Magnetic cultured pearls, articles of manufacture made therefrom, and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A magnetic cultured pearl comprises a magnetic core member around which pearl nacre material has been permitted to develop as a result of implantation of the magnetic core member within a host organism. The magnetic cultured pearls can be used to manufacture pearl necklaces or pearl bracelets without the need to string the cultured pearls upon conventional strings. A method of manufacturing the magnetic cultured pearls is also disclosed.

1 . A magnetic cultured pearl, comprising:
 a magnetic core member; and   cultured pearl material, comprising pearl nacre, disposed around said magnetic core member.   
   
   
       2 . The magnetic cultured pearl as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said magnetic core member is fabricated from a neodymium-iron-boron composition.   
   
   
       3 . The magnetic cultured pearl as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said magnetic core member has a predetermined solid geometrical configuration around which said cultured pearl material is disposed so as to provide said magnetic cultured pearl with a predeterminedly finalized solid geometrical configuration.   
   
   
       4 . The magnetic cultured pearl as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said magnetic core member has a substantially spherical configuration.   
   
   
       5 . The magnetic cultured pearl as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said magnetic core member is plated with an inert metal.   
   
   
       6 . The magnetic cultured pearl as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said inert metal is selected from the group comprising gold, silver, platinum, and iridium.   
   
   
       7 . A cultured pearl jewelry item comprising a plurality of cultured pearls connected together, comprising:
 a plurality of cultured pearls disposed within at least one linear array,   wherein each one of said plurality of cultured pearls comprises a magnetic cultured pearl comprising a magnetic core member, and cultured pearl material, comprising pearl nacre, disposed around said magnetic core member, such that when pairs of said magnetic cultured pearls are disposed adjacent to each other so as to form said at least one linear array, said adjacent pairs of said magnetic cultured pearls will be magnetically attracted and connected to each other so as to form said cultured pearl jewelry item.   
   
   
       8 . The cultured pearl jewelry item as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said cultured pearl jewelry item comprises a pearl necklace.   
   
   
       9 . The cultured pearl jewelry item as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said cultured pearl jewelry item comprises a pearl bracelet.   
   
   
       10 . The cultured pearl jewelry item as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said at least one linear array of cultured pearls comprising said pearl necklace comprises a single linear array of said cultured pearls defining a single strand of said cultured pearls.   
   
   
       11 . The cultured pearl jewelry item as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said at least one linear array of cultured pearls comprising said pearl necklace comprises multiple linear arrays of said cultured pearls defining multiple strands of said cultured pearls.   
   
   
       12 . The cultured pearl jewelry item as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein:
 said at least one linear array of cultured pearls comprising said pearl bracelet comprises a single linear array of said cultured pearls defining a single strand of said cultured pearls.   
   
   
       13 . The cultured pearl jewelry item as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein:
 said at least one linear array of cultured pearls comprising said pearl bracelet comprises multiple linear arrays of said cultured pearls defining multiple strands of said cultured pearls.   
   
   
       14 . The cultured pearl jewelry item as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein:
 all of said magnetic cultured pearls disposed within a first one of said multiple strands of said magnetic cultured pearls have their magnetic poles oriented toward a first direction; and   all of said magnetic cultured pearls disposed within a second one of said multiple strands of said magnetic cultured pearls have their magnetic poles oriented toward a second direction.   
   
   
       15 . The cultured pearl jewelry item as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein:
 all of said magnetic cultured pearls disposed within a first one of said multiple strands of said magnetic cultured pearls have their magnetic poles oriented toward a first direction; and   all of said magnetic cultured pearls disposed within a second one of said multiple strands of said magnetic cultured pearls also have their magnetic poles oriented toward said first direction.   
   
   
       16 . The cultured pearl jewelry item as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein:
 all of said magnetic cultured pearls disposed within a first one of said multiple strands of said magnetic cultured pearls have their magnetic poles oriented toward a first direction; and   all of said magnetic cultured pearls disposed within a second one of said multiple strands of said magnetic cultured pearls have their magnetic poles oriented toward a second direction.   
   
   
       17 . The cultured pearl jewelry item as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein:
 all of said magnetic cultured pearls disposed within a first one of said multiple strands of said magnetic cultured pearls have their magnetic poles oriented toward a first direction; and   all of said magnetic cultured pearls disposed within a second one of said multiple strands of said magnetic cultured pearls also have their magnetic poles oriented toward said first direction.   
   
   
       18 . A method of making a magnetic cultured pearl, comprising the steps of:
 implanting a core member, fabricated from a magnetic material, within a host organism;   permitting the host organism to form pearl nacre material around said magnetic core member so as to form a magnetic cultured pearl; and   removing said magnetic cultured pearl from the host organism.   
   
   
       19 . The method as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising the step of:
 subjecting said magnetic core member to an electro-magnetic field prior to implanting said magnetic core member into the host organism so as to magnetize said magnetic core member prior to the formation of said pearl nacre material around said magnetic core member.   
   
   
       20 . The method as set forth in  claim 18 , further comprising the step of:
 subjecting said magnetic cultured pearl to an electro-magnetic field subsequent to the removal of said magnetic cultured pearl from the host organism so as to magnetize said magnetic core member thereby rendering said magnetic cultured pearl magnetically attractive to other magnetic cultured pearls.