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ABOUT US
Our Team
Since 2012, our team has been strengthened by the collaboration of leading professionals and researchers in aquaculture and biotechnology. Among them, the following key figures stand out:
Rubén Araya Valencia, Ph.D. | R&D Leadership (Since 2012)
- Microbiology & Environmental Sciences(Osaka University, Japan)
- Aquaculture Engineer(University of Antofagasta, Chile)
- Current Dean of the Faculty of Marine Sciences and Biological Resources, University of Antofagasta
- Founding partner of APT US LLC(USA) and APT SpA (Chile)
Jaime Maturana Zúñiga | General Management (Since 2012)
- Master in Technological Management(University of Talca, Chile)
- Aquaculture Engineer(Andrés Bello University, Chile)
- Member of the initial technological development team
- Co-founder and partner of APT US LLC(USA) and APT SpA (Chile)
Ingrid Daza Santos | Commercial Management (Since 2021)
- Master in Business Administration(Pontifical Catholic University of Chile)
- Industrial Civil Engineer(Andrés Bello University, Chile)
Research & Development for Innovation
Since 2012, in Antofagasta, Chile—a region where the Atacama Desert (the driest on Earth) meets the fertile waters of the Humboldt Current and the world’s clearest skies for astronomy—our team, led by Microbiology Ph.D. Rubén Araya at the University of Antofagasta, began pioneering research to cultivate loose beaded pearls in abalone.
Research & development for innovation
Since 2012 in Antofagasta, Chile, located on the coast of the driest desert on the planet the Atacama Desert, the most fertile waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Humboldt current, and the clearest skies base for the international astronomy, our team led by PhD in Microbiology Rubén Araya and his team began at the University of Antofagasta to investigate and develop the technology to grow loose beaded pearls in abalone. Chile and its salmon farming industry are an immense platform to access the best technologies, human capital and a culture oriented to the application of science for innovation. During these years the technology has been scaling up his Technology Readiness Levels (https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/technology-readiness-level) to reach this moment, the systematic production using land-based facilities and following sustainability drivers to produce unique pearls, the Atacama Pearls ™, for unique consumers.
Our next step is to deliver the Atacama Pearls as a jewel and transcend together with our clients by celebrating the most special moments of their lives.
EXPERIENCES
Growing an abalone pearl is an incredible and complex process that depends on aquaculture expertise, science, technology, and ultimately, partnership with nature. What we do connects sustainable aquaculture intersected by jewelry with other gems and precious metals.
We invite you to be part of this continuous innovation by reading the upcoming information published by leading agents.
- The Gemmological Association of Great Britain: Journal of Gemmology, Volume 36, Nº7,
2019, Notes, page 597 (https://gem-a.com/publications/the-journal-of-gemmology/volume-36-no-7-2019/) - The Gemological Institute Of America (GIA):
https://www.gia.edu/gems-gemology/spring-2023-gemnews-bead-cultured-abalone-pearls-chile - The international forum Pearls Guide:
https://www.pearl-guide.com/threads/pearls-by-the-bay-2022.460587/ and it host the company Kojima Pearls, California, United State:
https://kojimapearl.com/blogs/japan-kasumi-cultured-fresh-water-pearls-from-beyond-the-mist/pearls-by-the-bay - One of the first commercial linkage in Life Style magazine of Mozzo Jewelers Chile (pag 58-59): https://issuu.com/mosso-life/docs/revista_ml40__issue_?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=www.mosso.cl
SUSTAINABILITY
We are aware of the contribution that cultured pearls make to the jewelry industry, they are the only gems that result from a renewable process.
- Seawater Recycling:
The AP process occurs in land-based facilities, where the used seawater is pumped from the Pacific Ocean Cost, filtered, used intensively – 95% of the total is reused per hour. The seawater that is returned to the sea passes through various mechanical filters to reintegrate the water, separating the solids that are subsequently composted.
- Animal welfare:
The cultivation of pearls in abalone is carried out under conditions of animal welfare from the beginning of the process to the end with the harvest of the Atacama Pearls. During the process, care is taken to ensure that the number of animals in each pond where they are kept has an excellent quality of water and that the agglomeration or density of the animal population is adequate for a better quality of life for them. Both in the nucloes inoculation and pearl harvesting surgeries, anesthetics used in human medicine are used, the whole process present less than 1% of mortality.
- Waste utilization:
After the pearl harvest, two main products are obtained, abalone meat that is destined for restaurants generally serving Japanese food and the other product obtained are abalone shells rich in mother-of-pearl. With them we have developed products such as soaps that have positive cosmetic properties. At the same time, we are developing a social project sponsored by the Regional Government of Antofagasta, Chile, to promote introduction to basic jewelry in high school students from educational establishments from lower-income households. Our dream es transform our city, which is the center of copper production worldwide, into an outstanding region of jewelers.
Finally, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – SDGs (https://sdgs.un.org/goals) are at the center of our company, therefore, when a customer prefers our products, they contribute to the sustainable development of knowledge-based companies.
OUR PURPOSE
To transcend through the production and commercialization of jewelry based on Abalone Pearls -AP- sustainably cultivated in Chile, with which we will give a new impulse to the design and elaboration of exclusive jewelry.
Our limit is the world, where we want to inspire thousands of people who want to own unique, exotic, and sustainably sourced jewelry.
OUR MANIFEST
We believe in the beauty, exclusivity, and significance of jewelry making. We strive to offer our customers unique and personalized jewelry that reflects their style and personality and is an expression of their good taste and sophistication.
Our production with minimum environmental impact, seeks the preservation of marine species through controlled cultivation and the reuse of the seawater and animal welfare in the production of pearls.
We are passionate about the abalone pearls, which is one of the most beautiful and amazing gems in nature. We make sure to source only the finest pearls, we work with leading researchers to give a solid scientific foundation, and talented and creative jewelry designers to offer innovative and attractive designs.
We are committed to constant research and technology development, beauty, exclusivity, and exceptional quality.