Juergen Freund / Cultured Golden South Sea pearls of the Pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) Jewelmer pearls, Philippines

Juergen Freund / Goldlip pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) opened, with cultured Golden South Sea pearl on beach, Jewelmer Pearlfarm, Palawan, Philippines, May 2009

Juergen Freund / Baby Pearl oysters (Pinctada maxima) at Jewelmer Pearlfarm, two months spats (2 mm in size) and three months (10mm in size) Palawan, Philippines, May 2009

Juergen Freund / Jewelmer Pearlfarm, Pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) in hanging cage, Palawan, Philippines, May 2009

Juergen Freund / Jewelmer Pearlfarm, newly cleaned Pearl oysters (Pinctada maxima) hanging in nets from rafts waiting to be relocated to open sea, Palawan, Philippines, May 2009

Juergen Freund / Jewelmer Pearlfarm, cleaned Pearl oysters (Pinctada maxima) in hanging cage in the open sea, Palawan, Philippines, May 2009

Juergen Freund / Jewelmer Pearlfarm, cleaned Pearl oysters (Pinctada maxima) in hanging nets, being relocated to the open sea, Palawan, Philippines, May 2009

Juergen Freund / Almost perfect cultured pearl extracted from Golden South Sea Pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) oyster will then be reused, Palawan, Philippines, May 2009

Juergen Freund / Jewelmer Pearlfarm, expert technician extracts nearly perfect culutred pearl from golden South Sea Pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) oyster will then be reused, Palawan, Philippines, May 2009

Juergen Freund / Pearl held in hand at Jewelmer Pearlfarm - golden South Sea Pearl from pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) Palawan, Philippines, May 2009

Juergen Freund / Jewelmer Pearlfarm, Goldlip pearl oyster (Pinctada maxima) with golden pearl on beach, Palawan, Philippines, May 2009

Juergen Freund / Jewelmer Pearlfarm, Golden South Sea Pearl oysters (Pinctada maxima) laid out on trays waiting to have nucleus inserted to initiate cultured pearl growth, Palawan, Philippines, May 2009