| In the GIA's Book of South Sea Pearls within the Course on pearls is a section called "Phillippine South Sea Cultured Pearls", there is a map, whose source is Jewellery News Asia, showing 1 pearl farm between Bohol Island and Cebu Island, and 2 pearl farms on the other side of Cebu Island, between Cebu Island and Negros Island. All told this map shows 21 pearl farms with the greatest concentration around Palawan and Busuanga. A lot of the area between Cebu and Bohol is a marine sanctuary and teeming with fish, not polluted at all. I have seen something that looked like a pearl farm; but,of course they don't advertise.
The GIA book says that the Philippine culture both P.Margaritifera (native to the Philippines); but smaller than those grown in French polynesia. Mostly they grow P.maxima in silver and gold lipped varieties.
As is a lot of the business in the Philippines, most Philippine farms are joint ventures with the Japanese. It says the largest farm employs about 700, and consists of four farms, and they sell most of their pearls in Japan.
Last edited by SunshinePearls; 11-09-2006 at 05:33 AM.
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