Bali is now also home to a pearl farm on its remote north coast, a region with an increasing list of unique attractions. More than a decade of developing a highly modern, technical capacity to selectively breed and cultivate the largest and rarest of pearl oysters, Pinctada maxima, has seen this farm become a recognized leading supplier of this magnificent gems. In a world’s first, it has opened its doors to guests.
Nestled on Bali’s northern beaches in the fishing village of Penyabangan, lies Atlas’ North Bali Farm. Through dedication, hard work en strict adherence to sustainable production methods in both a social and environmental context, this company has gained a reputation as a world leader in producing magnificent South Sea pearls. These grow in the soft body tissue of the largest marine pearl oyster, the Pinctada maxima, which produces very large pearls in a range of colors. They are only found in tropical water and farms located in Northern Australia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and South China. Indonesia is the biggest producer of the most valuable of all pearls!
Throughout history, pearls have always fascinated as treasures of myth and legend inspiring the phrase, “nature’s most precious gift”. Long known as the queen of gems, pearls possess a history and allure far beyond what today’s wearer may appreciate. Throughout much of recorded history, a pearl was a treasure of almost incomparable value.
Although the first reported successful cultivation of ‘half’ or ‘blister’ pearls dates back to the 12th century, it amounted to nothing more than the adhering of small effigies of Buddha with the inner shell surfaces of river mussels. A far cry of the cultivation of real pearls in the late 19th century. Then a noodle vendor named Mikimoto, commercialized a surgical technique developed by other Japanese inventors. The Japanese subsequently developed the pearl culturing process, which they applied with great skill and success on their native Akoya pearl oysters.
No matter what the early origins of the different species of pearls, a reverence for pearls spread throughout the world and remains today.
When causally dropping by, you will be able to observe the oyster breeding program, cultivation cycle and ultimately attend a demonstration of pearl seeding and harvesting, a memorable educational experience.
