And finally Chapter 11 of Pearls A Practical Guide looks briefly at all the other possible pearls, mostly wild and not farmed. Mostly also rare and mostly also expensive!
Here are some of the baby clams being raised by the Civa pearl farm on the remote island of Fiji as part of its work to protect and sustain the local sea environment.
The giant clam hatchery. Double redundant fresh saltwater system to ensure the clams are as happy as..well…clams
25,000 juvenile giant clams are being raised every three months.
Specimen melo pearls on display at a specialist natural (wild) pearl dealer at the Hong Kong show, spring 2020
Same dealer, abalone pearls
Wild conch pearl necklace.