[callire]

Wow! So pretty! Wish I could get them, but I've already done enough damage on the CC!

[Raisondetre]

It's a very good price for Biwa ...

[Heidi]

Ooh, done and...done. These are right up my alley.

[The Pearl Outlet]

Are these tissue or bead nucleated?

To tell you the truth, I don't know and I don't have the heart to cut one apart to find out.

[Mandy]

Well I'm certainly curious! I know what you mean though...these pearls are very unique!

If you want my opinion they don't look bead nuked from the photos you provided, unless the nuclei that were used were quite small and some were very flat (they're only 5-6mm in size right?).

[Pearl_dreams]

From Pearls: A Natural History (page 178) :

"It appears that the Biwa Pearl Mussel (Hyriopsis schlegelii) was extensively used beginning in the early 1920s. The transition from bead nucleation to tissue nucleation also happened early, certainly by 1930. The modern multiple-nucleation method appeared in the 1950s."

This thread induced me to take out my white Biwas and wear them today...mine are a little smaller than the ones pictured, 5-6mm the long way but only about 3-4mm across the drill hole. I also couldn't resist and got some of the lavender ones from Terry...

[pattye]

I would be very surprised if they were bead nucleated--I would think they would have a more consistent size, if so. I hope my order goes through!!

[Mandy]

Ty for that quote, Pearl_dreams! So it would seem that these ones are most likely, tissue nucleated. And I also caved and got some of Terry's biwas as well, hee. I got the white ones since all my strands so far have been multicolored or pink!

[Hanaleimom]

Pearldreams,
Thank you for the reference material.

[Heidi]

Thanks for the reference quote! I haven't been able to find the answer which may this may be somewhere on the forum - but does anyone know how the stick shaped FW pearls got generalized to being called "biwa?" I've seen stick or elongated actual Lake Biwa pearls...as well as nuggets like Terry's latest find.

[Pearl_dreams]

Continuing with the quote from page 178 of Pearls: A Natural History (copyright 2001):

"The Biwa Pearl Mussel is one of many endemic species native to the Lake Biwa/Yodo River System-- meaning that it is found naturally nowhere else in the world. Unfortunately, various environmental problems have rendered Lake Biwa proper unusable for culturing, and Hyriospisis schlegelii is now nearly extinct. Pearl cultivation continues in small lakes surrounding Lake Biwa, revitalized through use of a new pearl mussel. Crossing some of the remaining Biwa Pearl Mussels in aquaculture with their continental relative, Hyriopsis cumingii, has provided a new hybrid strain that has raised hopes that the freshwater pearl industry of the Lake Biwa area can survive. The new pearl mussels are also being cultivated in Lake Kasumigara, near Tokyo, and their products have been sold since 1997 under the name Kasumiga Cultured Pearls. Japan still produces nearly 1,000 kilograms of freshwater pearls per year, but most pearl specialists think this total will continue to decline."

[Pearl_dreams]

This thread is probably what you were remembering reading (the article in the OP includes information about the Biwa mussell being used in China) :

Innovation Continues in Chinese Freshwater Pearl Culture

Some of Jeremy's posts in that thread are very informative:

Innovation Continues in Chinese Freshwater Pearl Culture

and this one:

Innovation Continues in Chinese Freshwater Pearl Culture

Here is an older thread that is interesting:
What is a freshwater pearl and is it valuable?

[Raisondetre]

Someone buy that green laser and shine it through the pearl!

[flycatcher]

OK, I give up. I have looked twice on the Pearl Outlet web site and have not been able to locate these pearls. Can someone enlighten me as to where to find them on the site? I have a feeling that y'all have already bought them all anyway so it may not matter anymore. Thanks!

--Stephen

[Hanaleimom]

Here's the link for you.

http://www.thepearloutlet.com/summer08blowout.htm

You can also go to the home page and look at the bottom of the page. The monthly sale link is way at the bottom.