Here's an interesting new take on artistic pearl jewelry, invented by Chi Huynh of San Dimas, California: The Galatea Mercy Pearl, a cultured pearl with a gemstone bead at its center.

What are cultured pearls?

Cultured pearls are grown in mollusks that live in either saltwater  or freshwater. Cultured saltwater pearls are made by placing spherical irritants -- typically pieces of shell -- into the tissues of sea oysters. This process results in pearls that are very round and have a beautiful translucent glow, called luster.

Read more about the different types of pearls used in jewelry making.

How is the Galatea Mercy Pearl different?

In these patented pearls, real gemstone beads are used as the irritants that encourage nacre to form within mollusks. The artist carves down through the nacre to reveal the gemstone within.

In the photo above, what looks like a blue layer is actually a round turquoise bead. This example also features an embedded diamond, another of Galatea's specialties.

According to Galatea, this is the first time in history that cultured pearls have been successfully grown with gemstone centers:

In 2005, Huynh began setting up a pearl farm in his native Viet Nam to harvest the Mercy Pearl in the country’s coastal waters. The oysters are first enucleated with perfectly round gemstone beads such as turquoise, amethyst, garnet, citrine and opal and left to grow for almost a year to obtain its luxurious nacre or exterior coating.

So far, it looks like Galatea Mercy Pearls are primarily being used in settings. We'll have to wait and see whether they turn up in any luxurious strung designs.

Related Beadjewelry.net posts:

• Pearl terms and shapes
• How to knot between beads (e.g., pearls)
• Book review: Create Jewelry ~ Pearls