A variety of gem-quality pearls at Tasaki Shinju, Kobe — Japan's largest distributor. In the upper Mabé shell, clockwise from left: Mabé round pearl, Mabé threequarter pearl, Mabé half-pearl, several freshwater pearls from Lake Biwa, black pearl from Tahiti. In the lower Akoya shell, three Akoya pearls in different colours. Alone at right: 17mm-diameter South Sea pearl.