Magnetic cultured pearls, articles of manufacture made therefrom, and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A magnetic cultured pearl comprises a magnetic core member around which pearl nacre material has been permitted to develop as a result of implantation of the magnetic core member within a host organism. The magnetic cultured pearls can be used to manufacture pearl necklaces or pearl bracelets without the need to string the cultured pearls upon conventional strings. A method of manufacturing the magnetic cultured pearls is also disclosed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to cultured pearls, and more particularly to new and improved magnetic cultured pearls, articles of manufacture made therefrom, and a method of manufacturing the same.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]As is known, the pearl is the only gemstone that is manufactured as a result of being grown inside a living organism. In accordance with the natural process by means of which pearls are developed, pearls are formed, for example, within oysters, when a foreign object or entity, such as, for example, a parasite, invades the shell of the oyster, enters the soft mantle tissue, and picks up or gathers epithelial cells. This is an irritating process to the oyster, and in response to this irritation, the epithelial cells are formed into a sac, accordingly known as a pearl sac, which effectively encloses the foreign object or entity irritant, and subsequently, the pearl sac, in turn, secretes a crystalline substance, known as n...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with the teachings and principles of the present invention through the provision of a new and improved magnetic cultured pearl which comprises a magnetic core or nucleus which is adapted to be implanted within the host organism, such as, for example, an oyster or other mollusk. The oyster or other mollusk will then form the pearl around the magnetic core or nucleus in the normal fashion. Subsequently, the pearls are removed from the oysters or other mollusks, and as a result of the presence of the magnetic core or nucleus disposed interna

Problems solved by technology

While cultured pearls have been fabricated for more than one hundred years by means of the foregoing, or a similar, process, problems do exist in, or plague, the cultured pearl industry, and in a similar manner, problems also plague or confound consumers who often buy pearls in the form of pearl necklaces, bracelets, and the like.

More particularly, for example, when the cultured pearls are to be utilized in connection with the manufacture of, for example, pearl necklaces, bracelets, and the like, it is necessary to drill diametrically oriented holes through the pearls, and the original nuclei disposed within the cultured pearls, in order to enable a string to be inserted through the pearls so as to effectively enable the pearls to be strung together, however, such a drilling process is extremely delicate and must be performed with great care due to the fragile nature of the crystalline structure comprising t

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