TAHA'A, POLYNESIA - When the oysters are three to five years old, they are ready for cultivation. First, the pearl "farmer" sacrifices a donor oyster and divides its mantle into small particles called grafts. The recipient oyster is pulled from the water, fixed to a support and held open with forceps. The grafter, usually a Japanese expert, uses a scalpel to cut the back of the productive organ of the oyster and insert the graft. The grafter then inserts a 6 mm perfectly spherical bead, called a nucleus, so that it is in contact with the graft. Back into the lagoon, the implanted oysters are regularly cleaned and inspected. If the procedure is successful, the graft cells develop around the nucleus to form the pearl.

TAHA'A, POLYNESIA - When the oysters are three to five years old, they are ready for cultivation. First, the pearl "farmer" sacrifices a donor oyster and divides its mantle into small particles called grafts. The recipient oyster is pulled from the water, fixed to a support and held open with forceps. The grafter, usually a Japanese expert, uses a scalpel to cut the back of the productive organ of the oyster and insert the graft. The grafter then inserts a 6 mm perfectly spherical bead, called a nucleus, so that it is in contact with the graft. Back into the lagoon, the implanted oysters are regularly cleaned and inspected. If the procedure is successful, the graft cells develop around the nucleus to form the pearl.