What is the best time to dive for pearls on the Tennessee River? Shell and pearl diver Bruce reminds us that the best time to dive is dependent on many factors. First, of course, has to do with overall weather conditions. There are tides and visibility to take into consideration and in rainy months the …
“Three pearls in eighteen months? Three pearls in eighteen months!” I questioned, then exclaimed. In eighteen months, our pearl diver discovered exactly three pearls. I did not mean it as a point of criticism, I meant it as a marvel of natural pearls. Frizz had been diving in the Tennessee River for a year and …
Gone With the Wind: Why did I name our All-American pearl jewelry line from characters in Gone With the Wind? First, did you notice? I know names like Dolly and Sue-ellen may be a little more obscure but surely you guessed it with Scarlett, Mammy or even Prissy? You know, I love that we are …
Are natural pearls more expensive than cultured pearls? The answer is yes. Natural pearls are considerably more expensive than cultured pearls. One might argue that the reason we have cultured pearls is because natural pearls are so much more expensive than cultured pearls. When Mikimoto first began farming cultured pearls in the late 1800s, he …
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American pearls come from a variety of places all over the U.S., especially the ocean waters off the east, west and Gulf coasts and the freshwater rivers throughout the country. There have been pearls discovered in the Mississippi River, Tennessee River and many lakes and tributaries. Picture it, if you can: The native american were …
Introducing All-American Pearls by The Pearl Girls! Years ago, the Tennessee River was the hub for mussel shell businesses. Divers would spend all day in the cold Tennessee River collecting shells which were then exported to Australia, Japan, China and other exotic locations for use in the cultured pearl industry. Although incredibly rare, one of …
Brailing is a form of early commercial pearl and mussel harvesting (in the 1930s, 40s and 50s). When brailing, you extend hooks across a bar and pull the bar through the river. The mussels close on the hooks. Why? When a mussel feels the hook on its open shell, it thinks one of two things.. …
Mussel camp… Imagine.. in the mid-1950s there were probably 300 working mussel boats on the Tennessee River. These boats collected mussels to use in the button or pearl industries. So, what do brailers, divers and other toe-diggers do with the mussels they harvest? They take them to camp… mussel camp. These odorous camps are set …
Here is India and the pearl diver who works on the Tennessee River collecting shells and pearls! India is the Founder of The Pearl Girls and is thrilled to launch her All-American Pearl Collection in 2014 and tell Bruce’s story of 30 years of diving for pearls on the Tennessee River. It is an exciting …
The Pearl of A Queen is the pearl that launched America’s passion for natural, American pearls. It all started in 1857 when David Howell, a shoemaker from Paterson, New Jersey went fishing for mussels in nearby Notch Creek and discovered several pearls. He was then joined by two local pearl hunters, Jacob and John Quackenbush. …
Working with American pearls is really one of the most exciting ventures I have embarked upon since starting The Pearl Girls five years ago. I started this pearl company because I wanted to offer gorgeous pearls at amazing prices to women in the U.S. I have traveled abroad (and continue to!), made great contacts and …
Dixie Divers is a special debuting on the Discovery Channel on September 28th. The special hopes to capture the life of some remaining pearl and mussel divers in Tennessee. I met a U.S. Dixie Diver, John, last year during my visit to Benton County, Tennessee. Since then I have been in touch with a few …
