Cultured Pearl With Gemstone Center

Galatea of San Dimas, California has
introduced the Galatea Mercy Pearl(TM), a patented pearl (U.S. Patent
#7,062,940) that uses a center gemstone bead rather than traditional shell
during the pearl culturing process. Chi Huynh, the Mercy Pearl's creator and
owner of Galatea, has also launched a new line of fine jewelry featuring the
Galatea Mercy Pearl(TM) just in time for Holiday 2009. The collection includes
earrings, pendants and rings set in white and yellow 14k gold. Retail prices
range from $300 to $3500.

The Galatea Mercy Pearl is a pearl unlike any other, the first time in pearl
culturing history that a pearl is grown containing a gemstone bead, and then
hand-carved to reveal color beneath the pearl's lustrous nacre or coating. It
is one of the most significant variations in pearl farming since the early
part of the 20th century when pearls were first cultured in Japan.

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. The pearls are then carved by hand with
signature Galatea flourishes to let the gemstone beneath the pearl shine
through.

Read entire article here.

See carved pearls here. These carved pearls do not show a gemstone center, but give you an example of carved pearls.