| I missed this post. Jeremy, great article as usual.
Just wanted to point out a couple of things. The turning of oysters is done in the first graft, not the second. We did it years ago and it does definitely influence pearl shape as it doesn't let all the broken down tissue in the graft tissue end up in one spot. As far as I know, no one down here is doing this (I know R. Wan did it years ago, now not sure) but I have heard it is common in Australia.
Some of the pearls of mine that you bought yesterday were from a third graft operation and those were grafted again making a 4th graft on those same oysters. I don't expect fantastic results but am hoping for a bomb or two.
As per our conversation yesterday I also wanted to share with Pearl-Guide members that the nuclei for large pearls is very expensive and often the deciding factor for budget watching Tahitian farmers to not re nucleate their oysters.
Doug, we are not using hatchery spat. Oyster spat is one of the only things in Tahiti that is not that expensive. With the exception of our Leeward Islands, spat collect naturally in most atolls.
Caitlin can you please clarify your question? |