PEARLESCENCE

Pearlescence is the story of Stéphanie, one of Polynesia's first local grafters, and her equally passionate husband Jérôme. Formerly producers in Manihi, they have ceased their pearl-growing activities, but still raise nacres in partnership with the SPM de Manihi, and still transform mabe in their boutique workshop in Moorea. Far less well known than pearls - but no less beautiful - they are the product of a nacreous secretion around a synthetic half-core glued to the inner surface of a pearl oyster shell.