Still Pearls: the 'Cortez'

Only about a dozen years ago, after a long period of research, it was possible to set up the first fields of cultivation of pearls "Cortez", which because of their particular beauty and collection indiscriminate suffered, had taken the risk of extinction.

The "black pearls of the New World" have a size of between 8 and 15 mm, with a remarkably iridescent coloration of a fund apparently shiny metal. Their cultivation process extends for about four years.

Mollusk species of bivalves used in crops worldwide.
Japan - Akoya pearls; mollusk "Pinctada Fucata Martensii", size cm 8-13.
Australia - mollusk Pinctada Maxima, measuring up to 30 cm.
Tahiti - mollusk Pinctada Margaritifera, measuring up to 30 cm.
Gulf of California - mollusk Pinctada mazatlanica, smaller than 20 cm;mollusc Pteria Sterna, smaller than 13 cm.