Just by looking at them, it is difficult to imagine the long process that sea cultured pearls go through in order to become the product you see today. Only after the oyster has reached three years of age does the work begin.
In a transformation made possible by highly experienced technicians, the lip, or epithelium, of a donor oyster is introduced, as is a nucleus made out of the shell of a mollusc from the Mississippi.
During the first insertion, the size of the pearl varies from 8mm to 11mm, reaching up to 20mm in those conducted after that. It is also possible to see keshis, small pearls created due to a premature rejection of the nucleus, similar to how pearls are naturally created.
One oyster can produce up to 5 pearls, one at a time and each one taking at least 18 months to form. Due to this its coat of nacre is incredibly thick, ranging from 0.8mm up to 6mm, favouring a brilliant lustre and durability.