The invention relates to a cultured bivalve mollusk (particularly quahog) pearl and a method of preparation thereof. The method includes implanting a nucleus material and a donor bivalve mollusk mantle tissue in the gonad or gut area of an anesthetized bivalve mollusk. An ideal bivalve mollusk or a quahog is four-years old or younger for rapid pearl production. The cultured pearl is harvested after a period ranging from six months to three years. Such cultured bivalve mollusk pearl is identical in appearance to the natural pearls.

The invention relates to a cultured bivalve mollusk (particularly quahog) pearl and a method of preparation thereof. The method includes implanting a nucleus material and a donor bivalve mollusk mantle tissue in the gonad or gut area of an anesthetized bivalve mollusk. An ideal bivalve mollusk or a quahog is four-years old or younger for rapid pearl production. The cultured pearl is harvested after a period ranging from six months to three years. Such cultured bivalve mollusk pearl is identical in appearance to the natural pearls.

A protective case for a pearl comprises a wall defining a closed internal volume for containing a pearl when the case is closed. A first case part and a second case part each form a substantial wall portion of the wall of the case. The first and second case parts are adapted to be releasably closed together to define the closed internal volume of the case, and each of the first and second case parts is formed from a transparent material. An irreversible locking mechanism is adapted to lock the first and second parts together when closed and prevent the first and second parts from being opened, such that the locking mechanism must be broken to open the case. The locking mechanism is located inside the case and is visible through the transparent material of at least one of the first and second case parts so that a state of the locking mechanism is discernible from an outside of the case.

A protective case for a pearl comprises a wall defining a closed internal volume for containing a pearl when the case is closed. A first case part and a second case part each form a substantial wall portion of the wall of the case. The first and second case parts are adapted to be releasably closed together to define the closed internal volume of the case, and each of the first and second case parts is formed from a transparent material. An irreversible locking mechanism is adapted to lock the first and second parts together when closed and prevent the first and second parts from being opened, such that the locking mechanism must be broken to open the case. The locking mechanism is located inside the case and is visible through the transparent material of at least one of the first and second case parts so that a state of the locking mechanism is discernible from an outside of the case.

Provided are a pearl culture material in which at least one selected from the group consisting of a pearl nucleus and a mantle piece is coated with a protein containing a repeating sequence of GXY triplets which may be separated by one or more amino acids, and one or more RGD motifs, and having a polydispersity of less than 20; and a coating composition including the protein.

Provided are a pearl culture material in which at least one selected from the group consisting of a pearl nucleus and a mantle piece is coated with a protein containing a repeating sequence of GXY triplets which may be separated by one or more amino acids, and one or more RGD motifs, and having a polydispersity of less than 20; and a coating composition including the protein.

The invention relates to a cultured bivalve mollusk (particularly quahog) pearl and a method of preparation thereof. The method includes implanting a nucleus material and a donor bivalve mollusk mantle tissue in the gonad or gut area of an anesthetized bivalve mollusk. An ideal bivalve mollusk or a quahog is four-years old or younger for rapid pearl production. The cultured pearl is harvested after a period ranging from six months to three years. Such cultured bivalve mollusk pearl is identical in appearance to the natural pearls.

The invention relates to a cultured bivalve mollusk (particularly quahog) pearl and a method of preparation thereof. The method includes implanting a nucleus material and a donor bivalve mollusk mantle tissue in the gonad or gut area of an anesthetized bivalve mollusk. An ideal bivalve mollusk or a quahog is four-years old or younger for rapid pearl production. The cultured pearl is harvested after a period ranging from six months to three years. Such cultured bivalve mollusk pearl is identical in appearance to the natural pearls.

The field of application of the method to produce free pearls is in the abalone pearl manufacturing industry. Such process optimizes pearl production, increasing pearl production rate and decreasing toxicity in production processes as well as the abalone mortality rate. The usefulness of the proposed process diversifies the pearl production industry, providing a process applicable to Haliotis rufescens, that enables to produce quality pearls in colors other than the traditional ones and with a more exotic character. Consequently, the present invention presents: a method to produce free pearls in abalone, preferably in red abalone Haliotis rufescens, wherein the process comprises the steps of: (a) relaxing the abalone in a tank containing water and CO2; (b) implanting a nucleus in a graft channel of the abalone; (c) inserting a piece of mantle in the graft channel; (d) closing the graft channel; (e) recovering the abalone; and (f) obtaining the pearl.