pearls with rainbow overtones.
However, the occurrence of Pinctada margaritifera in the Atlantic coastline
of north or south America or the Caribbean coasts have not been
documented. Pinctada margaritifera is actually an Indo-Pacific species
occurring in the coastlines of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Ecuador the other possible
source of the "Black Beauty Pearl"
Ecuador a country situated on the equator
with a Pacific coastline
It is said that the "Black Beauty Pearl" originated in South America, in the
pearl fishing grounds of Venezuela or Ecuador. The possibility of Venezuela
being the source of this unique black pearl have been examined in detail in
the foregoing account. Ecuador, a country situated on the equator, from
which it derives its name, has a coastline on the Pacific, and is bordered
by Colombia on the north, and Peru on the east and south. The country also
includes the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific, situated about 965 km west of
the mainland, famous as the place of birth of Darwin's Theory of Evolution,
and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Exploitation of pearl resources brought
greater returns to the Spanish than gold and silver
Ecuador has not been famous as its northern neighbor Columbia, and its
northeastern neighbor Venezuela, in the field of pearl fisheries; two
countries in South America, which became internationally renowned for their
pearl harvesting industry, after the discovery of the New World by Columbus,
in the 15th century. The exploitation of pearl resources, off the shores of
Colombia and Venezuela, and later Panama and Gulf of California, brought
greater returns to the Spanish colonialists, than gold and silver, in the
16th century. However these resources were exhausted within a short period
of time due to over exploitation.
Evidence for the existence of an ancient
pearl fishery in Ecuador that served the Incas
In Ecuador, even though large scale pearl fisheries did not exist during
this period, evidence of the existence of a pearl fishery in this region
several centuries ago had been found. Such evidence had been gathered by Dr.
H. M. Saville, of the American Museum of Natural History. According to
William E. Curtis, the traveler and writer, a pearl fishery existed on the
coast of Ecuador, at the little town known as Manta, in the Province of
Manabi. Pearls were said to have been more abundant in Manta than in the
Panama Bay. It is also believed that Manta was the source of the splendid
pearls obtained by the Incas, which the Spaniards later found in the palaces
and temples of Peru. However, the pearl fishing grounds of Manta was later
abandoned due to the invasion of a voracious species of fish known as "El
Manti," which eliminated the pearl oysters as well as the oyster-bearing
submerged reefs. It is from 'El Manti" the town subsequently derived
its name Manta.
The source of the "Black Beauty" was
actually Ecuador and not Venezuela ?
The coasts of Ecuador in recent times had supported a pearl fishery of minor
importance from time to time. However, unlike the Venezuelan coast which is
part of the Caribbean Sea, arising from the Atlantic Ocean, where the
black-lip oyster doest not exist, the Ecuadorian coastline is part of the
Pacific, the natural home of the black-lip oyster. Thus it was quite
possible that the "Black Beauty Pearl" originated from the black-lip oyster,
Pinctada margaritifera, that was once found in the waters of the Pacific off
the coast of Ecuador. The body color, overtones and orient of this unique
black pearl, undoubtedly supports this viewpoint. Thus the distribution and
range of the different pearl oyster species, seem to support the view that
the source of the "Black Beauty Pearl" is actually Ecuador and not
Venezuela.
American Pearl Company - the present owners of the "Black Beauty
Pearl"
American Pearl Company founded by John
Latendresse in 1961
The present owners of the "Black Beauty Pearl" is the American Pearl Company,
founded by John Latendresse, the "father of American cultured fresh water
pearls," in 1961, in Camden, Tennessee. In 1991, the company expanded to
Nashville, Tennessee. After John Latendresse's death in the year 2000, the
company is being managed by his wife Chessy, son J.K. and daughters Gina and
Renee, who continue to maintain and uphold the legacy of the American
cultured pearl pioneer.
The company specializes in both natural and
cultured pearls from the United States
The American Pearl Company specializes in both natural and cultured pearls
from the United States. The company maintains a sizeable inventory of rare
natural pearls, collected over a long period of almost 50 years, from the
rivers and lakes of America. The collection of natural pearls owned by the
company is believed to be largest collection in the world, which also
includes the "Black Beauty Pearl" the subject of this webpage. The freshwater cultured pearls offered by the
company is the result of almost 30 years of continuous research and
development undertaken by the company, that refined the culturing
techniques introduced from Asia. The native American river mussels have
responded well to the culturing techniques, producing beautiful cultured
pearls of superior quality, given a minimum period of 3-5 years for their
growth in monitored waters.
Innovative research to produce cultured
pearls of novel shapes
The secret of the beauty of American freshwater cultured pearls, lies in the
time given for the growth of the pearl, which is 3-5 years, sufficient for
the pearl to build up a thick layer of nacre, that is responsible for the
high quality, rich luster and breathtaking orient of the cultured pearl.
Besides the traditional shapes produced by natural pearls, such as round,
semi-round, button, drop, pear, oval, baroque and ringed, innovative
research carried out by John Latendresse, produced cultured pearls of novel
shapes, which he called "fancishapes" such as marquise, teardrop, bar,
navette, cabochon, triangle and coin. The technique lies in the implanting
of beads of desired shapes carved from the shell of an American mussel
within the soft tissue of the mussel. The greatest advantage of using
American freshwater mussels in the culturing process, is the great size of
the mussels, that enables multi-nucleation with a variety of shapes of
beads, producing bountiful harvests of pearls.
Profile of John Latendresse - Father of
American cultured freshwater pearls
Early life and exposure to jewelry valuation
John Latendresse who was born in South Dakota, left home at the age of 13
and joined the Marines by lying about his age which he claimed was 15.
During World War II he spent 38 months in the South Pacific, and then
returned to Reno, Nevada, where he worked as a cashier in a casino. It was
during this period that John Latendressse was exposed to jewels and jewelry,
that included pearl jewelry, which he had to learn to value, when members of
the high society who were in attendance, and less successful at the table,
sometimes pawned their jewelry to try their luck further. The experience he
gathered in the appraisal of jewelry, while serving as a cashier, gave him
the incentive to pursue a career in jewelry.
Purchasing of pearls along the Mississippi
For a start John Latendresse began purchasing pearls, by traveling up and
down the Mississippi buying gems from pearl harvesters and fisherman, and
then selling them to brokers. It was during one of these pearl buying trips
that he met accidentally Morris Hanauer, the owner of the American Gem and
Pearl Company, who had driven down from New York with his wife, also buying
pearls along the river, who became his mentor, and guided him in his chosen
field.
Formation of the Tennessee Shell Company
While buying pearls along the Mississippi River, John Latendresse's
attention was diverted towards the major activity of mussel harvesters,
buying and selling mussel shells to brokers, who in turn exported them to
Germany and Japan as raw material for the button manufacturing industry, and
as handles on eating utensils, but more importantly to create pearl nuclei
that formed the core of most cultured pearls. In 1954, John Latendresse
founded the Tennessee Shell Company, and took on a Japanese partner to
establish a strong relationship with Japanese pearl companies, and within a
short period was able to dominate the shell gathering business. His company
soon became the world's primary supplier of mussel shells, for the cultured
pearl industry. He then married a Japanese girl Chessy, and both his wife
and mother-in-law became an asset for the expansion of his pearl business.
While Chessy had learnt the art of pearl culturing, her mother had
once worked at the National Pearl Laboratory. Around the mid-1960s, John
Latendresse, was the main supplier of mussel shells to Japan, supplying
almost 70% of their pearl nucleus needs.
John Latendresse experiments with freshwater
pearl farming. Sets up first successful farm in Camden, Tennessee.
With the expertise and technical know-how gathered by him while in Japan
supplemented by the experience of his
wife and mother-in-law, John Latendresse decided to try his hand at the
pearl farming business himself. In 1963, he started an experimental farm
near Camden, applying Japanese technology, but the experiment failed,
probably because the animals used were American freshwater mussels. He tried
again in 1981, but failed, this time due to the quality of the water, which
had excess of iron that emulsified the calcium in the water and made it
impossible to raise mussels. Thus it became clear that water quality was a
key factor in establishing a successful pearl farm. He then toured the
United States looking for suitable bodies of water, where he could establish
his farm. After studying almost 500 bodies of water in the United States, he
found only seven were suitable. He set up his first successful freshwater
pearl oyster farm in Camden, Tennessee in 1983. Subsequently, he set up two
additional farms on the shores of the Kentucky Lake, one of the
largest man-made reservoirs in the U.S. covering 2,380 miles of shoreline,
where he established two farms in two small sections of the lake, having
taken a lease from the Tennessee Valley Authority. He also set up farms in
Louisiana and Texas.
John Latendresse improves on the performance
of Japanese pearl culturists
His company has around 80 dedicated workers, consisting of research
scientists and technical staff, that also included a limnologist, a
malacologist and a veterinarian. The company produces all types of pearls,
such as kechi, mabe and whole pearls of different shapes and sizes.
Latendresse, who calls himself a "pearl designer" also invented the
innovative technique of culturing pearls of desired shapes, by implanting
nuclei of appropriate shapes. Latendresse and his team of dedicated
scientists and technicians, adopted Japanese technology in the culturing of
pearls, but through extensive research modified the technology to suite
local American conditions. They were also able to improve on the performance
of the Japanese, such as reducing the mortality rate of implanted oysters
from 40-60% to only 3.9%, producing a greater variety of colors and
shapes, increasing the thickness of the nacre by placing the nuclei in the
right places, and giving more time for growth, and producing a better luster
than Japanese pearls. Most of his cultured pearls eventually reached
the Japanese markets where his company has captured a substantial share of
the market. When admonished by Japanese pearl culturists for attempting to
produce their national treasure, John Latendresse replied, "Well Sir,
Henry Ford is part of our history, and is certainly part of America's past.
Look at Toyota, Nissan - just what have you people done to Ford's idea ?"
The indomitable determination of a scientist
The success story of freshwater pearl culturing in the United States is
undoubtedly the story of the indomitable determination of a single motivated
individual and scientist, John Robert Latendresse. His initial attempts at
pearl culturing resulted in failure, after failure after failure. Whereas
the average individual would have given up in despair after mounting
failures, John Latendresse persisted with indomitable determination, and
after 20 long years, experimenting in the labs, testing the shells, the
water quality etc. and screening almost 500 bodies of water scattered across
the United States, to select the best aquatic environment for the project,
finally succeeded in 1983, after several million dollars had already been
spent on the project. Subsequently other entrepreneurs also emulated
his example and set up freshwater pearl farms that turned out to be
profitable ventures. Today, 31 different States have reported the production
of freshwater pearls and shells, but the bulk of the shell and pearl
production takes place in Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, and Louisiana.
John Robert Latendresse died on July 23, 2000, at his home in Camden,
Tennessee, at the age of 74. His wife Chessy, daughters Gina and Renee, and
son J.K. have taken over the legacy left behind by him, and are determined
to uphold and maintain it, while working towards the realization of their
father's dream to make southeastern United States a pearl culturing center,
from where pearl culturing was to be expanded throughout the country.
Related :-
1)
Pearl of Asia
2)
Hope Pearl
3)
Imperial Hong
Kong Pearl
4)
Pearl of Kuwait
External Link :-
American Pearl
Company
Please submit
your contributions ,comments and questions (See below)
-When you submit a question/comment we will build a
page exclusively for you. You can add more contributions, or let visitors
add comments and ratings
-The idea is Ask one or Answer one!
This way, you save yourself and others the trouble of asking the same
questions I'd appreciate a
little help here! Absolutely!!!
References
1.Pearl Fisheries of Venezuela - The Book of the Pearl,
Kunz
2.The Pearl Oyster - Paul Southgate and John
Lucas
3.History of the Atlantic Pearl Oyster, Pinctada
imbricata, industry in Venezuela, and Colombia, with biological and
ecological observations - Marine Fisheries Review, 2003, - Clyde L. McKenzie
Jr., Luis Troccoli, Luis B. Leon
4.Marine Invertebrates of Bermuda -
Atlantic Pearl Oyster (Pinctada imbricata) - by Erin Leonhardt and James B.
Wood
5.Ecuador - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
6.Species - From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
7Website of the American Pearl Company-www.americanpearlcompany.com
8.GIA
: Events & Trade Shows - The Allure of Pearls, Smithsonian NMNH, Washington
D.C.
9.John Latendresse - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
10The
Return of the American Pearl - by C. Richard Fassler, Aquaculture Magazine,
Sept-Oct 1991
11.American Pear Pioneer John Latendresse Dies - Kymberly Zabawa, Loupe
Online, GIA World News, August 8, 2000.
12.US Pearl
Cultivation - Tennessee & Mississippi River basin -www.allaboutgemstones.com
