As the world has modernized, cultured pearls, lab-grown diamonds, and other artificially produced gemstones have entered the market.

Until the cultured pearl industry began in the 1920s, most of the world’s pearls came from the small Ceylon pearl oyster, called bil-bil by Red Sea pearlers.

When he started diving in the mid-1990s, the booming cultured-pearl industry in Japan meant thousands of boats jockeyed for territory on the river (about 80 percent of the mussel shells exported ...

Visitors to Ago Bay can learn about the history of cultured pearls at the museum on Mikimoto Pearl Island. Mikimoto Pearl Island/JNTO Ago Bay's calm waters and sheltered inlets are perfect for ...