Turquoise Nucleus Cultivated Pearls

Turquoise nucleus cultivated (TNC) pearls represent a distinctive variety which are distinguished by their unique nucleus and remarkable aesthetic appeal. In contradistinction to the common pearls, which were formed by a shell nucleus, TNC pearls are characterized by a nucleus composed of a turquoise-like mineral.

In recent years, innovative techniques for pearl cultivation have emerged, particularly involving the incorporation of turquoise as a nucleus within the mother oyster, which is then submerged in water for a cultivation period of one to two years. The renowned jewelry company Galatea has adeptly harnessed this technology to produce colored core pearls, intricately carving the layers of the pearls into exquisite jewelry pieces for commercial sale.

Given that the same cultivation process was used for all TNC pearls, this study selected two representative TNC pearls for further analysis. In this study, FTIR spectroscopy was employed to analyze the mineral composition of the TNC pearl nucleus and compare it to that of natural turquoise. Furthermore, the spectral characteristics of the pearl layer were examined using EDXRF, 3D fluorescence spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy to determine the mother oyster of the TNC pearl samples. The findings support the efficacy of 3D fluorescence and photoluminescence spectroscopies as methods for exploring new varieties of pearl.

SOURCE: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-12814-w