Aired
December 29, 1998
NOVA
NOVA
The Perfect Pearl #S25E20
For centuries, man has risked both life and life savings to possess the pearl's beauty. Pure and perfect, glowing and dazzling, a pearl is actually a mistake formed when an oyster reacts to an irritant lodged in its shell. Go back to the late 18th century to meet Kokichi Mikimoto, who developed a technique for culturing pearls that's still used today. Travel to a Japanese oyster hatchery to see how technology is advancing pearl cultivation. Watch divers search for the immense pearls found in the world's largest oyster, the Pinctada maxima. See a strand of South Sea perfect pearls worth $2.3 million. And discover little-known facts as authors, zoologists, scientists and pearl experts reveal the pearl's wondrous history.
Episode 20 of Season 25 from NOVA — available to stream in HD on any device.
Comments & Discussions
Join the conversation
Sign in to leave a comment
No comments yet
Be the first to share your thoughts!
Recommended
Because you liked NOVA
Taking the Stand
Taking the Stand
Butchers of L.A.
Butchers of L.A.
The Wild Ones
The Wild Ones
One Night in Idaho: The College Murders
One Night in Idaho: The College Murders
JFK: One Day in America
JFK: One Day in America
Maintenant ou Jamais : FC Montfermeil
Now or Never - FC Montfermeil
Liberation: D-Day to Berlin
Liberation: D-Day to Berlin
The Last Captains
The Last Captains
De Gijzeling in de Apple Store
Kidnapping at the Apple Store
A Killer Among Friends
A Killer Among Friends
Search for movies, TV shows, collections, manga, or people
Trending Now