The Daily Graft
A pearl farmers' harvest, as for all farmers of this world, is the culmination of many months or years of hard graft each and every day. Initial hopes and aspirations are followed by plans and preparations, seed stock procured and workshops tooled, sweat and tears shed in the fields, mistakes noted and lessons learned, successes celebrated and methods perfected.
A multitude of factors, some known and expected prior to commencing, others blown in unannounced by the winds of good or bad fortune - all contributing to the ultimate reward of the harvest which will determine our present as well as our future.
Our own personal endeavours and the innumerable external influences large and small shape our success or failure.
Assessing Success
For the pearl farmer, a successful harvest is defined by good numbers, good shape, good luster, good size and of course, good colours.
Local conditions in Fiji can place limitations on the number of pearls: harvest quantities are generally much lower than other pearl farming regions. At Civa Fiji Pearls our efforts are therefore focused on the quality rather than quantity to produce pearls that really shine when ticking the other boxes.
Having just completed our 2015 harvest we are proud to say that for the first time since our initial harvest in 2010 we have excelled in three of the five key indicators of success - shape, luster and colour, with satisfactory sizes achieved. With continued efforts to positively influence the factors within our control, and a little luck from nature we look forward to improving our numbers and proudly ticking all the boxes for a not too distant future harvest. For 2015 we are more than happy with the most important hallmark of Fijian pearls - colour.
Pearl Shapes
Whilst there is a degree of control over the colour of our pearls during implanting, the ultimate shape is in the hands of nature. Shapes can be broadly split into three types: spherical, symmetrical, and baroque.
Within these three categories there are seven basic shapes.
Spherical includes round or near-round pearls.
Symmetricals come in multitude of shapes but are pleasingly balanced such as ovals, buttons and drops.
The baroque category covers irregularly shaped pearls, or part regular part irregular defined as semi-baroque.
For each basic shape further characteristics may be overlaid, for example rings or circles giving rise to circled rounds, or ringed symmetricals.
Whilst these labels help to a describe the general shape of a pearl, in reality there is huge variety. Unique blends of shape, luster, size and colour give each pearl its individual character.
Related Links
For a more detailed guide on pearl shapes, grading and quality visit the Pearl Guide
