Home >> About Majorca >> The pearls of Mallorca
You have probably already heard about a visit to Mallorca’s pearl factory. We invite you to delve deeper into the subject and learn all the intricacies of this craft.
It is very difficult to determine reliably when the culture of wearing jewelry began. I think that the emergence of Man of Reason was the beginning. Jewelry made of various materials, precious stones and metals was used. But real pearls were the privilege of the rich and influential families until the 19th century. This is because the oyster pearl is very rare and valuable. This is what makes real pearls such a desirable object in the eyes of rich people.
In past centuries, jewelry was used everywhere. They were woven into hair, framed hats, decorated clothes, worn as necklaces, bracelets and brooches.
How the pearls of Mallorca came to be
The high price of pearls forced people to look for alternatives, as everyone wanted to emphasize their beauty in some way. In the 17th century, a factory in Paris discovered that a viscous material made of fish scales was good for protecting glass shards and giving them extra luster. About 100 years ago, Eduard Hugo Heusch, a German engineer who emigrated to Paris from Germany, began working on the production of artificial pearls. He founded his company, which later moved to Majorca to the town of Manacor and has since become known as Majorica.
The creation of Mallorca pearls
The process of polymerization is used in the making of artificial Mallorca pearls. First, you take a small piece of opaque white glass, shell or crystal and dip it into the nacre mixture. Then it is taken out, dried and the process of dipping and drying is done up to 40 times. In this way, the pearl is covered with a very thin layer of nacre over and over again. The important step here is drying with a gas fire.
Let’s not hide the fact that in fact in this process they do not use real mother-of-pearl, but small particles of marine animals (fish scales, mussel shells). That is, those materials that were used several centuries ago in factories in France. When all the layers of nacre are applied, the pearls are polished and covered with a special lacquer. And to create other colors, colored minerals are added, and then pearls acquire the desired shade and color.
It is worth noting that pearls, which are produced in the factory of Majorca, are very durable and perfectly withstand various temperatures, moisture, makeup. It is difficult to damage it. In fact, only an expert can tell the difference between these artificial Mallorca pearls and the real ones that have grown in the shell.
The largest pearl in the world
The largest pearl in the world was found in the Persian Gulf in the 17th century. Its dimensions are 7.5 by 5 centimeters, and its shape resembles a pear. Presumably, this pearl is kept in the safe of one of the banks in London. Who is the owner of this miracle is still unknown.
The value of pearls
The value of pearls depends on the combination of color, size, shape and luster. Different species of oysters give pearls different colors. Black and green-black colored sea pearls have one of the highest prices in the world. Pearls can be perfectly round, oval, pear-shaped or indeterminate in shape. Perfectly round pearls are most prized, and those that resemble a pear are usually the largest size. The size of pearls has a certain weight and is measured in carats. One carat here is 0.2 grams.
Mallorca pearls are several times cheaper than real pearls. But the range of Mallorca pearls is so large and the quality so high that you can match any outfit from casual to elegant.
A visit to a pearl factory in Mallorca is absolutely free of charge. There you can see for yourself the whole process of pearl creation, try on your favorite piece and, if you wish, buy a pearl gift from Mallorca for yourself and your loved ones.
You can also book a tour with us that includes the Pearl Factory and can also book a chauffeur service with a driver and drive all over the island.
