Hi everyone! So I turned 16 this year and my parents have offered to get me a nice ring to celebrate it. I think pearls are beautiful and I considered getting a pearl ring. However, I'm not sure whether they are considered "vegetarian". I'm a vegetarian, not a vegan. I know they aren't vegan, but what do you guys think? Thank you for your opinions.
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:54 pm
I strongly recommend against asking for a pearl ring. They're made by inserting a grain of sand (or other irritant) into an oyster, which is irritating and painful, so they form a pearl sac around it to protect their body. After a few years of this process, it ends up as a pearl, which is removed through either an operation or by killing the oyster.
Oyster farms use this process to insert an irritant:
Karipearls.com
Each operator has strips of prepared living mantle/epithelial tissue to be inserted with the nuclei. One oyster must die to provide this tissue which is cut from its mantle and its rough edges cut away, for 14-15 inserted nuclei. Too bad...but that is how pearls are made. The strip of tissue is cut into tiny squares and stays alive for 2 hours...so must be used within that time frame.
In summary: suffering, pain, and death for the sake of vanity? I would definitely say no.
loony x lovegood Crew
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Chibi Kappa Sigma
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:53 am
Wow, I didn't know whether or not the oyster dies during the pearl process. Now that I know for certain that they do kill the oysters, I'm definitely against pearls. It seems just like fur, which I'm very strongly against. Thank you for the information, veganlicious. I won't be getting any more pearls, and I won't wear any that I receive/d as a gift. I totally agree with you. Encourage mass suffering and killing of oysters, just so I can have a memento? I'll get a real rock. At least it doesn't hurt a stone when you cut it.
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 3:19 pm
unless you're worried about spreading the idea that real pearls are okay, i would suggest you try seeing if you could get your hands on a secondhand pearl ring [like at a pawn shop].
otherwise, i suggest you not get any sort of pearl ring.
aoijea23487
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Sazzie Lotus Song
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 2:15 pm
Try getting a fake pearl. 3nodding In my opinion, it looks just as pretty. biggrin Peace and Love, Sazzie heart
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:20 am
Sazzie Loves Bunnies
Try getting a fake pearl. 3nodding In my opinion, it looks just as pretty. biggrin Peace and Love, Sazzie heart
I agree with this. Maybe you could ask for a pretty ring that has a fake pearl.