For thousands of years, humans have speculated about the mystery of the pearl, a jewel that requires no mining, extraction, cutting or polishing to reveal its beauty. NOVA travels around the world to exotic locations where rare pearls are harvested by divers and to farms where huge numbers of pearls are grown. Will cultured pearls ruin the value of those grown in the wild? From the depths of the ocean to the riches of Fifth Avenue, NOVA revels in the luster of these desirable gems.

Sunday, 12/14/08 from 5-6 a.m. ET