The value of a pearl increases exponentially with its quality. Among the evaluation criteria, shape plays a decisive role: perfectly round pearls are by far the most sought after and command the highest prices.

Thus, the primary objective of any pearl farmer is to increase the percentage of round pearls in their production. To determine whether genetic lineage influences pearl quality, two groups of Pinctada maxima were monitored over four years, from hatchery to harvest.

Two Groups, Two Origins

Group A came from the spawning of gold-lipped oysters selected in the Aru Islands, southeast of Indonesia.

Group B consisted of oysters bred from individuals originating in the Raja Ampat Islands, northeast of Indonesia, all of which had gold- or yellow-lipped nacre.

Both groups were raised under identical conditions at a commercial pearl farm located in Alyui Bay, West Papua.

Results: Lineage Makes a Difference

At harvest, researchers observed significant quality differences, particularly regarding shape.

Oysters from Group A produced a higher percentage of round pearls than those from Group B, demonstrating that lineage plays an important role in the final quality of pearls.

Toward More Efficient Selective Breeding

These results suggest that selective breeding could become a key tool for improving the quality and, consequently, the value of the pearls produced.